Santa Barbara Education Foundation to honor those who have impacted music education
SANTA BARBARA, Calif. - The Santa Barbara Education Foundation's annual Hope Awards event will be hosted online on Thursday and will raise money for the 13,500 students that have been remote learning in the Santa Barbara Unified School District.
The award ceremony aims to honor local heroes in public education.
The foundation said this year's virtual event will be focusing on individuals and programs that have made strides for music education and related efforts that enrich the academic, artistic and personal development of students in SBUSD.
The 2021 honorees include the foundation's previous president Craig Price and long-time supporter Nick Rail who has partnered with the foundation's music programs.
Price is a lawyer who is known for his work providing counsel in education law. He served on the foundation's Board of Directors for nine years, two of which he spent as president. During that time he helped create programs that prepare students for their future education and careers as well as live a "happy and satisfied life." He will be honored at the ceremony for resolving educational inequalities.
Rail is known within the organization as the founder of SBEF's Summer Band Camp, a program that provides an affordable summer music experience for kids. He is also the founder of Nick Rail Music, a network of stores serving as the premier school music dealer for Southern California. Through a partnership with Nick Rail Music, the foundation said it has received more than $100,000 in new instruments for the Santa Barbara public school music programs.
"Music education creates an important balance between creative expression and traditional academics, making every student deserving of such opportunities,” said Rail. The foundation said he will be be honored for changing the reality of educational opportunity within SBUSD.
The Hope Awards will be held on Thursday, April 29, from 4 p.m. to 5 p.m. and will include a silent auction with prizes, a wine pull with options to win a high-end wine, a paddle raise and an honoree ceremony. To RSVP, visit sbefoundation.org/hope-awards.
