EAR CANDY is dedicated to supporting in-school music programs by creating a partnership and working collaboratively with school districts to address many of their general music and band instrument needs. Throughout 2010, we will highlight our partnership with the Phoenix Firefighters (collecting donations at all 57 stations) by hosting Instrument Drives® focusing on different school districts in need.  Below is a brief background of our current district partner.  Scroll Down to see past District Partners and explore recommending a district for us to consider.


Paradise Valley Unified School District (July 1, 2010 - October 31, 2010)

The Paradise Valley Unified School District is located in 98-square miles of northeast Phoenix and a portion of north Scottsdale. This area extends from 7th Avenue to Pima Road and is generally bordered on the south by Northern Avenue and the north by Jomax Road. With 33,500 students, we are the seventh-largest school district in the state of Arizona.  The district has 31 elementary schools (free, full-day kindergarten through grade six); eight middle schools (grades seven and eight); and six high schools (grades nine through 12). The district offers a variety of education choice programs, including K-12 International Baccalaureate, Core Knowledge©, S.T.E.M.G2 (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics and Global Geography), Digital Learning Center, fine arts, career & technical education, before- after-school programs, sports and extracurricular activities for all ages.

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Past District Partners

Phoenix Elementary School District (April 26, 2010 - June 30, 2010)

The Phoenix Elementary School District serves preschool through eighth grade #1 is steeped in heritage and tradition and located in the heart of downtown Phoenix. They offer a breadth of special programs and curriculum and are dedicated to the total development of every student by setting high expectations and fostering academic leadership. They have fifteen Signature and Community Schools provide safe and secure learning environments with unique themes and free programs including . Montessori, Traditional, Language Acquisition, Performing & Fine Arts, Donde Vivo, Before & After School Care & Enrichment and more.









Minneapolis Public Schools (March 8, 2010 - March 13, 2010)

EAR CANDY hosted its first out of state Instrument Drive® to help save music programs in the Minneapolis Public School District in Minnesota with the help of the Minneapolis Fire Department and Yo Gabba Gabba Live! in which all nineteen Minneapolis Fire Stations served as donation sites throughout the week with a special collection at the YGG Live Events on 3/13.  Full details about this program can be found HERE.



Roosevelt Elementary School District (Feb 1, 2010 - Mar 12, 2010)

The Roosevelt School District is located in South Phoenix; boundaries are the Salt River on the north, South Mountain to the south, 40th Street on the east and 35th Avenue on the west. The district services thousands of children with 21 schools. Despite all of the budget cuts, they have been able to keep 17 general music programs alive, but are in dire need of instruments and support. The majority of the families they serve are in low income or poor.



Cartwright & Washington Elementary School Districts (Dec 1, 2008 - Jan 21, 2009)

Our First Instrument Drive® was launched with no defined direction of where the instruments were actually going to be placed.  We did plenty of research to see where the 100+ instruments we collected would make the most impact in the valley and decided to help out two very deserving partners: Washington Elementary & Cartwright Elementary School Districts.  Don't worry, we now have a method to our madness!

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Recommend a District Partner
If you know a district that needs help, please encourage them to apply here.