Dave’s Campaign to Support Young Musicians

When I founded the Louisville Folk School in 2015, my goal was to create a place where people could come together to learn, share, and celebrate traditional music. Our group classes for teens and adults have been at the heart of that vision from the very beginning. In recent years, I’ve been especially proud to see our programs grow to include children as well. We now bring musicians into schools for live performances, host summer camps, and offer our new Sounds of Kentucky after-school program where kids can dig deep into music-making together. These programs are doing what I dreamed about when I started the Folk School: passing the torch of traditional music to the next generation.

Of the 3,800 children who participate in youth programming through the Folk School, 98% do so for free. That is only possible because of sponsors and donors. This year on Give for Good, I am asking my friends and family to help me raise $25,000 to support music education. Your gift will not only allow us to continue what we have started but also to expand this after-school program, enabling more kids across Louisville, and, hopefully, eventually throughout the Commonwealth, to share in these opportunities.

As founder, this work is deeply personal for me. It has become my life’s work, alongside raising my own child, to create a place where music builds community, courage, and joy. I would be honored if you would join me in lifting up the next generation by donating to my campaign. Every dollar makes a difference, and together we can keep the music alive for years to come.