Highlights & Happenings

A recap of activities and recent events

$20,000 in Musical Instruments Donated to Miami Middle School

MIAMI — The Latin GRAMMY Cultural Foundation, in partnership with the Ford Motor Company Fund, donated musical instruments valued at $20,000 to West Miami Middle School in Miami. Celebrated singer and Latin Grammy winner Silvestre Dangond shared his experiences as a musician with the students and offered them advice and guidance on how to be successful in their own musical careers. To the students' surprise, Dangond joined them in a moving performance to conclude the event.

Ilia Calderón, Emmy Award-winning journalist and co-anchor of "Noticiero Univision," moderated the event.

Since the beginning of the partnership in 2014, more than 6,000 students have benefited from the donation of $364,000 worth of musical instruments to schools in U.S. cities such as Aransas Pass, Dallas, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Miami and New York; as well as internationally in Buenos Aires, Argentina; Mexico City, Mexico; and Arecibo, Bayamón, Humacao and San Juan in Puerto Rico.

This event is part of Latin GRAMMY In The Schools, an educational program that informs and connects music students with professionals in the Latin music industry and supports music departments of educational institutions with financial limitations. The Latin GRAMMY Cultural Foundation invites artists, professional musicians and sound engineers to visit middle and high schools, universities, or music educational institutions, in order to share with students their personal stories and experiences that highlight the effort and perseverance it takes to overcome obstacles and barriers in their careers. The goal is for students to learn to optimize the educational opportunities presented to them, giving them an advantage and strong academic preparation in order to be able to compete in the music industry.

 West Miami Middle School students cheering Caldern Ilia interviews Latin Grammy winner Dangond SilvestreManolo Díaz, Silvestre Dangond, Ilia Calderón, Joe Ávila and others with West Miami Middle School students