John Ondrasik of Five For Fighting

The Neil Haley Show

Today on The Neil Haley Show, Neil "The Media Giant" Haley interviews John Ondrasik. Grammy® nominated singer-songwriter John Ondrasik, otherwise known as FIVE FOR FIGHTING, would like to talk about the “Music Matters Challenge” that just launched on March 26 and will run through April 30, which is a national online music challenge that will help raise awareness and dedicate resources for music programs in the nation’s underserved schools. Two grand prizes will be awarded – one for an individual ($10,000 in cash and the opportunity to select a music teacher to receive a three year salary); and one for school entries (a $25,000 school grant). John created the challenge with Cayley Tullman of the Tullman Family Office, after the Grammy nominated singer/songwriter, Tullman, and a group of eight students participated in weekly after-school workshops to compose an original song, “Let Music Fill My World,” which expressed why music mattered in their lives. The students wrote all of the verses in the song themselves, and had the opportunity to professionally record their song and create a music video with the help of seasoned industry music producers. As a part of this effort, the Tullman Family Office fully funded a full-time music teacher for the students at Chicago’s Farragut Career Academy, which propelled the idea to create the “Music Matters Challenge.” Listen to “Let Music Fill My World” HERE. FIVE FOR FIGHTING is currently on a U.S. tour showcasing worldwide hit songs from John’s Platinum-selling career, backed by a string quartet. The 18-city tour hits theaters and performing arts centers nationwide and goes through April 26 in San Juan Capistrano, California, with performances in Minneapolis, MN; St. Louis, MO; Milwaukee, WI; Chicago (Evanson), IL; Pittsburgh, PA; Portland,