Philadelphia schools are seeing their first donation from ticket sales at the newly-opened Met on North Broad Street.
Kids in the DASH program at Strawberry Mansion High are the first to see the benefits of concert promoter Live Nation’s promise to give Philly schools 25 cents from each ticket sold at the Met.
Live Nation regional president Geoff Gordon helped to present the first check for $23,000.
“You’ve got to leave more than you take,” he said. “You’ve got to grow young folks. You have to.”
DASH, Destined to Achieve Successful Heights, is a program that teaches students about not only making music, but careers in the music industry.
Kristal Oliver is the songwriting master instructor for DASH, and she welcomes the donation.
“If you’re going to come in and you want to record, you need a mic,” she said. “If you want to play a piano, you need keys. If you want to get on a computer and produce, you need programs. These aren’t free.”
Mansion junior Imani Pettyjohn says DASH has changed her life.
“This program means a lot to me because I can express how I feel through music,” she explained. “And I can collaborate with my peoples, if I feel like it!”
The $23,000 will benefit DASH programs at Mansion High School, Girls’ High, Hill-Freedman and the School District TV station.