Don't let the headline fool you, there is a tour involved, read on for all the details: In tune with its mission to offer consumers healthy snacks "with a rock-n-roll attitude," Rock-n-Roll Gourmet, LLC, maker of Hippie Chips, has entered a multi-year agreement with the GRAMMY Foundation to launch a percentage-of-sales initiative that will benefit the Foundation's GRAMMY in the Schools music education programs for high school students.Rock-n-Roll Gourmet was founded in June 2009 by Dan and Jean Ehrlich, husband-and-wife musicians who recognized an unfulfilled niche for snacks that are both healthy and great-tasting. With colorful packaging and fun musical references (Hippie Chips flavors like "Woodstock Ranch" and "White Room Cheddar"), each bag also features a "Music Showcase" section that promotes new musical artists.
Rock-n-Roll Gourmet will promote its GRAMMY Foundation initiative at retail through a strong Back-to-School effort this fall. Concurrently, it will roll out "The Mother Chip," a refurbished, open-top, 1949 Crown bus that will visit public and private schools nationwide. Bearing such slogans as "Peace, Love & Gluten Free," the bus will introduce students to the company's healthy snacks and promote music education. Talks are underway with the GRAMMY Foundation and Grammy Museum to potentially incorporate GRAMMY exhibit materials.
The bus will also serve as a mobile platform to help music educators and school administrators apply for and enroll in the GRAMMY Foundation's GRAMMY Signature Schools program, which recognizes and awards top U.S. public high schools that are making an outstanding commitment to music education. Each year, GRAMMY Signature Schools are chosen across the
U.S. and receive a custom award and monetary grant to benefit their music program. A selection of these schools are designated as Enterprise Award winners, and this distinction recognizes efforts made by economically underserved schools. Annual recipients of GRAMMY Signature Schools awards are determined by a panel of top music educators and professionals. Applications for the GRAMMY Signature Schools program are currently online at www.grammyintheschools.com and the deadline to apply is Oct. 22.
"Our mission is to get kids to snack healthy and become more conscious about food choices and exercise," explains Rock-n-Roll Gourmet co-founder and CEO Dan Ehrlich. "Our love for food and music has given us a unique opportunity to reach the youth of today and inspire the next generation to be more involved in the choices they make, including the snacks they consume, while they help to save music programs across America."
"Music is nutrition for the soul," said GRAMMY Foundation Sr. Vice President Kristen Madsen. "So it's a pleasure to partner with Rock-n-Roll Gourmet and reach for a healthier generation of young people – physically and emotionally."
