Dillon and Donna perform live music at Altar’d State, Tampa

In January, a local clothing retail store manager asked if music helped people’s mental health. Yes, we replied, and then we were told that every Monday that store donates 10% of their revenue to a local charity based on a theme set by the store’s corporate head office. For Quarter 1, 2022, that theme was “healing through music and the Arts.”

We were in!

A partnership was created to encourage shoppers to buy products in person on Mondays throughout the giving period, which included the DMS sending performers into the store for a “Mondays @ 2” recital series.

Yes, the DMS gave concerts in a store at International Plaza in Tampa for 14 weeks 🙂

The end result is that the store, Altar’d State, donated over $7,800 to the DMS!

Karen Schmidt, violin, performing at Altar’d State, Tampa

Turns out this was the second largest donation this particular store has ever given a charity (in over five years).

We want to give special thanks to Angelika Robison, Assistant Manager of Guest Engagement, and Dillon Acey, who made this partnership possible but who had returned to Boston before the check presentation ceremony.

It’s such a cool store, too, with bohemian-style clothing and accessories. Here’s hoping we can partner with Altar’d State again in the future…

Store Manager Amanda Wallace, DMS General Director Stephen P Brown, Cellist Rose Mallare, Store Assistant Manager Lauren Vegley