GRANT BOOSTS FOURTH STREET BEAT

Fourth Street Beat, an ensemble of the Mayflower Chorus, has performed for over 20 years for underserved senior, frail and disabled populations living in Marin skilled nursing and assisted living facilities. This population often does not have access to music due to budgetary issues — and grants for this project ended several years ago. Although the members of the Fourth Street Beat group are volunteers, an accompanist is a paid musician. The organization’s budget could not cover the cost, and care facilities seldom have a budget for musical entertainment. When Mayflower Chorus was awarded a 2024 grant from the Giving Marin Community Partnership, the group knew exactly where to allocate the funds. “Without this grant we could not bring our music and company to this very underserved population in Marin,” said Gretchen Klein, of Mayflower’s Fourth Street Beat. “The Giving Marin grant allows our group to bring its special brand of upbeat music to brighten often-forgotten lives in Marin.” Fourth Street Beat recently performed at three Marin senior facilities: Pineridge Care and Rehabilitation Facility, Northgate Post Acute Center and Drake Terrace Senior Living Facility. The group performed for approximately 100 residents and staff, singing a little of everything— rock, Broadway and American standards — while residents sang along and clapped. “The residents always ask us when we’ll be back — even before we’ve left the building,” Klein said. “For us that’s the greatest measure of our success.”

For more information, visit mayflowerchorus.org.