History of BBB4E
Our Story
In September 2000, Books, Brushes & Bands for Education (BBB4E) was incorporated in the State of Indiana as a non-profit corporation and received its final 501 (c) (3) ruling as a public charity with the IRS in December 2004. The corporate name, Books, Brushes & Bands for Education, was trademarked in 2008.
BBB4E was formed to enhance the fine arts education of children in the literary, visual, and musical arts and serves students ages 5-18, inclusive of all educational and socio-economic backgrounds of public, private, parochial, and home school children from any zip code. In its infancy, BBB4E developed two themed comprehensive bookmaking projects into local elementary schools which provided arts related experiences for the entire school, from the students and teachers to the custodial staff. Thousands of hand bound books were created over 18 months and culminated in public exhibits. Other projects include: Arts Inside Out, POETICIZE (A seven county-wide poetry contest), several Poetry Pantries, and performance opportunities singing with FOREIGNER and the National Anthem at the Get Out the Vote Rally with President Obama. In 2012, BOOK BRIGADE: A Call to Action was formed to collect books in bank branch lobbies and redistribute them pulling Red Radio Flyer Wagons while walking door-to-door in neighborhoods. Over 23,000 books have been collected and distributed to date.
Currently, BBB4E serves students annually from 30 different zip codes in its tuition-based music programs which include Let’s Sing!, Midwest Youth Choir (MYC), Midwest Youth Band (MYB), Midwest Youth Orchestra (MYO) September to May. No auditions are required to participate.
What are some of BBB4E’s accomplishments?
In the last 5 years, with encouragement from our teachers, three students auditioned and were accepted into the Alice S. Pfaelzer Tuition-Free Conservatory at the Merit School of Music in Chicago. Over 1,000 students compete annually; only 300 are chosen. Students who are accepted receive 26 free classes on Saturdays with some of Chicago’s finest music educators as well as master classes with international musicians in multiple fields including music theory, jazz ensembles, and more.
In 2020, the Midwest Youth Orchestra was awarded Silver in the Community Engagement Category for Music Education Advocacy by Music for All.
On November 4, 2018, the Midwest Youth Choir was invited to sing the National Anthem at the “Get Out the Vote Rally” featuring keynote speaker, President Barack Obama. 18 students performed to an audience of 7,000 people at the Genesis Center, Gary.
In 2013, BBB4E was the winner of the United Way Every Day Community Heroes Contest.
In 2012, MYC performed as the community choir with the band Foreigner at Wolf Lake Pavilion.
In 2012, winner of the Spirit of Hammond Award, City of Hammond.
In 2008, the corporate name, Books, Brushes & Bands for Education, Inc., was officially trademarked and has been re-registered several times to maintain its status.
What are some past projects?
2000-2001—Books Uncovered: Treasures and Triumphs, with Kenwood Elementary School, Hammond
2003—Let’s See: A Show of Hands for the Future, with Irving Elementary School, Hammond
2006-07—Poeticize, a seven county-wide poetry contest for grades 2 through college, Indiana University Northwest
2006-2013—Making Memories, with South Shore Arts and numerous library branch locations throughout NWI
2012 to present—BOOK BRIGADE: A Call to Action, a revolving book collection and delivery system