The Bateman Group signed on our very first pro bono client last summer with Little Kids Rock, a national nonprofit bringing free musical instruments and instruction to underfunded public schools in 23 cities (think Red Hot Chili Peppers not Bach).

I am thrilled to report that earlier this week Little Kids Rock received a $500,000 donation from the Dr. Phil Foundation which will bring rock’n music programs to 25,000 school children in  New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Philadelphia, Dallas, Atlanta, Washington D.C., Tampa, and two additional cities to be named by the end of 2009.

This is what my friend and Little Kids Rock founder David Wish had to say about the partnership:

Dr. Phil’s passion and vision dovetails perfectly with our history of bringing music to children. This is an extraordinary opportunity to partner and make a real difference in the lives of thousands of kids. With the creation of Little Kids Rock Across America, we will be training more teacher volunteers and reaching more kids in more classrooms who would never have had opportunity to play music in an economy where arts programs are evaporating.

According to Dr. Phil McGraw:

Little Kids Rock approached the Dr. Phil Foundation in search of a meaningful way to put music into the lives of children who need it. With the help of this great organization, the Foundation has created a program designed to expand what they have been doing so effectively, one guitar, one school district and one volunteer teacher at a time. David Wish had a dream, and he made it real. I am proud that with his help, Little Kids Rock Across America will be teaching kids and their mentors what the power of music can really do to change who they are.