Nef Jones and Nantashia at Haven Academy Back Stage Gibson Kids, Sway from MTV and Producer Rich Nice Recording "New York City Rocks" at Gibson Guitar The New York 1 Special Gibson Kids Rock Gibson Kids Rock founded by Nefertiti Jones and Jimi K Bones in the fall of 2008. The weekly music program resides at Mott Haven Academy Charter School in the South Bronx. Since its inception in the fall of 2008, the children have performed at the Bitter End, Crash Mansion, Yale Club and Jakes Saloon. They recorded their first single “New York City Kids Rock” at the Gibson Show Room. They were featured on New York 1, Think.MTV.com, Tonic.com, Q 104.3 and Town and Country Magazine. In December of 2009, the children performed at Crash Mansion for a benefit concert, hosted my MTV New Correspondent Sway. $13,000.00 was raised and has been used to provide the children a state of the arts recording studio. Even celebrities like Debbie Harry, Joan Jett, Moby and Jann Wenner jumped on board by signing a Gibson Guitar, which was then auctioned off on EBay to help raise money for the music program. Billy Joel signed a harmonica for the cause, Cartoonist Steve Marcus, (designer of the Red Hot Chili Pepper animation Tour) designed tee shirts for the kids and Bono signed the cover of a Rolling Stone Magazine. Most recently two of our students Carol Singh and Cielo Colon will be appearing in the new on-line Dove campaign, redefining beauty along side their teacher Tynisha Wynder Haven Academy Mott Haven Academy Charter School opened its doors in the fall of 2008. The new public school located in the South Bronx focuses on a rigorous academic program in a highly structured and supportive school environment. While the school is opened to all students, it is specifically designed to meet the needs of at-risk- students who are currently in the foster care and child welfare system. The school design includes a close partnership with one of the city's largest social service agencies, The New York Foundling. By co-locating the school and family support services, Haven Academy hopes to give students and families a seamless continuum of care to maximize success. Its students will learn that challenging life circumstances provide opportunities to learn, grow, and persevere. The New York Foundling Founded as a home for abandoned children, The New York Foundling has been saving children, preserving families and building communities since 1869. Today, The Foundling’s extensive network of community-based services provides havens for children whose safety is at risk, loving foster and group facilities to protect children, and support for families to strengthen them. For 140 years, The New York Foundling has upheld a commitment to protect society’s most vulnerable children – to “Abandon No One.” To make a contribution visit us at New York Foundling: Click Here Or make checks payable to the New York Foundling. Please put Gibson Kids Rock Music Program in the subject line. New York Foundling C/O Alan Shatz 590 Avenue of the Americas New York, NY 10011 You can check out the articles at the following links: The New York 1 Special ABC Eyewitness News segment Think.MTV.Com Tonic.com article The New York Times “Pass the Squishy”