Play It Forward
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Play It Forward provides musical instruments, instruction and inspiring opportunities to students in need.
Collects gently used, donated instruments and gifts them throughout the community to students in need.
What happens when kids get to MAKE the music they’re learning??
This summer at , Play It Forward students built instruments, wrote songs, made beats, and turned their own ideas into music. The song you’re hearing? They wrote it!!
And there’s science behind all that creativity. According to Bigger Better Brains:
🎶 Music learning strengthens auditory, motor, and cognitive connections in the developing brain.
💡 Music learning also supports 3 key executive functions: inhibition, working memory, and cognitive flexibility.
🧠 6 months of music training has been linked to a measurable difference in children’s brain development.
Music is an art form, a creative outlet, AND a powerful way for kids to grow!
08/14/2026
Ask any PIF student: the recital treats are almost as exciting as performing itself! Every year, kids rave about the cookies and famous banana pudding dessert cups. These beautiful treats are lovingly created by Lené Hopson, owner of Lili Mae’s.
We wanted to take an opportunity this summer to shoutout this beloved local business. Thanks to Lené’s creativity and dedication, our recital desserts have become a beloved Play It Forward tradition — one that our students and their families talk about long after the final note is played.
If you’d like to enjoy these delicious treats on your own time, you can find Lili Mae’s Confections at the Montavilla Farmers Market, the Come Thru Market, or by placing your own catering order at LiliMaesPDX.com.
08/12/2026
Our 2026 Fundraising Gala Needs Volunteers Like YOU!
A new school year means new opportunities to make a difference... and, new fundraising goals. Join us in bringing the M.A.G.I.C. to life at Play It Forward’s biggest celebration and fundraiser of the year!
Our annual Supper Club Gala depends on an incredible team of volunteers, and we’d love to have you involved. Volunteer opportunities include:
✔ auction tracking
✔ event setup
✔ registration
✔ raffle ticket sales
✔ and more!
No matter your contribution, you’ll play an important part in creating a memorable evening for our students, families, and supporters. We can’t wait to work alongside you to celebrate music, community, and generosity.
To pitch in on Saturday September 12, please visit the volunteer link in our bio for more info! 🙏
08/06/2026
Every instrument has a story. And now Elaina’s saxophone has two!
We were so grateful to have received a tenor saxophone, donated by the daughter of a beloved local musician. Now, this beautiful instrument has found a new story with Elaina, a young musician who plays in her school and community bands. She started playing on a borrowed instrument and realized it was meant to be. Thrilled to receive a tenor sax of her own, she sent us this super special illustration as a thank you.
Through Play It Forward’s Instruments for Change program, students in our Title I schools, virtual programs, and communities across Oregon and SW Washington receive donated instruments that help make music education more accessible. Every instrument passed forward creates a new opportunity for a young musician to learn, grow, and share their gifts.
Thanks to the Play It Forward community’s incredible generosity, we’ve rehomed 1,800 pre-loved instruments to date... and counting! That’s $1.8 million worth of pianos, guitars, and other instruments like Elaina’s tenor sax.
We’d love for you to visit our website to learn more about donating or reciving an instrument 🎷🎸🎹
07/23/2026
Long after the final applause, these are the moments that stay with our students 🏅🏅🏅
A resounding BRAVO to every family member, teacher, volunteer, and supporter who made Recital Season 2026 so special.
And one last STANDING OVATION for our incredible performers! Hold those medals high... you should feel so proud of all you’ve accomplished.
🎉 Big news for Play It Forward! 🎉
We’re honored to be selected as a recipient of Nexstar’s 30 Days of Giving campaign, thanks to a nomination from KOIN 6!
This generous $5,000 grant will help support our summer programming, get more instruments into the hands of young musicians, and help our teachers prepare for another incredible school year.
To our friends at and : thank you for believing in our mission and investing in the next generation of artists. Your support helps ensure that more students have access to the confidence, creativity, and community that music makes possible 👫🎶
03/06/2026
Great staff work session this morning at Play It Forward!
We kicked off a new series together where we are revisiting our values and beginning the conversation around organizational structure and alignment. A big thank you to Michelle Salvado with Path Leadership Solutions for facilitating such a thoughtful and engaging session.
We’re excited to continue this process and can’t wait to see the outcomes that come from this work. Stay tuned!
03/05/2026
We’re proud to share that Play It Forward has earned the 2026 Platinum Seal of Transparency from Candid!
This is the highest level of recognition Candid awards to nonprofits, and it reflects our deep commitment to openness, accountability, and impact. Donors, partners, and our community can see exactly how their support helps expand access to music and instruments for young people.
Transparency matters because every gift represents trust. We’re grateful to our supporters who make this work possible and help us continue creating meaningful change
one instrument, one student,
and one opportunity at a time.
🔗 Learn more about our impact and view our 2025 Annual Report.
https://www.canva.com/design/DAHAUGFjR_w/-i1mav78rFWvIrQBa2ZI0A/view?utm_content=DAHAUGFjR_w&utm_campaign=designshare&utm_medium=link&utm_source=viewer
02/22/2026
We're just two week away!
Looking for a meaningful way to spend your Sunday? Join us March 8th for an unforgettable live performance by Michael Allen Harrison and help open the door to music access for local youth.
This special Winter Music Series concert at the beautiful Stoller Experience Center benefits Play It Forward, the nonprofit founded by Michael and Marietta Harrison to provide access to excellence through music.
Doors 3 PM | Concert 4 PM
$40 guest | $32 club members
Bring someone you love, sip some wine, and enjoy music that makes a difference.
Get your tickets now and be part of the story!
https://www.stollerfamilyestate.com/events/winter-music-series-michael-allen-harrison/
12/29/2025
Your dream e-bike could be one $10 donation away.
Enter to win the Tern HSD S00, courtesy of Splendid Cycles.
Support youth music, score a killer ride.
Make a donation of $10+ to Play It Forward today and be entered to win: https://giveguide.org/nonprofits/play-it-forward
Click here to claim your Sponsored Listing.
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Portland, OR