St. Paul, Minnesota - Foundation Financial Group completed its second quarter national philanthropic initiative, FFG's Viva Musica. The corporation supported Viva Musica's mission to ensure music education stays in schools. Through a significant financial contribution, Foundation Financial was also able to finance musical scholarships for Minnesota high school students.

Due to limited funding, many schools are having difficulty maintaining music and art programs. By implementing FFG's Viva Musica initiative, Foundation Financial Group employees were able to directly affect and improve the education of Minnesota's youth. The initiative included employee fundraising, volunteer efforts, and a significant corporate donation.

Foundation Financial Group employees from the corporation's Saint Paul Branch Office also volunteered to staff Viva Musica's first fundraising event of the year, the Drive for 5 Anniversary Event. One musically inclined FFG volunteer even performed as the event's opening act. In addition to FFG's generous donation, the Drive for 5 Anniversary Event generated over $2,000 which will benefit Minnesota's youth through Viva Musica's "The Lucille Project." Named after B.B. King's beloved guitar, Lucille, the project awards musical scholarships that provide custom built guitars to local aspiring musicians.

"In true FFG fashion, the company just couldn't resist joining in on the Viva Musica excitement," said Foundation Financial Group Event Coordinator Kirk Brown. "Foundation Financial donated $4,600 to help the local charity keep the arts alive in public education. The generosity of Foundation Financial Group and its employees have helped make 2013 the most successful fund raising year in Viva Musica's history. I am so blessed to work for a company that takes such pride in making a difference. FFG's heart is as big as the sky."

Foundation Financial Group's Viva Musica campaign funded three Apprentice Program Scholarships for local high school students. The scholarships will be awarded to high school musicians who are currently learning to play guitar. The students will receive guitars made exclusively for the students by LaDoten Custom Guitars. The owner of LaDoten Custom Guitars will also provide three guitar instruction sessions and a lesson on the guitar making process.

"Music has brought me comfort, energy, and purpose from a very young age, so I can't help but want that same opportunity for every child," continued Brown, who has been a passionate supporter of Viva Musica since the organization began in 2007. "The work that Viva Musica does with the Minnesota school system has the potential to positively influence thousands of kids. We're bringing children one of the world's greatest gifts - music."

Viva Musica is working towards a future filled with music and art; a world where all students have access to music and art education and can benefit from a well-rounded education. The organization is dedicated to growing music programs by supplying instruments and resources to schools in need. Viva Musica's goal is to advance children's education, spark creativity, and enhance brain development through the medium of music. With the disbursement of instruments and resources to music and art programs, Viva Musica has become a vital asset to Minnesota schools by ensuring music remains a part of every student's curriculum.

About Foundation Financial Group

Foundation Financial Group is a multibillion dollar financial services corporation. FFG offers its customers Best in Class service through its Insurance, Retirement and Mortgage Services. Named one of the fastest growing financial companies in the country by INC magazine, FFG has continued to grow its nationwide presence with over 100,000 new customers per year in 39 states. In addition to the value that Foundation Financial provides every customer, it is also dedicated to its communities and the people who live in them. Through a vast array of philanthropic endeavors the company not only provides significant monetary donations but also fosters a workforce environment that encourages all team members to personally make a difference. Foundation Financial is committed to its strong focus on customer service and community investment as it continues to grow and compete with the largest financial institutions in the world.

Foundation Financial Group reviews all public relations inquiries. For additional information, interview and image requests, contact the Foundation Financial Group Public Relations team.

Now through June 30

Get tickets for the 2013 Mississippi Valley Blues Festival in advance and save some money!  Tickets for the three-day event, July 4-6 at Davenport's LeClaire Park, are $20 per day at the gate.  But through June 30, you can get advance tickets for $15.50 per day at Hy-Vee stores in the Quad Cities, Clinton, and Muscatine.

And, for the first time ever, advance tickets will be available online ($15 plus a service fee), through PayPal at the MVBS website:  www.mvbs.org.  Just go to the Festival tab.

Advance $15 tickets are also available at The Muddy Waters in Bettendorf, Rascals in Moline, Martini's on the Rock in Rock Island, and at the Blues Society office in Davenport (call first: 563-32-BLUES).

Back by popular demand, guitar virtuoso Dave Fields, with his "Pot Luck Supper" band, will appear at The Muddy Waters (1708 State St. Bettendorf IA) on Thursday, June 13th, in a show presented by the Mississippi Valley Blues Society. Showtime will be 7:00; admission is $7.00, $5.00 for MVBS members.

If you missed his first Quad City appearance this past February, talk to anyone who was there and they'll convince you to come out and see this guy. A New York native, Dave Fields has played with the likes of Aretha Franklin, Lenny Kravitz, Hubert Sumlin, Sean Lennon, The Drifters, Tommy James and many more.

He was inducted into the New York Blues Hall of Fame just last year, and his most recent CD, Detonation, was chosen by A1artistspotlight.com as the Blues/Rock CD of the year. Guitar Player magazine also raves about his new CD and promises ..."an exhilarating concert experience if you ever get a chance to see Fields live."

So here's your chance.  Dave Fields, Thursday, June 13th, 7:00, at the Muddy Waters, Bettendorf.

Lindsay Anderson to Succeed Carrie Hightman

CHICAGO - Governor Pat Quinn today announced that Lindsay Anderson, a senior advisor for his administration, will succeed Carrie Hightman as chair of the Illinois Board of Higher Education (IBHE). Anderson brings extensive legal and governmental experience, including the coordination and oversight of legislative agendas for state agencies such as the Illinois State Board of Education and the Illinois Student Assistance Commission. Today's announcement continues the governor's commitment to making Illinois government more accountable, transparent and effective.

"Carrie Hightman has contributed a significant amount to thousands of students and I thank her for her service to the state of Illinois," Governor Quinn said. "Lindsay Anderson is a talented public servant who will work hard to improve higher education in Illinois, and encourage our young residents to pursue post secondary schooling, which will strengthen Illinois' economy."

Anderson most recently served as a Senior Advisor to Governor Quinn and as Chair of the Illinois Campaign finance Reform Task Force. Prior to those roles, Anderson acted as legislative director and counsel to Governor Quinn, working directly with the members of the Illinois General Assembly on targeted issues facing state government, including education.

Prior to joining the Quinn Administration in February 2009, Anderson worked at McGuireWoods as an Attorney in the State Government Relations practice group where she provided clients with lobbying assistance and insight on the development and execution of strategic legislative plans. Prior to joining McGuireWoods, Lindsay worked as an Assistant Counsel to the Illinois Speaker of the House. In that capacity, she served as counsel and parliamentarian for committees on revenue and local government. Anderson also worked in the Mayor of Chicago's Office of Intergovernmental Affairs.

Under Hightman's leadership as Chair of the IBHE, the state of Illinois adopted a 10-year master plan for higher education, the Public Agenda for College and Career Success, and made significant progress towards achieving its goals of affordability, accessibility and degree completion. The state is on track to meet its goal of 60 percent of the adult population having post secondary degrees by 2025. Hightman created a collaborative environment for all higher education stakeholders during her six years leading IBHE.

The IHBE oversees the programs, activities and policies related to higher education within the state and is responsible for planning and policy development; budgetary and fiscal affairs; academic program reviews and approval; and higher education grant administration and evaluation.  The four primary components of the Illinois' blueprint for higher education include :

• Increase educational attainment to match the best-performing states and world countries;
• Ensure college affordability for students, families, and taxpayers;
• Increase production of high-quality postsecondary credentials to meet the demands of the economy and an increasingly global society; and
• Better integrate Illinois' educational, research, and innovation assets to meet the economic needs of the state and its regions.

Anderson's new position as Chair of IBHE will be effective beginning on June 5, 2013.