Lakehouse Music Academy and Asbury Park Music Foundation Sponsor Music Program
March 3, 2022, Asbury Park, NJ – Students performed their first music concert produced by Lakehouse Music Academy as part of ‘Academy Week,’ a week-long celebration at Sisters Academy for family, donors, staff, and students. Asbury Park Music Foundation has agreed to fund the first year of a music program initiative to enhance the music and arts curriculum for the students. The program includes weekly music and studio production lessons with Lakehouse Music Academy.
“This program at Mercy Center’s Sisters Academy would not have happened if it wasn’t for Asbury Park Music Foundation. Our gratitude to the Foundation for introducing the art of music to our students is immense. We know this contribution to their education and the enrichment it will bring to their lives will forever be remembered,” said Kim Guadagno, Executive Director, Mercy Center.
“By providing a music education program for these young women, we hope to open a world of opportunities beyond their school years. Music will give them confidence and empowerment to carve out future success and help build solid and meaningful relationships. As an organization, the Asbury Park Music Foundation strives to make a significant difference in the lives of under-resourced young people in our community,” said Tom Donovan, Chairman, Board of Trustees, Asbury Park Music Foundation.
“I could tell right from the first class when we played a Fleetwood Mac song, and their faces suddenly lit up. They started to play the drums, the guitar, and the piano to the song’s beat. I knew then that we had created a magical moment,” said Juan O’Grady, Vice President and General Manager, Lakehouse Music Academy.
The concert was part of “Family Day.” Those who attended were family, staff, and donors with a prayer service and lunch that followed the performance.
About Mercy Center
Mercy Center, based in Asbury Park, provides programs and services that empower, enrich, and educate. The nonprofit, founded by the Sisters of Mercy in 1986, helps people facing socio-economic challenges realize their full potential, with a special emphasis on women and children. Our goal is to break the cycle of poverty with kindness, compassion, and understanding.
Mercy Center offers Emergency Services, including food at our pantry which is open all day, every weekday. We provide clothing and utilities assistance to help sustain families facing financial difficulties. Our Family Resource Center is a “one-stop-shop” for resources, referrals, advocacy, counseling, and behavior modification services. The Family Resource Center offers group, virtual, and individual counseling to help families maintain healthier lives and relationships.
Mercy Center’s Sisters Academy of New Jersey is a middle school for girls grades five through eight. The Academy focuses on girls from surrounding communities from economically challenged families. It provides an education of excellence, life skills, and the necessary tools to become confident, self-sufficient, and successful in competitive high schools. In fact, 100% of our students graduate from high school.
To learn more about Mercy Center or to donate, visit www.mercycenternj.org. Follow Mercy Center on Facebook @MercyCenterAP and Instagram @MercyCenterNJ.
