Chad Smith Foundation Brings AMP to Chad's Hometown of Detroit Through Boys & Girls Clubs Partnership
Chad Smith Foundation's After-school Music Program to launch at two BGCGD Club locations beginning September 2026.
Detroit, July 8, 2026 — Chad Smith Foundation today announced a new partnership with Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Detroit (BGCGD) to bring free, comprehensive music education to Detroit youth through their After-school Music Program (AMP) Initiative. Beginning September 2026, AMP will launch at BGCGD's Michigan Central and Dauch Club locations, giving hundreds of young people access to instruments, professional instruction, and curriculum at no cost to clubs or families.
The partnership marks a homecoming for Chad Smith, the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame drummer for the Red Hot Chili Peppers, who was raised in nearby Bloomfield Hills. Smith has long credited his school music education with keeping him engaged through high school and inspiring the career that made him one of the world's most recognizable drummers. With school arts programs facing continued funding challenges across Greater Detroit, AMP aims to replicate that same access for the next generation.
For Smith, the decision to launch AMP in Detroit was personal. Growing up in Bloomfield Hills, he experienced firsthand how access to music can change the trajectory of a young person's life, and he wants the same for the next generation of Detroit kids.
"If it wasn't for the music classes I had growing up in Michigan, I honestly don't know where I'd be. Those classes gave me something to look forward to every day and put me on the path that eventually became my career. They changed my life in the best way possible. Being able to help create those same opportunities for kids in the place that gave so much to me is incredibly meaningful." — Chad Smith, six-time Grammy-winning drummer and co-founder, Chad Smith Foundation
The Chad Smith Foundation builds complete, sustainable music programs from the ground up, providing all instruments, paid professional instructors, curriculum, and ongoing support at no cost. Programming focuses on three core outcomes: instrument care and technique, musical literacy, and the collaborative social-emotional skills young people need to perform confidently as soloists and ensemble members. Detroit marks the Foundation's first expansion beyond Wisconsin and its first new state, following a successful pilot launch in Milwaukee.
The announcement continues BGCGD's growing track record of partnering with influential artists and changemakers to expand opportunities for Detroit youth. The Chad Smith Foundation joins a coalition that includes the Sean Anderson Foundation, which has invested in music and media studios across BGCGD Club locations, and Usher's New Look, which supports creative pathways and mentorship for young people.
"We are incredibly grateful to Chad Smith and the Chad Smith Foundation for investing in Detroit's young people and sharing the gift of music with the next generation. Learning an instrument is about so much more than making music. It teaches discipline, patience, perseverance, teamwork, and the confidence to keep improving through practice. Those are the kinds of qualities that shape how young people lead, learn, work, and build their future." — Shawn H. Wilson, President & CEO, Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Detroit
Lewis Smith, Executive Director of the Chad Smith Foundation, echoed that commitment, pointing to Detroit as a natural next step in the Foundation's national expansion and a deeply meaningful one for the organization.
"There couldn't be a more meaningful place for our first expansion than the community that helped shape Chad into the musician and person he is today. We are incredibly grateful to partner with Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Detroit to give young people the same opportunity to discover music that changed Chad's life. This is only the beginning of our long-term commitment to Detroit's youth." — Lewis Smith, Executive Director, Chad Smith Foundation
Additional details on instructors, community events, and future expansion plans will be announced throughout the summer. To learn more about Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Detroit and its programming, visit bgcgreaterdetroit.org.
About the Chad Smith Foundation
The Chad Smith Foundation is a nonprofit organization dedicated to expanding access to music education through scholarships, educational initiatives, and community partnerships. Founded by Rock & Roll Hall of Fame drummer Chad Smith, the Foundation works to remove barriers to music education by providing students with opportunities to learn, create, and grow through music regardless of financial circumstances. Its flagship After-school Music Program (AMP) Initiative builds sustainable music education programs inside community organizations by providing instruments, instructors, curriculum, and ongoing support at no cost to participating organizations or students.
About Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Detroit
Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Detroit (BGCGD) serves more than 17,000 youth annually and is a national leader in advancing economic mobility for young people. BGCGD has reimagined the traditional Club model to address persistent opportunity gaps by integrating workforce readiness, entrepreneurship, mental wellness, and leadership development into a cohesive, outcomes-driven approach. Through innovative programming and cross-sector partnerships, BGCGD equips youth with the various forms of capital required to achieve long-term success. Learn more at bgcgreaterdetroit.org.