Focus on Youth today announced that it has been selected by multi-platinum singer-songwriter Josh Groban to receive a donation from his new Find Your Light Foundation, which is dedicated to enriching the lives of young people through arts, education and cultural awareness.  Focus on Youth is one of 29 arts education nonprofit organizations selected by Groban to receive funds from The Find Your Light Foundation during his “Straight to You” tour.

“Obviously, working with our students is the source of my greatest pleasure, but I have to admit that when I learned that Mr. Groban was so generously acknowledging our work, I literally burst into tears of joy”, said Donna Lee Holmes, Founder and Executive Director of Focus on Youth.  “It speaks to the kind of human being Mr. Groban is that his foundation would choose to honor and encourage a small shoestring effort like ours.  It’s an important validation of the hours and effort of our mentors and other volunteers put into having a positive impact on the lives of these young people.”

“Ensuring every child has the opportunity to experience an arts education is very important to me,” said Groban.  Focus on Youth shares this goal with me, and it gives me great pleasure to highlight the work they do.”

While Groban tours the U.S. on his  “Straight to You” tour, his Find Your Light Foundation will make a cash donation to a nonprofit arts education organization that operates in each locale n which the tour stops.  In addition, Groban is inviting the head of that nonprofit and the young people who receive services from the nonprofit to attend his concert and be recognized from the stage.  They will also have the opportunity to meet Groban prior to the performance.

Taking the foundation’s mission one step further, Groban is partnering with Americans for the Arts, the nation’s leading nonprofit organization for advancing the arts and arts education, to launch a joint text-to-give campaign, which will run for the duration of his “Straight to You” tour in 2011.  Proceeds from the campaign will go to support both the Find Your Light Foundation and Americans for the Arts as they work to ensure every child and young adult in America has access to quality arts education.  Text ART to 50555 to make a $10 donation to the support the cause.

Groban will be in Portland Oregon to perform on August 26, 2011 as part of his “Straight To You” worldwide tour running through November.  The tour supports his recent and fifth studio album, “Illuminations” which has already been certified platinum in the U>S. Its No.4 debut on Billboards’s Top 200 chart is Groban’s fourth consecutive Top 5 Chart.  Tickets for Josh’s upcoming shows are available through http://www.ticketmaster.com.

About Find Your Light

To find our more please visit the website at http://www.findyourlightfounation.org and /or its Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/findyourlightfoundation.

About Americans for the Arts

American for the Arts is the leading nonprofit organization for advancing the arts in America.  With offices in WAshington D.C. and New York City, it has a record of more than 50 years of service.  Americans for the Arts is dedicated to representing and serving local communities and creating opportunities for every American to participate in and appreciate all forms of the arts.  Additional information is available at www.AmericansForTheArts.org.