When College of Fine, Performing and Communication Arts alumna Joan Smykowski learned that some Detroit students used duct tape to keep their musical instruments together, she proposed an instrument donation drive to the CFPCA Alumni Board and Willie McAllister, director of fine arts for Detroit Public Schools.  

Smykowski heard about Playing It Forward, a campaign to collect new and used instruments to support DPS students, while listening to Ann Delisi’s Essential Music program on WDET-FM. 

The university community was inspired to contribute to the cause. 

Drives were held on June 25 and 26, at WSU’s main and Oakland campuses. More than two dozen instruments were donated.