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From:TheBahamasWeekly.com Entertainment
Two-time Latin GRAMMY® winner and GRAMMY® Nominee Kany García
joins the program as a mentor MIAMI - The Latin GRAMMY Cultural Foundation® continues its five-year collaboration with Ford Motor Company Fund — the philanthropic arm of Ford —with a pilot program to promote women in music by helping forge the next generation of music makers and paving their road to success. The Emerging Latina Music Recognition Program is aimed at young women in their senior year of high school who have demonstrated musical talent and a desire to pursue a higher education in music. Two-time Latin GRAMMY winner and GRAMMY nominee, Kany García, currently nominated in the categories of Song Of The Year, Best Singer-Songwriter Album, and Best Short Form Music Video for the 20th Annual Latin GRAMMYs™, joins the program as a mentor. "We're happy to continue growing our partnership with Ford Fund to further drive the importance of music education," said Manolo Díaz, Senior Vice President of the Latin GRAMMY Cultural Foundation. "Through the generosity of this partnership and Kany García's involvement, we'll help talented young women pursue their dreams." During an intimate event at John A. Ferguson Senior High School, three young women were celebrated by Kany García, the Latin GRAMMY Cultural Foundation and Ford Fund’s leadership as the first class of recipients of the Emerging Latina Music Recognition Program. The top awardee, Melanie Fernández, plays the drum set and percussion and attends John A. Ferguson Senior High School in Miami. She will receive a new musical instrument, an all-paid summer music camp, the cost of books for her first year of college, and a master class with Kany García, in addition to a personal computer. Fernández hopes to attend Florida International University. Additional awardees, Breanna Michel and Daniela Suarez will receive a new musical instrument, the cost of books for their first year of college, and a master class with García. Michel is a student at Hialeah Senior High School, plays the alto saxophone and plans to pursue a degree in musical theater at the University of Miami. Suarez plays the clarinet at Miami Senior High School, with an interest in studying music education at the University of North Texas. "Students who receive these types of resources are more capable of succeeding later in life," said Joe Ávila, community development manager, U.S., and Latin America, Ford Motor Company Fund. "It's the music student who found the inspiration from a teacher, a mentor or an organization who believed in him or her and who got the right educational resources, who will be best prepared to succeed in such a competitive industry." The Latin GRAMMY Cultural Foundation and Ford Fund partnership is dedicated to music education, providing schools across the country, as well as international institutions, with more than $400,000 worth of musical instrument donations since the start of the partnership in 2014. In its first year, the Emerging Latina Music Recognition program has been established in select Miami high schools, which have previously benefited from the Latin GRAMMY® In The Schools program. To be considered, the students are nominated by their school's music program director, band director or music teacher and submit an online application. ABOUT KANY GARCÍA: The renowned acoustic-pop singer/songwriter Kany García is a unique and unmistakable talent whose expressive performances, vivid wordplay and perceptive lyrics have shared the stories of young women across Latin America and the United States. The two-time Latin GRAMMY® winner is nominated in the categories of Song Of The Year, Best Singer-Songwriter Album, and Best Short Form Music Video for the 20th Annual Latin GRAMMYs. Some of García's top hits include "Hoy Ya Me Voy" (Today I Leave), "Alguien" (Someone) and "Duele Menos" (It Hurts Less). As a composer, García has written songs for artists such as Chayanne, Ha*Ash, and Jennifer Lopez among others. Most recently, she launched a special with HBO Latino, Kany García: Soy Yo En Vivo. The special was filmed at her concert in Puerto Rico at the Coliseo and features artists like Pedro Capó, Andrea Cruz, Residente, and Tommy Torres, to name a few. ABOUT THE LATIN GRAMMY CULTURAL FOUNDATION: The Latin GRAMMY Cultural Foundation was established by The Latin Recording Academy to promote international awareness and appreciation of the significant contributions of Latin music and its makers to the world's culture, and to protect its rich musical legacy and heritage. The Foundation's primary charitable focus is to provide scholarships to students interested in Latin music, as well as grants to scholars and organizations worldwide for research and preservation of diverse Latin music genres. Take action in supporting our mission by donating today via our Facebook page. For additional information, please visit us at www.latingrammyculturalfoundation.com. For the latest news and exclusive content, follow us at @latingrammyfdn on Twitter and Instagram, and Latin GRAMMY Cultural Foundation on Facebook. ABOUT FORD MOTOR COMPANY FUND: As the philanthropic arm of Ford Motor Company, Ford Fund’s mission is to strengthen communities and help make people’s lives better. Working with dealers and nonprofit partners in 63 countries, Ford Fund provides access to opportunities and resources that help people reach their full potential. Since 1949, Ford Fund has invested more than $2 billion in programs that support education, promote safe driving, enrich community life and encourage employee volunteering. For more information, visit www.fordfund.org or join us at @FordFund on Facebook and Instagram and @fordfund_ on Twitter.
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