Kretzer Piano Music Foundation to Host Free Mini-Concert in CityPlace Plaza

On Tuesday, May 3, hundreds of local nonprofit organizations will be seeking donations during the third annual, 24-hour GREAT GIVE, sponsored by the Community Foundation for Palm Beach and Martin Counties and the United Way of Palm Beach County.

But one day earlier - Monday, May 2, at 4 pm - the Kretzer Piano Music Foundation will once again present a FREE mini-concert as a musical kick-off to this year's GREAT GIVE, in which five talented youngsters (Kretzer Kids) will play five painted pianos in the plaza at CityPlace in West Palm Beach. Each of the pianists will play a delightful solo followed by a rousing ensemble performance that will thrill and entertain all onlookers.

The eye-dazzling pianos were all part of the Kretzer Piano Music Foundation's popular Keys to the Cities campaign in 2013, for which each was whimsically designed by a local artist and later donated to local charitable groups.

"The purpose of this fun and music-packed promotional event is to bring attention to GREAT GIVE, which raised more than $3 million for 437 worthy local nonprofit organizations last year - an amount that we hope to greatly surpass in the 24-hour period starting at midnight, the morning of Tuesday, May 3," says Kathi Kretzer-Sayler, founder of the Kretzer Piano Music Foundation and winner of the 2016 Muse Award for Outstanding Civic Leader.

The extraordinarily talented Kretzer Kids who will be playing the five painted pianos will be:

+ Lylybell Zhou, 15, Dreyfoos School of the Arts

+ Karen Copeland, 15, Dreyfoos School of the Arts

+ Zachary Lee Williams, 13, Bak Middle School of the Arts

+ Catherine Zeng, 18, Dreyfoos School of the Arts

+ Giancarlo Llerena, 14, Dreyfoos School of the Arts

The artists behind the five painted pianos and the nonprofits they represent are:

+ For Adopt-A-Family of the Palm Beaches: "Day at the Beach" by Karen "Kaz" Chandler

+ For Gratitude House: "Charlie" by Frank Navarrete

+ For Kretzer Piano Music Foundation: "Curioser & Curioser" by Amanda Turner

+ For Quantum House: "Melodic Liberation" by Silvana Delbo

+ For the Salvation Army: "Knockin' on Heaven's Door" by Sharon Koskoff

"I want to give a special thanks to CityPlace for letting us perform this free 5-piano mini-concert to promote GREAT GIVE 2016," adds Kathi Kretzer-Sayler. "And I want to extend a special invitation to music fans everywhere to come out and cheer us on at 4 pm on Monday, May 2."

About GREAT GIVE 2016:

Great Give Palm Beach & Martin Counties is a 24-hour online giving event led by the Community Foundation for Palm Beach County, United Way of Palm Beach County and United Way of Martin County designed to raise as much money as possible for local nonprofits in a single day. This community-wide event celebrates the spirit of giving and the collective effort it takes to strengthen our community by raising critical funds for local nonprofits.

Great Give Palm Beach & Martin Counties is part of the largest online giving event in history. We are joining more than 100 community foundations across the country in partnership with Give Local America to raise millions of dollars for the greater good - all on a single day. Last year's event raised more than $53 million nationally, and we're planning to make an even greater impact this year.

Every local gift will be multiplied with additional dollars from a bonus pool raised by the Community Foundation. Great Give Palm Beach & Martin Counties will make every hour May 3 meaningful by providing this unique opportunity for our community to raise significant funds that will make a direct, positive impact on the lives of our neediest residents. Cash prizes will be awarded to participating nonprofit organizations throughout the day will keep things fast-paced and exciting.

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