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88 KEYS Foundation: Home

Steinway Concert Artist LARA DOWNES created the 88 KEYS® Foundation in 2008 to foster opportunities for music experiences and learning in America’s public schools by providing pianos and music education programming to public K-12 schools.

Music is an essential part of childhood learning. The presence of a piano in a school classroom creates the potential for ongoing music education, and for exposure to high-quality musical experiences through the Foundation's community performance and outreach initiative, Rising Stars of California, as well as the touring programs of local and national performing arts presenters.

The mission of the Foundation is accomplished by facilitating the donation of used pianos directly to local schools and by providing live performances and education/outreach offerings to K-12 classrooms.

The initial goal of the Foundation is to place a piano in at least one school in every school district in California.