Over 200 instruments were collected as part of The Pick Me Up Foundation instrument drive. For every instrument donated, a raffle chance was provided to the contributor that gave them a chance to win a $100 gift card from Music and Art. The official drawing was completed on January 15th. Check out the video of the random drawing:
Congratulations to Mel W.
We want to thank everyone that donated instruments.
From WBAL News Radio 1090 on November 20th
Anne Kramer
A Howard County father is keeping his son’s memory alive through music.
Aaron Reed died suddenly back in January while in New York. He was 21.
He loved music. His father Brian says the best way to keep his son’s generous spirit alive was to start the foundation to try and help less fortunate kids have the chance to play musical instruments.
Aaron’s family suffered a double loss the day he died.
After coming back home with his prized instruments, the family’s van was broken into and the instruments stolen. Howard County Police never found the instruments. There have been no arrests.
Brian Reed says all the donated instruments will be reconditioned and given to children who can not afford to rent or buy an instrument.
The instrument drive takes place Saturday November 22nd at Kings Contrivance Village Center in Columbia from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.
The Pick Me Up Foundation is working with Music & Arts which is offering drop-off locations in Ellicott City, Arundel Mills, and Laurel for instruments as well.
The Foundation will continue to collect used instruments throughout the year.
You can read the original article from WBAL here: http://www.wbal.com/article/111024/3/dust-off-the-old-instrument-and-donate
From the Baltimore Sun this morning:
The Baltimore Sun
A Columbia family that endured the death of a son early this year is hoping to extend his musical legacy with a drive to collect instruments for those in need.
The Pick Me Up Foundation, an organization created in memory of Aaron Davis Reed, an aspiring musician who died unexpectedly in January at age 21, is hosting a musical instrument drive Saturday, Nov. 22, at the Kings Contrivance Village Center.
Donated instruments will be repaired and cleaned, and then given to children whose families otherwise could not afford them.
Reed was a 2010 Hammond High School graduate. After his death, his family — parents Brian and Esther Reed and his sister, Julia — worked with others to form the Pick Me Up Foundation, an organization named for an alternative rock song that Aaron Reed had been working on with a group in Boston.
The foundation’s website, thepickmeupfoundation.com, notes that the young artist, who was a founding member of Columbia bands The Runways and New World Commotion, “lived and breathed music.”
His father said Aaron played guitar, piano and drums, and spread his love for music to others.
You can read the full article on the Baltimore Sun website here: http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/maryland/howard/bs-md-ho-musical-collection-20141116-story.html
We want to give a big thank you to Wendi and Chris for their recent instrument donations. The clarinet and a bass guitar (pictured above) are very much appreciated. Just a reminder that we are having an instrument drive on November 22nd, but you can make you donation anytime.
The PMU foundation is holding a musical instrument drive, a pic of the flyer is posted below. Feel free to download it and spread the word.
I am also looking for volunteers to help me post the flyer around Columbia, contact me at reedb@umbc.edu if you want to help.
Feel free to print out the flyer and post yourself if you want.
I will be at Kings Contrivance VC handing out the flyer on Saturday, if you want to help me there or go to another VC let me know.
Remember to tell people that I will pick up the instrument at their house if they want (no pianos …)
Our Goal is 100 instruments, all instruments accepted other than pianos
The Pick Me Up Foundation 