“I am a proud former ‘Band Geek’ who knows first-hand what it is like to want to learn how to play, but not have an instrument. I want to help as many students as I can to realize their dreams of becoming musicians,” said Moulton. “My first instrument was purchased at a yard sale. It was barely adequate to say the least. A year later I was able to purchase a better one at a pawn store.”
Cuts in education budgets have hit the arts programs especially hard for the past several years.
“Band keeps kids grounded behaviorally and enhances them academically, and it is the incentive many kids need to make it all the way,” said Kathy Kirkpatrick, principal at Lowe’s Grove Middle School in Durham. “So, Mr. Moulton, thank you. Thank you for providing Lowe’s Grove Middle School the means to give more kids the opportunity to participate in a program that just may keep them in school.”
“We would not be able to have a band program here at D.C. Virgo if it were not for Mr. Moulton’s donation,” said Cameron Bolish, arts education facilitator at D.C. Virgo Preparatory Academy in Wilmington. “This will absolutely have an impact on every student who now has this opportunity. Studies show that students exposed to musical training do better on standardized tests, and have a better chance of going on to college and completing a degree.”
To date, more than 700 instruments and $14,000 have gone to middle-school band programs. Moulton will be donating instruments that are pawned at his eight national Pawn stores on an ongoing basis. Additionally, the public is encouraged to donate their instruments. Instruments can be dropped off at any National Pawn store
