Ann Marie Haney Endowment Provides San Diego Schools with Music Instruments

Research has revealed clearly positive developmental and cognitive outcomes as a direct result of learning to play a musical instrument, said Director of the School of Music and Dance Scott Lipscomb.

The Ann Marie Haney Endowment for Music does just that.

For almost 30 years, Ann Marie Haney has served as the volunteer chair of Community Council for Music Schools, advocating for school music instruction in the San Diego Unified School District, and loaning musical instruments to students in need.

The endowment has provided more than 2,000 donated instruments that have been loaned to thousands of students in elementary, middle and high schools throughout San Diego county.

“I refer to Ann Marie Haney as a ‘force of nature,’ and I continue to think that is the most appropriate description. It has been a privilege to get to know her and to experience, first-hand, her driving passion to ensure that every student in the San Diego Unified School District is able to experience music as a core component of their educational experience.” said Lipscomb.

In addition to her work procuring instruments, Ann Marie Haney is involved with:

● Assisting in the funding of three annual San Diego Unified Honor Concerts for which music students have the opportunity to perform in advanced ensembles.

● Supporting the San Diego State University Music Education Fellowship program (MEF), which allows music education students to work in the classroom alongside experienced music teachers.

● Advocating and testifying to decision makers, drawing from research-based sources that validated the importance of providing music instruction to students. Music students’ heightened academic performance, social development, collaborative skills, improved mental health and self-discipline are all well documented.

“Through her selfless giving, she has afforded us an opportunity to continue this work well into the future through the endowment that has been created in her name,” said Lipscomb.

Your support for the Ann Marie Haney Endowment for Music will help to fund in perpetuity the program management, instrument maintenance and advocacy efforts needed to protect and support music education for San Diego Unified students. Your donation will help us reach the goal of $1.5 million necessary to allow the endowment proceeds to continue this important work for years to come. The SDSU School of Music and Dance will provide oversight, with the sole purpose of continuing Ann Marie’s work.

“This positive impact must be made available to every single student in San Diego, whether or not they have sufficient resources to rent or own an instrument,” said Lipscomb.

To make a donation to the Ann Marie Haney Endowment for Music, CLICK HERE or contact the Director of Development Elise Moersch at [email protected].

The content within this article has been edited by Lizbeth Persons.