SANTA MONICA, CA. (Top40 Charts/ Recording Academy) - The GRAMMY Foundation and MusiCares Foundation, the affiliated charities of The Recording Academy, announced that their respective Boards have elected new Officers and Directors.
George Jones, president and chief executive officer of Borders Group, Inc., has been elected to serve as the GRAMMY Foundation's Chair, with Beatriz R. Perez, senior vice president, integrated marketing for the North
America division of the Coca-Cola Company, elected as Vice Chair, and Rusty Rueff elected as Secretary/Treasurer.
Scott Pascucci, president, Rhino Entertainment, has been elected Secretary/Treasurer for MusiCares. In a separate motion, the MusiCares and GRAMMY Foundation Boards unanimously voted to expand Neil Portnow's title to President/CEO to reflect his dedication and commitment to both organizations.
In addition, both Boards unanimously voted to create the position of Chair Emeritus to recognize the extraordinary contributions of their respective immediate past Chairs.
Steve Schnur, worldwide executive of music and marketing for Electronic Arts, will now be the GRAMMY Foundation's Chair Emeritus and Les Bider, CEO, PinnacleCare, will hold the Chair Emeritus position for MusiCares.
"As nonprofit organizations, one measure of our strength is the leadership and composition of our Boards," said Portnow, also President/CEO of The Recording Academy. "Our Board members are guardians and ambassadors of each Foundation's mission, and they bring passion, dedication and energy to their roles. We are truly fortunate to have such singular and highly respected individuals working with us."
The newly elected GRAMMY Foundation Directors are Tim Bucher, vice president of consumer software, Dell; Geoff Cottrill, chief marketing officer, Converse; and Roger McNamee, co-founder and general partner of Elevation Partners.
"The impact of the GRAMMY Foundation continues to grow and it is a privilege to help guide this organization as Board Chair," said Jones. "We are dedicated to influencing the lives of young people by opening the windows of opportunity that music can provide, and we are leading the efforts to ensure the contributions that our musical icons have made to our shared cultural heritage remain intact."
Continuing as MusiCares' Board Chair is John Branca, a partner at Ziffren, Brittenham, Branca, Fischer, Gilbert-Lurie & Stiffelman LLP. Certified drug and alcohol counselor Mary Pattiz remains Vice Chair. Newly elected MusiCares Directors are Martin Bandier, chairman and CEO, Sony/ATV Music Publishing; Tero Ojanpera, executive vice president and head of Nokia's entertainment and communities business; Big Jon Platt, president, West Coast creative, EMI Music Publishing; Tom Poleman, SVP programming and marketing for Z100 and Clear Channel New York; and Gary Veloric, founder, JG Wentworth and Red Stripe Plane Music.
"As a longtime member of the music industry who has witnessed the transformative effect of MusiCares' health and human services programs in our community, Scott will bring integrity and commitment to his new role as our Secretary/Treasurer," said Branca.
Established in 1989 by The Recording Academy, MusiCares provides a safety net of critical assistance for music people in times of need. MusiCares' services and resources cover a wide range of financial, medical and personal emergencies, and each case is treated with integrity and confidentiality. MusiCares also focuses the resources and attention of the music industry on human service issues that directly impact the health and welfare of the music community. For more information, please visit www.musicares.com.
The GRAMMY Foundation was established in 1989 to cultivate the understanding, appreciation and advancement of the contribution of recorded music on American culture - from the artistic and technical legends of the past to the still unimagined musical breakthroughs of future generations of music professionals. The Foundation accomplishes this mission through programs and activities that engage the music industry and cultural community as well as the general public. The Foundation works in partnership year-round with its founder, The Recording Academy, to bring national attention to important issues such as the value and impact of music and arts education and the urgency of preserving our rich cultural heritage. For more information, please visit www.grammyfoundation.com.
Established in 1957, The Recording Academy is an organization of musicians, producers, engineers and recording professionals that is dedicated to improving the cultural condition and quality of life for music and its makers. Internationally known for the GRAMMY Awards - the preeminent peer-recognized award for musical excellence and the most credible brand in music - The Recording Academy is responsible for groundbreaking professional development, cultural enrichment, advocacy, education and human services programs. In its 50th year, The Academy continues to focus on its mission of recognizing musical excellence, advocating for the well-being of music makers and ensuring music remains an indelible part of our culture. For more information about The Academy, please visit www.grammy.com.
