Immediate Release
Randi Brightman
(212) 645-6900 x149
randi@jerichopr.com

“Sing, Sing a Song, Sing Out Loud, Sing Out Strong. Sing of Good Things, Not Bad,
Sing of Happy, Not Sad…Just Sing, Sing a Song.”
Joe Rapos/The Carpenters/Sesame Street, 1973
THEIR PITCH ISN’T PERFECT,
BUT THEIR HEARTS ARE

Introducing “The True Philadelphia Stars”
Anyone Can Perform with a Great Voice and a Dream of Being a Star, But Some Sing Flat Just to
“Keep The Music Alive”

Conshohocken, PA, January 3, 2003 – Dreams take many different forms. For some it’s stardom, bright lights and limousines. For others it’s creating the life you really want with a comfortable and beautiful home. For many, it’s seeing new dreams and a new love and talent for music grow within their children, keeping music itself alive.

On January 15, IKEA, in conjunction with its new Conshohocken store grand opening celebration, presents “The True Philadelphia Stars: Keep the Music Alive” marathon. IKEA will donate money to local greater Philadelphia area schools for music education for every minute of singing during the grand opening days, up to a total of $25,000. The host of the IKEA marathon on grand opening day is Beauty and The Beast Broadway star, Jamie-Lynn Sigler, who also plays teenager Meadow Soprano on HBO’s hit series, The Sopranos.

The True Philadelphia Stars marathon at IKEA makes it possible for regular folks of all different talents and abilities to sing in a chain of song and benefit local schools in the greater Philadelphia area including: Norristown High School, Plymouth-Whitemarsh High School, Ridge Park Elementary (grades K-3), D. Newlin Fell (grades K-7) and the Francis Scott Key School (K-5). For every minute of song during the marathon, IKEA will donate $12.00 toward these local schools’ music education.

The marathon will begin at 7:30 a.m. at the new IKEA Conshohocken store (400 Alan Wood Road) on Wednesday, January 15th at 9:00 a.m. and continues for six days through Monday, January 20, at 6:30 p.m.

Another way that shoppers can help our local schools is during grand opening weekend on Saturday, January 18 and Sunday, January 19. IKEA will collect donated instruments, new or used, to benefit Strings for Schools (www.stringsforschools.org), a not-for-profit organization founded in 1974, that gives the gift of ‘Great Music’ education (classical, jazz, crossover popular, and multicultural music) to pre-schoolers, elementary and secondary school children throughout the greater Philadelphia area. Strings for Schools will distribute the donated instruments to local schools in need to help fill some of the major voids in music education, due to budget and music teacher shortages, and to inspire students toward a lifelong involvement in music.

“Our grand opening celebration marathon empowers people to sing with their hearts. It’s about having fun, being unböring, and attaining what brings you joy,” said Doug Smith, IKEA Conshohocken store manager. “Whether you sing professionally or just in the shower, your few minutes of singing could change a young person’s life forever through music. It’s less glitzy then the TV show, but you tell me, who are the true stars?”

How The True Philadelphia Stars: Keep the Music Alive” Marathon works at the new IKEA Conshohocken store:

1. From Wednesday, January 15 at 7:30 a.m. through Monday, January 20, at 6:30 p.m., IKEA invites anyone who can sing, and those who can’t, to step up to the microphone and sing out loud to create an uninterrupted chain of music.
2. For each minute of singing during the Keep the Music Alive Marathon, IKEA will donate $12.00 directly to the participating local area schools to benefit its music education.
3. From January 8 through January 20 you can register to sing by logging onto www.ikea-usa.com or just stop by at IKEA Conshohocken to sing a song and sing out loud!
4. Each day of the True Philadelphia Stars: Keep the Music Alive marathon, one of the daily participating performers will win an IKEA $1,000 gift certificate through a random drawing.
5. If you would like to play an instrument instead of singing to help benefit local schools’ music education, you can – acoustics only!
6. During grand opening weekend, January 18-19, donate a new or used musical instrument at IKEA and receive a FREE IKEA/PS GISSLÖ Bag. The not-for-profit organization, Strings for Schools (www.stringsforschools.org), will distribute the donated instruments to pre-schoolers, elementary and secondary school children throughout the greater Philadelphia area.

Other fun activities to enjoy at the IKEA Conshohocken grand opening celebration from January 15-20:

* Be one of the first 100 people in line by 9:00 a.m. on grand opening day, Wednesday, January 15, and you will receive a FREE IKEA POÄNG Chair, valued at $79.00!
* Every hour, bells will ring at random and one lucky customer in a randomly designated cash lane will “win” their entire purchase for FREE!
* If you have a receipt from when IKEA Plymouth Meeting opened in 1985, bring it to the grand opening of this new IKEA Conshohocken store! The person who brings in the oldest receipt from IKEA Plymouth Meeting store will win a $500 IKEA gift certificate!
* IKEA will provide special entertainment for shoppers to enjoy including: free giveaways, face painters, caricaturist artist, puppet theater, jugglers, magicians, and more!

Since its founding in 1943, IKEA has offered a wide range of home furnishings and accessories of good design and function, at prices so low that the majority of the people can afford them. IKEA is recognized as a socially responsible company, and continuously supports initiatives that benefit causes such as children and the environment. Currently, IKEA has more than 175 stores in 31 countries, including 15 stores in the United States and nine stores in Canada. To visit the IKEA Web site, please go to http://www.ikea-usa.com.