Sam Ash Music will visit David Paterson Elementary School Friday, May 14th, to present the school with more than 60 brand new instruments worth a total of $22,240. Sam Ash, represented by family members Jerry (former chairman), Sammy (COO), and fourth-generation members Ben, Adam and Derek, will make the donation in Bernice Ash’s name.
“From the time we opened our first store in Hempstead, our mom, Bernice Ash, was committed to Long Island music education as head of our Sheet Music, Band and Orchestra Department,” said David C. Ash, CEO & General Counsel at Sam Ash Music. “Many students and teachers benefited from her experience, which she brought to many other states as we expanded. We are proud to make this donation in honor of mom, who would be proud to support the Hempstead schools.”
“I literally grew up in our music store in Hempstead,” said Richard Ash, CEO & president at Sam Ash Music. “My mother Bernice Ash and my father Jerry Ash worked at the store 6 days a week. We owe so much to this town. Our company would not be where it is today if were not for the town of Hempstead. In fact, we liked Hempstead so much that, in addition to our store on Fulton avenue, we opened a warehouse and executive offices on Peninsula Boulevard. My mother, Bernice, was especially proud of having a business in the ‘Hub of Nassau County.’ I thought that the donation by the Sam Ash family of all of these band instruments to the Hempstead school district would be something my mom would have wanted.”
“When we think about the African proverb ‘It takes a village to raise a child,’ it is monumental moments of this nature that reinforce its meaning,” said Gary Rush, principal of David Paterson Elementary School.
“[Sam Ash’s] donation will go a long way towards supporting our music department. On behalf of the entire Hempstead school community, we thank [Sam Ash],” said Regina Armstrong, interim superintendent of schools.
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