The New England Center for Children® (NECC®), a global leader in education for children with autism, announced today it received a grant for musical instruments from Music Drives Us, a foundation created by entrepreneur Ernie Boch Jr., to fund music programs designed to effect positive change for people of all ages.
The Music Drives Us grant will expand NECC’s music education program and includes donations of instruments including xylophones, glockenspiels, hand drums, triangles, tambourines, maracas, keyboards, shakers, rhythm sticks, and mallets. More than 200 students each year are expected to go through music education as part of their education at NECC.
“The New England Center for Children is delighted to be a grant recipient of Music Drives Us,” said Cara Lechleiter, MS, BCBA, LABA, Music Teacher at The New England Center for Children. “Like all children, students with autism find tremendous joy in music. When our students get to music class or chorus rehearsal, they are excited and motivated. Within this enriched environment, they work on communication and social skills, and learn to follow directions in a fun manner.”
NECC’s music curriculum includes chorus and music classes in the school’s newly renovated Dillon Arledge Student Center. Children with autism are given the freedom to sing, dance and learn about music. Music provides the opportunity for collaboration, as students work together toward a common goal. Not only are the students learning music, they are working on a number of very important communication and social skills. The chorus performs two school-wide concerts each year, and special events throughout the year such as holiday caroling.
Since its inception in 2006, Music Drives Us has helped hundreds of individuals, organizations, and schools throughout New England by providing Performance and Organizational Grants. Music Drives Us has donated more than $1,000,000 to help spread the power of music.
“Music Drives Us is proud to support The New England Center for Children with this grant to utilize music as a tool to better the lives of children with autism,” said Ernie Boch Jr. Founder of Music Drives Us. “We are happy to support such an outstanding organization and their extraordinary work providing children with creative outlets and opportunities.”