Friday, October 9, 2009

VOTE FOR DERRICK TABB - CNN TOP 10 HERO!

FROM THE BACKBEAT FOUNDATION:

CNN TOP 10 HERO:
DERRICK TABB

Founder of Roots of Music
Finalist for Hero of the Year!
VOTE NOW
Voting Open NOW - Nov. 19th @ 5am CT

The Roots of Music is New Orleans' only free, year-round music education program. The program provides music education in history, theory, instrumental instruction and ensemble performance. Furthermore, academic tutoring is offered to ensure students maintain at least a 2.5 GPA in school. Through funding from donations and sponsors, Roots of Music is able to provide students bus transportation, instruments and a meal for free. Tabb calls it his "no excuse" policy; everything is provided so there are no excuses. With a 90 percent attendance rate, his formula seems to be working, approximatley 85 percent of the students have improved their grades since beginning the program. The program currently served 106 kids, and has a waiting list of over 400.

"I hope everyone in New Orleans votes for me," Tabb said. And so does The Backbeat Foundation! You don't have to be in New Orleans to vote for Tabb. Roots of Music is a model program that could work in any challenged environment.

The ten finalists were chosen by a panel from more than 9,000 submissions.
The winner will be announced on "CNN Heroes: An All-Star Tribute," to be televised at 8 p.m. November 26. The winner will receive $100,000. Voting to select the Hero of the Year is being conducted through an online poll at CNN.com/Heroes, ending November 19 (5 a.m. CT).

Be sure to cast your vote & spread the word!

2 comments:

aina said...

This is GREAT!!! Pass it forward to many!

David Harrington said...

Wow, you make a great case. I certainly will vote for Derrick Tab. I love NOLA and Preservation Hall, but I would have had no idea of the CNN Hero Top 10 thing.