Valley charity collecting instruments for kids

TEMPE, Ariz. — Playing in the school band is sometimes only a dream for many elementary school students.

“So many kids can’t afford to purchase or rent an instrument, so that’s really where we come in,” said Nate Anderson of Valley-based group Ear Candy.

Anderson started the charity five years ago to collect old musical instruments and donate them to schools in Phoenix.

“These instruments really represent half of the solution to music education,” he said, “but they’re just collecting dust in people’s closets.”

Thanks to Ear Candy, 15,000 kids in Phoenix have access to instruments at their school. The group wants to expand to help kids throughout Arizona.

“We have an opportunity and an obligation to continue what we’re doing,” Anderson said. “It’s a really incredible challenge that we’re rising up and taking very seriously.”

But the group needs financial help to meet the challenge.

“We’re looking to raise $25,000 between now and Sept. 14,” Anderson said, adding that the group will use the money to start an online instrument drive where people can donate instruments from anywhere in the country and have them sent to schools in Arizona.

Ear Candy is offering incentives to potential donors.

“This cool custom Ear Candy T-shirt, or there’s some other cool giving levels where if you give ‘X’ dollars you get ‘Y’ benefits,” Anderson said.

Prizes include tickets to an Ear Candy Grammy Gala in Phoenix on Feb. 10 and dinner with the Ear Candy team. If anyone donates $100,000, Ear Candy promises that the city of that person’s choice will be the next site for Ear Candy expansion.

Donations can be made at indiegogo.com.