Fund Which Honors Local Musician Benefitting Community Music Project > Chautauqua Region Community Foundation

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Fund Which Honors Local Musician Benefitting Community Music Project
Monday, December 20, 2010

Annie Immordino's greatest passions were children and music, and the Chautauqua Region Community Foundation is proud to announce that the Annie Immordino Community Music Project Endowment Fund has met its necessary funding level and is now ready to be used to help teach kids who attend the Community Music Project.

Annie Immordino was a young, local musician who passed away on December 8th, 2003. She had been employed by the Chautauqua County Head Start Program for 15 years, and was a music teacher with the Community Music Project. Annie played an important role with the Community Music Project's, Children's Music Studio.

According to their website, Community Music Project, Inc. is a not-for-profit arts organization that focuses on music education and performance for adults and children throughout the Western New York Area. Their mission is, "To build community by providing educational opportunities and encouraging participation in musical expression through programs for composers, performers, and listeners of all ages and skill levels in a variety of musical styles."

Angie Giuffre, Annie's sister, remembers Annie as being a very spiritual person who loved family and friends very deeply. At the age of 26, Annie was diagnosed with breast cancer which she battled, on and off, for 13 years. During that time, many other health issues arose that became life threatening but it was her faith and music that sustained her.

"Annie's life, here on earth, ended on December 8th, 2003 but her spirit lives on through all the people she touched in her 39 years and in the music she left us," Angie said.

Melanie Gritters, the founder and director of Children's Music Studio, remembers Annie as someone who had extensive experience teaching children and who was also an experienced performer, both singing and playing guitar.

"Annie was an energetic, upbeat, friendly person," Gritters remarked. "She was passionate in her love for music, children, life, and God. She was just a wonderful person who tried very hard to fight her cancer. Even when she knew that she would not get well, she kept trying to live her life to the fullest. For Annie, that meant giving to others.

Gritters went on to say that she was privileged and thankful to have known Annie, and that they are honored to have Annie's name on their fund at the Chautauqua Region Community Foundation; a fund that will benefit area children.

In 2007, the Community Music Project began an endowment in Annie's honor, and over the next 2 years, the fund surpassed the $5,000 point; a level needed for the endowment to be fully funded.

The primary purpose of the income from this endowment fund is to provide financial assistance to reduce the program expenses for participants in the programs of the Children's Music Studio. It may also be used for such other charitable purposes as the Board of Directors of the Community Music Project deems advisable to advance the mission of the Community Music Project.

Chautauqua Region Community Foundation - Enriching the Quality of Life in the Chautauqua Region. For more information go online to www.crcfonline.org or on Facebook under "Chautauqua Region Community Foundation".

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