Camden, N.J., September 10, 2009 – Campbell Soup Company (NYSE: CPB) and the GRAMMY Foundation® today announced plans to make music education more accessible in tens of thousands of schools across America. Research has shown that when students have access to arts, they tend to also perform better in the classroom.1 Unfortunately, music programs are being eliminated at many elementary and secondary schools due to the budget pressures impacting schools across the country.
To help address this disturbing trend, Campbell is partnering with the GRAMMY Foundation to provide schools access to the sort of innovative resources needed to offer students a well-rounded music education. Through the partnership, the GRAMMY Foundation’s proprietary Discovery Through Music™ curriculum will be made available to nearly 60,000 schools nationwide that are registered in this year’s Labels for Education™ program. Customized for children in kindergarten through 6th grade, the new curriculum will help young students understand the basic elements of music, including beat, tempo, rhythm and pitch, and apply these fundamentals as part of lesson plans for language arts, math, science and technology.
The partnership was announced at the GRAMMY Museum in Los Angeles, Calif., by three-time GRAMMY® Award-winning singer, Trisha Yearwood, who pledged her support for the initiative. Yearwood talked about the importance of music education in her life and gave recognition to the music teachers that always encouraged her to explore an interest in music. “Learning about music not only fueled my career, but it also helped me to become a stronger student by thinking creatively about how to learn and explore new ideas,” said Yearwood. The singer is also a bestselling cookbook author, having secured a spot on The New York Times best-seller list for her cookbook, Georgia Cooking in an Oklahoman Kitchen.
Several GRAMMY Foundation Artist Ambassadors, including Carolina Liar members Chad Wolf and Rickard Göransson, Crosby Loggins, Dave Koz and Mindi Abair, also were in attendance to endorse the new partnership. These artists will participate in and help promote the program during the upcoming school year.
Enhanced Campbell’s Labels for Education Program
For more than 30 years Campbell’s Labels for Education program has been committed to providing educational resources to schools across the country. Since the program’s inception in 1973, billions of labels have been redeemed and more than $110 million in educational resources and equipment, including computers, athletic gear, and even vans, have been provided to participating schools.
“Today, there is a disturbing lack of support for arts in far too many elementary and middle schools,” said Mike Salzberg, President, Campbell Sales Company. “As we reinvigorate our Labels for Education program this year to support arts, athletics and academics, we are confident that with the support of the GRAMMY Foundation, we will begin to achieve our shared goal of nourishing the potential of our kids by improving access to music education in our schools and communities.”
Participation in Labels for Education continues to be easy, because Campbell products are consumed in nearly every home in America. Leading products for redemption include Campbell’s two most popular soups, Chicken Noodle and Tomato, as well as Pepperidge Farm Goldfish and 12 varieties that comprise the Campbell’s Kids soup line-up. These soups, which include Double Noodle and Chicken with Stars, are offered at healthy sodium levels and are made with whole grain pasta.
“Discovery Through Music” Curriculum
Students with a passion for music will be excited to experience the proprietary six-week Discovery Through Music curriculum designed by the GRAMMY Foundation in partnership with Labels for Education. “The GRAMMY Foundation is committed to music education in schools because it benefits students and fundamentally contributes to our culture by inspiring future generations of music makers,” said Neil Portnow, President/CEO of The Recording Academy® and the GRAMMY Foundation. “The Discovery Through Music curriculum is designed to teach children to explore and discover music within the context of other subject areas like math and science, which will help students to think more creatively throughout their lives.”
GRAMMY Artist Ambassadors Support Partnership
A number of rising young artists currently represent the GRAMMY Foundation through its Artist Ambassador program. As part of the partnership with Campbell, these ambassadors will be visiting selected schools nationwide to discuss their experiences in the music industry and inspire young students to pursue their potential through music.
To further recognize and celebrate the partnership with the Labels for Education program, GRAMMY Foundation Artist Ambassador and singer/songwriter Crosby Loggins is offering a free download of his song, “Time to Move,” at labelsforeducation.com until December 31, 2009.
About the GRAMMY Foundation
The GRAMMY Foundation was established in 1989 to cultivate the understanding, appreciation and advancement of the contribution of recorded music to American culture — from the artistic and technical legends of the past to the still unimagined musical breakthroughs of future generations of music professionals. The Foundation accomplishes this mission through programs and activities that engage the music industry and cultural community as well as the general public. The Foundation works in partnership year-round with its founder, The Recording Academy, to bring national attention to important issues such as the value and impact of music and arts education and the urgency of preserving our rich cultural heritage. For more information, please visit www.grammyintheschools.com.
About Campbell Soup Company
Campbell Soup Company is a global manufacturer and marketer of high-quality foods and simple meals, including soup, baked snacks, and healthy beverages. Founded in 1869, the company has a
portfolio of market-leading brands, including Campbell’s, Pepperidge Farm, Arnott’s, and V8. For more information on the company, visit Campbell’s website at www.campbellsoup.com.
1 National Educational Longitudinal Study (NELS: 88), University of California-Los Angeles