Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg today announced that Dave Matthews Band will perform a free, public concert to benefit public schools from Central Park’s Great Lawn on the evening of Wednesday, September 24th.  “Dave Matthews Band in Central Park – The AOL Concert for Schools” will be a free, ticketed event.  Tickets will be distributed throughout New York City as part of a sweepstakes.  Mayor Bloomberg was joined at Central Park’s Belvedere Castle by members of Dave Matthews Band, AOL Time Warner Chairman and CEO Richard Parsons, America Online, Inc. Chairman and CEO Jon Miller, Schools Chancellor Joel I. Klein, Chief Executive of the Department of Education’s Office of Strategic Partnerships Caroline Kennedy, and Parks & Recreation Commissioner Adrian Benepe.

“New York City has always been a driving force in the music world, and Central Park, which has a long history of hosting major outdoor concerts, is the perfect setting for such an exciting event under the night sky,” Mayor Bloomberg said.  “I want to thank Dave Matthews Band and AOL Time Warner for bringing this free event to New York City and for their commitment to our City’s schoolchildren.”

The concert will benefit the Department of Education’s Fund for Public Schools, a 501(c)3 non-profit organization, which raises support for New York City’s public schools.  America Online has committed a minimum of $1 million to the Fund for Public Schools, which will be targeted toward music education programs in the schools.  Concert organizers will also contribute an additional $1 million to the City.

“New York City has always been a special place for the band so it is a huge honor to play the Great Lawn in Central Park,” commented Dave Matthews Band.  “And we are thrilled that at the same time we can help support the city’s public schools and raise money for the Music Resource Center in Charlottesville.”

“The Concert for Schools puts AOL’s enormous resources and community to work helping create a better future for our City’s most vital resource – children,” Dick Parsons said. “As a company that cares about preparing the next generation for success at school, at work and in life, we are proud that a part of the AOL Time Warner family is making such an innovative contribution to education, and we thank Dave Matthews Band and Mayor Bloomberg for making this event possible.”

“This once-in-a-lifetime event draws on two of our greatest strengths as a service – music and community – to bring music fans across the country and in New York City together for a night of unforgettable entertainment in support of a great cause, raising money for education,” America Online Chairman Jon Miller said.
 
“AOL’s tremendous generosity will make a real difference for our schools,” Chancellor Klein said.  “With AOL’s support, we will be able to enhance the education we give to New York City’s schoolchildren by improving our music programs.”

“This wonderful event exemplifies the power of public-private partnerships,” said Caroline Kennedy Schlossberg, Chief Executive of the Department of Education’s Office of Strategic Partnerships.  “Dave Matthews Band and AOL are demonstrating how much can be accomplished when we bring the City together in the interests of our children.”

“There is nothing more magical than enjoying a musical performance in Central Park, the envy of the world,” Commissioner Benepe said.  “This event helps celebrate this Park’s creation, restoration, and great future on its 150 anniversary year.”

The “Dave Matthews Band in Central Park - The AOL Concert for Schools” is a free, ticketed event.  No one will be allowed to enter the concert area without a ticket.  Tickets will be distributed throughout the five boroughs of New York City by AOL street teams through an instant win sweepstakes from September 13 through September 23. Official rules are available at AOL Keyword: DMBTIX or www.aol.com/dmbtix. Additional ticket promotions are available online at AOL.com and the Dave Matthews Band website www.davematthewsband.com and through promotions on Infinity Broadcasting's radio stations in major cities across the country, including New York’s 92.3 K-Rock and 102.7 Blink.

The concert will be broadcast live on AOL for Broadband with a live audio stream on AOL for dial up members, allowing millions of fans across the country to join New Yorkers in enjoying this live performance. For more information, please visit www.aol.com.