Founded in 1997, the Fender Center in Corona, CA has provided free and low cost music education classes to more than 14,000 children from over 100 cities throughout Southern California. The Fender Center conducts events throughout the year to bring musical experiences to the general public and raise funds to continue the important work of children's music education. The Steve Miller Bands summer tour extravaganza has become an anticipated annual event for millions of rock fans, and this once-in-a-lifetime benefit concert event proves to be nothing less.

The one-night-only VIP gala event will support the "CAMPAIGN 800" program. A fundraising platform designed to address the needs of the 800 kids currently on the waiting list to participate in the Kids Rock Free® music education programs. Supported by performing artists, music industry executives, community leaders and individuals in support of music education, "CAMPAIGN 800" aims to alleviate the void created by diminishing music education resources.

"In my opinion, this school is the best, self-sustaining, community music program in the country that focuses on teaching music by involving parents and children in a way that inspires and rewards," said Miller. "I have donated substantially to the program because it works. If you care about music education you should come and see for yourself what can be done with a committed community." A major contributor to Kids Rock Free and long time advocate for music education, Steve Miller has personally invested his time and resources over a number of years to the Kids Rock Free®music education program by performing several fundraising benefits and most recently invited a Kids Rock Free®student to perform at Steve Miller Band concerts in over 18 cities across the country during his 2010 Tour.

At a time when many public education facilities are forced to reduce or eliminate music education programs, Kids Rock Free® offers an alternate, high-quality, free community resource for music education providing children ages 7 to 17 with six-months of no-cost lessons in piano, guitar, bass, drums, vocal performance and combo band. Research on the benefits of music education simply show that children that study music education do better in school showing improved SAT scores (57 points higher on the verbal portion/43 points higher on the math portion), life-skill developments and are much more likely to attend college (students with music education experience attend college at a rate double that of students without musical training).

"Given the current social and economic strains on schools and families, our students that participate in Kids Rock Freeare in need of scholarships," said Debbie Shuck, Executive Director Fender Center. "With supportive artists such as Steve Miller we aim to stay true to our non-profit mission and keep our 'open door' policy for every young child with interest and talent for music, regardless of their parents' ability to pay for lessons."

Friday, September 17
6:00pm VIP admission and dinner
7:00pm Doors general admission
8:00pm Kids Rock Free® Band
9:00pm Steve Miller Band concert