American Idol Kris Allen Launches Music Education Drive

As part of this initiative, it was also announced that Andy Davis, founder of Music Empowers Foundation, will personally match all donations up to $50,000.

The fundraiser will commence immediately and end May 31, 2011. The start of the drive coincides with a three-city concert tour announced earlier this month, which features Kris Allen and the Berklee City Music All-Star Band. Concerts take place May 2-4 in New York, Philadelphia, and Washington D.C.

The concerts are part of a partnership program between Allen, Music Empowers Foundation, and Berklee City Music Network (BCMN) to raise awareness for music education. As an additional component of the partnership, Allen and Music Empowers announced a two-year $150,000 grant to Berklee City Music and the separate funding of five scholarships for high school students in the BCMN to attend Berklee's five-week summer program.

"25% of all funds raised during the May fundraiser will go directly to fund additional scholarships to Berklee's summer program," explained Davis. "If we reach our goal we can double the number of scholarships." The balance of funds raised will help Music Empowers continue to provide grant funding to innovative music education programs like Berklee City Music.