SPY HOP PRODUCTIONS RECEIVES DONATION FROM JOSH GROBAN'S FIND YOUR LIGHT FOUNDATION

MEDIA ADVISORY

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Virginia Pearce, 801-532-7500, virginia@spyhop.org



MEDIA ALERT: SPY HOP PRODUCTIONS RECEIVES DONATION FROM JOSH GROBAN'S FIND YOUR LIGHT FOUNDATION

Groban to Recognize Spy Hop Productions from Stage During Concert at Energy Solutions Arena on Saturday, August 13, 2011



Salt Lake City, UT (August 3, 2011) – Spy Hop Productions today announced that it has been selected by multi-platinum singer-songwriter Josh Groban to receive a donation from his new Find Your Light Foundation, which is dedicated to enriching the lives of young people through arts, education, and cultural awareness. Spy Hop Productions is one of just 24 arts education nonprofit organizations selected by Groban to receive funds from The Find Your Light Foundation during his "Straight to You" tour.



Says Spy Hop’s Executive Director, Kasandra VerBrugghen, “We’re thrilled that Josh believes in the power of the arts in a young person’s life and is recognizing the contributions of arts education organizations around the country for the valuable work we do. We’re honored that he chose to highlight Spy Hop while he’s playing in Salt Lake.”



"Ensuring every child has the opportunity to experience an arts education is very important to me," said Groban. "Spy Hop Productions shares this goal with me, and it gives me great pleasure to highlight the work they do."



While Groban tours the U.S. on his "Straight to You" tour, his Find Your Light Foundation will make a cash donation to a nonprofit arts education organization that operates in each locale in which the tour stops. In addition, Groban is inviting the head of that nonprofit; the artists, students and/or teachers who provide services for the nonprofit; and the children and young adults who receive services from the nonprofit to attend his concert and be recognized from the stage. They will also have the opportunity to meet Groban prior to the performance.



Taking the foundation's mission one step further, Groban is partnering with Americans for the Arts, the nation's leading nonprofit organization for advancing the arts and arts education, to launch a joint text-to-give campaign, which will run for the duration of his "Straight to You" tour in 2011. Proceeds from the campaign will go to support both The Find Your Light Foundation and Americans for the Arts as they work to ensure every child and young adult in America has access to quality arts education experiences. Text ART to 50555 to make a $10 donation to support the cause.



Groban will be in Salt Lake City to perform on Saturday, August 13 as part of his "Straight To You" worldwide tour running through November. The tour supports his recent and fifth studio album, 'Illuminations' which has already been certified platinum in the U.S. Its No. 4 debut on Billboard's Top 200 chart is Groban's fourth consecutive Top 5 chart bow. Tickets for Josh's upcoming shows are available through http://www.ticketmaster.com.



About Spy Hop Productions

Spy Hop Productions is a nonprofit youth media arts and education center whose purpose is to empower youth to express their voice and with it create positive change in their lives, their community, and the world. Our mission is to encourage free expression, self-discovery, critical and inventive thinking, and skilled participation via the big screen, the airwaves, and the web. Recognized by the White House as one of the top arts and humanities based organizations in the country, Spy Hop was chosen as a finalist for the 2010 National Arts and Humanities Youth Award given by the President’s Committee on the Arts and the Humanities.



About Find Your Light

To find out more about the Find Your Light Foundation, please visit the organization's website at http://www.findyourlightfoundation.org and/or its Facebook page athttp://www.facebook.com/findyourlightfoundation.



About Americans for the Arts

Americans for the Arts is the leading nonprofit organization for advancing the arts in America. With offices in Washington, D.C. and New York City, it has a record of more than 50 years of service. Americans for the Arts is dedicated to representing and serving local communities and creating opportunities for every American to participate in and appreciate all forms of the arts. Additional information is available at www.AmericansForTheArts.org.







###


--
Virginia Pearce
Spy Hop Productions
Director of Marketing & Community Programs
801-532-7500

Empoweringyouththroughmultimedia