Emmy Award-winning composer, philanthropist and New York Times best-selling author Peter Buffett will bring his music and the message of his book “Life Is What You Make It” to the stage in the Old Administration Building Auditorium at Fresno City College 6:30 p.m., Saturday, February 2.

The concert benefits arts education programs at the College of Arts and Humanities at Fresno State, State Center Community College District, the Fresno County Office of Education, and University High School. Tickets for the event go on sale today for $100, $65 and $45 and are available for purchase here.

Presented by the generous support of Wells Fargo, the benefit concert is part of an historic collaboration of educational institutions that bridge all ages. The event was championed by local businessman and philanthropist Dan Martin, Fresno State President John D. Welty, Chancellor Deborah G. Blue of State Center Community College District, Superintendent Larry L. Powell of Fresno County Office of Education, and Head of School James Bushman of University High School. Proceeds will support and promote arts education from Kindergarten through university levels.

“We are thrilled that Peter has agreed to visit Fresno to share his story and support arts education in our community,” said Welty. “Studies show that arts education programs improve the developmental growth of children while lowering delinquency and truancy rates. This benefit will support the kind of programs that have a profound impact on the lives of Valley children.”

In his performance, Buffett combines musical performance with a thought-provoking discussion about defining one’s own path in life. The son of legendary investor Warren Buffett will talk about the rewards of self-respect and the value of pursuing your individual passions and accomplishments, rather than society’s concept of material wealth. He will also explores the notion that the journey to a vocation is rarely a straight path and often includes doubts, false starts, crises, and blunders along the way.

The event is the live companion to Buffett’s New York Times best-selling book, Life Is What You Make It, which President Bill Clinton calls “a wise and inspiring book that should be required reading for every young person seeking to find his or her place in the world.”

About Peter Buffett
Peter Buffett is an Emmy Award-winning musician, author and philanthropist. As Co-chair of the NoVo Foundation with his wife, Jennifer, he has become a well-known activist for social concerns. Socially conscious music collaborations by Buffett include “Blood Into Gold,” featuring Grammy-nominated artist Akon and “A Song for Everyone” featuring Grammy-winning artist, Angelique Kidjo. Buffett is currently performing his “Life is What You Make It: A Concert & Conversation with Peter Buffett” series around the world to support his New York Times best-selling book, “Life Is What You Make It” (Random House/Harmony Books). The book has sold over a half million copies worldwide and has been translated in over fifteen languages.

College of Arts and Humanities at Fresno State
The College of Arts and Humanities at Fresno State is the largest most diverse academic unit at Fresno State, serving 22 percent of the student population. A leader in developing new and innovative interdisciplinary curricula and outreach programs, the College is known for the strength of its undergraduate and graduate degrees, the excellence of its faculty, the accomplishments of its students and its contributions to the quality of life in the region.

About State Center Community College District
State Center Community College District’s enhanced network of educational centers serve a population of more than one million people. Since 1964 SCCCD has helped students succeed, strengthened the community, and prepared graduates for the workforce. SCCCD operates two community colleges, Fresno City College and Reedley College, as well as several educational and training centers including, the Willow International Center, the Madera Center, the Oakhurst Center, the Career & Technology Center, and the Training Institute. SCCCD has an enrollment of nearly 40,000 students. Classes are also offered at additional satellite campuses in Dinuba, Easton, Fowler, Kerman, Kingsburg, Orange Cove, Parlier, Sanger, and Selma.

Fresno County Office of Education
Serving 34 school districts and more than 190,000 students, FCOE has a legislative mandate to ensure that school districts remain fiscally solvent and in compliance with state and federal laws. Moreover, county offices serve as a safety net for students with special needs, offering direct services for migrant, special education, and court and community schools students.  County offices provide a full range of support programs and services including professional training and staff development, curriculum, business and finance support, health and pupil personnel services, as well as legislative and public policy leadership and advocacy at the local, state and federal level.

University High School
University High School is a 9th-12th grade free public charter high school located on the campus of California State University, Fresno. UHS provides an accelerated college preparatory education to approximately 450 students who share a common interest in music. Students receive a strong foundation in music and the liberal arts and sciences in a small high school environment, while benefiting from the opportunities available on a large public university campus. UHS is proud to be ranked the 46th best college prep high school in the United States among nearly 22,000 reviewed, the 10th best charter high school in the nation, and the 10th best high school in California according to U.S. News & World Report. UHS has also been ranked as one of the top 40 public high schools in 2007, 2008, 2010 by the Washington Post’s 2010 High School

Challenge and by U.S. News and World Report.

For information, contact Suzanne Crosina-Sahm: 559.392.1685, scrosinasahm@csufresno.edu

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