California Pizza Kitchen To Donate 20% Of Sales Across L.A. To Support Music Programs In Schools

ADOPT THE ARTS (adoptthearts.org)-a Los Angeles-based charity co-founded by GRAMMY Award-winning musician MATT SORUM (Guns N' Roses, Velvet Revolver), activist ABBY BERMAN, and founding board member, Golden Globe Award and Emmy Award-winning actor Jane Lynch--works to preserve arts and music programs in U.S. public schools.

ADOPT THE ARTS is honored to announce that on Saturday, Sept. 29, all California Pizza Kitchen locations around Los Angeles will donate 20% of participating food and beverage sales for one-day-only, including dine-in, take-out, catering and delivery orders placed directly with CPK, to support Adopt The Arts' efforts*.

To participate, patrons must show the attached flyer or mention to their server they are dining to support ADOPT THE ARTS during their visit to California Pizza Kitchen on this date, in order for the donation to be received. To raise awareness, on Saturday, Sept 29 MATT SORUM and Jane Lynch will be onsite at the Century City location of California Pizza Kitchen, serving pizzas for the cause from 1:00-4:00pm.

The ADOPT THE ARTS advisory board includes: SLASH, John Stamos, BILLY BOB THORTON, Steve Stevens, Juliette Lewis, Danny Masterson, SHEPARD FAIREY, Adrian Young and Gina Gershon, among others. According to Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD), there are still not enough teachers, equipment or instruments for every child to receive an arts education of any kind. As in many school districts around the country, LAUSD has been slowly eroding its commitment to arts education, reducing the budget incrementally. The LAUSD district also estimates that 80% of its student body is living at or below the poverty line, which means the vast majority of these elementary school children will not have access to the arts outside of school.

"Adopt the Arts was born out of the frustration for my own children losing education in the arts," explains ADOPT THE ARTS co-founder Abby Berman. "When the system is failing, we have to take action. By funding canceled music and arts programs in schools we can preserve this valuable form of childhood development, which is known to boost overall test scores. As Federal and State funding continues to fall short, the responsibility is upon us as concerned parents and citizens to ensure we're raising a new generation of healthy and well-rounded individuals."

ADOPT THE ARTS Chair and Co-founder Matt Sorum adds, "We've started in our own backyard here in Los Angeles, and we'll continue to help schools across the nation. We believe that music and art are universal and necessary languages that unite us all, regardless of our backgrounds."

*Fundraiser offer valid only on the date and at the CPK location identified on the flyer. Only 501c organizations and non-profit schools are eligible to participate in CPK's fundraiser program. CPK will donate 20% (twenty percent) of all food and beverage sales to the organization. Tax, gratuity, gift card and retail sales are excluded from the donation. Offer valid for dine-in, takeout, online, catering, curbside or delivery orders placed directly with CPK. Not valid for third-party delivery. Offer void if flyer is distributed in or near restaurant. For more information about the 501c organization participating in the fundraiser, please contact the organization directly. Not valid at university or airport locations.

In collaboration with well-known artists, entrepreneurs, policy makers and the general public, Adopt the Arts is dedicated to improving the academic performance of every child, through the gift of making music and art. ATA is focused on developing strategic relationships with educators, administrators, and board members to ensure that most underserved schools in the district are identified and ultimately, helped. Co-founders Abby Berman and Matt Sorum believe that it is morally and ethically incumbent upon the public-at-large to foster the creativity, hopes, dreams and imaginations of our children.

To date, ATA has donated over 1000 instruments to 30 LAUSD schools and fully funded the music program at Rosewood Avenue and Westminster Elementary. Each school has been "adopted" by a celebrity or public figure, exposing children to inspirational people who have worked hard for their successes. The interaction between the children and adoptee creates a sense of responsibility and shared commitment for all of those involved. For more information, visit: http://www.adoptthearts.org.

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