Hi,

My name is Jason O’Mara.  I’m a musician, web designer, and teacher.

I have been incredibly fortunate to have had the opportunity to teach for the Temple University Community Music Scholars Program.  This is an often overlooked yet incredibly comprehensive program of jazz and classical music instruction for school-aged Philadelphia children who have limited financial means.  Word!

I have been teaching music for this program every Saturday morning for 7 years now, and I wouldn’t trade the experience for anything else in this world.  I have met so many gifted students through this program and have seen so many students move on to admission into great music establishments and universities.  The benefits for the students are countless!

This is one of the most effective programs I’ve ever been a part of.  This program is 39 years old and currently serves about 150 students.  Recently, our non-profit umbrella institution, Temple University, finds itself in the same position as all non-profits in the city and across the nation:  with decreasing state support and a shrinking endowment.  We fear that it may be necessary for services to be decreased substantially (if not terminated) in the coming year if we do not develop outside sources of funding necessary to sustain the program.

A handful of the teachers have been working to raise awareness for the program in hopes of bringing in the funding needed to keep the CMSP alive.  As I am an individual of limited financial means myself, I have decided take part in the Philadelphia Triathlon Sprint as a way to raise awareness for this program.  Individuals, organizations, and companies can follow me here as I train for this challenging event.  Not only am I excited by the potential fitness benefits I will acquire from this event, but I am equally excited to raise public awareness for a program that has really had very little recognition in the past, but has been close to my heart for a long time.

Those who would like to support the program can do so in a number of ways.  Eventually, there will be a link directly from this site for interested donators to visit and donate online directly to the CMSP.

Until then, you can visit www.templecomunitymusicscholars.com and click on the link to Donate for instructions on how to help us raise the funds needed to keep this program alive.

Questions or comments can be directed to Melissa Douglas (CMSP Coordinator) through www.templecommunitymusicscholars.com or to me through this site.

If you do not wish to donate but still want to help, please spread the word to friends, family, and the press about this cause.