Music saves lives, heals, and unifies people. For students at Miramonte Elementary School in South Central Los Angeles music class motivates them to go to school, gives them a sense of pride and keeps them out of trouble.
“Music education brings so much joy to the kids that I teach,” said Jose Vergara music teacher at Miramonte Elementary and board member of Music Will. “It completely changes their self-esteem, which isn’t something that you can measure in standardized testing, but I have seen how even the way that they walk changes…there is a sense of pride.”
Vergara shared that the loss of music education in at risk communities like South Central LA would be devasting for the kids. Music is a positive outlet for his students, which helps them stay out of trouble and succeed in school.
Without the support of donors like Hot Topic Foundation, programs like that offered at Miramonte Elementary by Music Will (formerly Little Kids Rock) — which runs the largest nonprofit music program in the US public school system — would not be possible.
The Hot Topic Foundation was founded in 2004 at CCF with a
mission to change the lives of youth through arts and music education. In 2019, the Foundation added mental health awareness to its mission. Since the Foundation’s beginning, it has granted nearly $22 million to nonprofits across the US.
We help by providing this
little respite, at school, whether it’s an hour or two hours, where they can become little rock stars….that’s a healing process right there.”
Joe Emory, chair of the Hot Topic Foundation
Joe Emory, chair of the Hot Topic Foundation and director of Human Resources at Hot Topic, is passionate about giving. Which is why he is grateful for CCF’s partnership, which has made the Foundation’s giving journey easy and has allowed him to focus on what is most important, being able to give. He shared that, “There is such an ease of being able to work with CCF. I don’t have to worry about any of the [day-to-day], because CCF does a great job of facilitating the giving.”
Giving for the Foundation is not about marketing or publicity, but about relationships, authenticity, and impact. Many of the children that participate in the programs that they help fund, like Music Will, may go home to a tough life, but when they perform, they are transformed.
“We help by providing this little respite, at school, whether it’s an hour or two hours, where they can become little rock stars,” Emory shared. “And that’s a healing process right there. Being able to play music, whether they go on to the Berklee School of Music or just perform at school, it doesn’t make a difference. For that time, they can be outside themselves and do something that brings them joy and if something brings you joy, then that helps you to get through the day and get through life.”
If we save one person’s life or impact one person in a positive way to seek the help they need, feel better about who they are… then it’s worth every single penny…Life is precious, and that’s priceless ”
Joe Emory, chair of the Hot Topic Foundation
The Hot Topic Foundation is funded by customers who donate online or at Hot Topic stores throughout the country, employees, and through internal sample sales with 100 percent of the proceeds going to nonprofits. Last year was their biggest year yet: the Foundation gave nearly $2 million in grants. Emory’s vision of the future is being able to double or triple their giving in the next few years.
He often shares the quote, “The youth of America is only 20 percent of the population but 100 percent of the future,” because it captures the importance to him of investing in young people, especially through music.
“If we save one person’s life or impact one person in a positive way to seek the help they need, feel better about who they are, and make a positive impact then it’s worth every single penny of our $22 million investment,” said Emory. “Life is precious, and that’s priceless.”
Letter from CEO
Letter from
the Board Chair
As I began my tenure as Chair of CCF’s board of directors I made a commitment to advance the mission and work that we do in the community to improves the lives of all Angelenos. Last year CCF made a record-setting $440 million…
