Hi, I'm Lauren Schwartz. I am the music teacher at the Visitacion Valley Middle School in San Francisco. I run a modern band program, which means that my students learn how to play the music that they love. I teach the acoustic guitar, electric guitar, ukulele, keyboard, bass, drums and vocals. I have been teaching for a long time and over the years have been able to gather quite a collection of instruments for my students to learn on. I have plenty of instruments in my classroom and all of my students have access to whatever they need while they are in my classroom.

I have quite a few students who would love to have an instrument of their own and this is where you come in. I would love to raise enough money here so that if a student asks me for an electric guitar and amp or a keyboard, I can get it for them and it will be their forever instrument. I have watched, over the years, how music can transform a person. Music is magical, and when a student asks me for an instrument, I do everything that I can to make sure that I can make it a reality for them. For many of my students, the expense of an instrument would be too much for their family to afford. Having your own instrument should not be a luxury.

The other part of my role at my school is that I am the head of the GSA. The GSA stands for Gender Sexuality Acceptance. As a member of the LGBTQI+ community, I support many LGBTQI+ students. Our group meets every Thursday during lunch time and it is a safe space for the students to be whoever they truly are. This group is very necessary for some of the students at our school. As part of the "comfort", I buy them lunch once a week. I have been doing this all year but it is getting a little bit too much for me to handle on my own. My students also want to decorate the classroom that we have the group in with paint and LED lights and different other elements. I know that this group has helped many students when they don't feel like they are accepted anywhere else. They are amazing kids who deserve the best.

Would you be willing to help me honor my music students and my GSA students by supporting this fundraiser? I believe in the power of love and music and will personally be contributing the first $200.

Any support will be appreciated. Please feel free to share this with other people who would love to support my students through music or to support my LGBTQI+ students with food and love.

With love and respect,

Lauren Schwartz