When the Core Values of a Financial Company and an Orchestra Merge to Make A Better World for the Children

The Israel Philharmonic has always been about bringing out the positivity in humanity through the arts. Part of that comes from taking a hard look at what the Philharmonic can do better. That is why this month’s theme for the American Friends of the Israel Philharmonic is “Think Green.”

The peril of being a renowned musical orchestra that tours the world is that excessive use of air travel increases one’s carbon footprint exponentially. Air travel will certainly continue to be part of the IPO’s future, so a green solution wasa forged between the AFPIO and arguably the most socially-minded forward-thinking financial company in the United States: Aspiration, Inc.

Founded in 2013 in Los Angeles, some of Aspiration’s hallmarks include account holders earning cash back for spending at environmentally-conscious companies such as TOMs and Warby Parker, as well as committing to planting a tree for every customer transaction. They have been described by the Wall Street Journal as “conscientious banking.”

Collaborating with Aspiration is an integral part of the Israel Philharmonic’s “Planting Seeds Initiative” to reduce its carbon footprint, and eventually become carbon-neutral by 2022. The aim is to offset the carbon footprint by linking Aspiration and the Israel Philharmonic’s values and make it easier than ever to build a greener future: All it takes is a click to plant a tree in the Orchestra’s name. At the same time, Aspiration is taking an active role in promoting the Israel Philharmonic’s KeyNote classical musical education and community-building program. In fact, any new account created with Aspiration through this link will result in one additional musical instrument donation to KeyNote.

“We are thrilled to be partnering with the American Friends of the Israel Philharmonic to offer a new model for sustainability in the world of classical music,” said Andrei Cherny, co-founder and CEO of Aspiration.

Since it began, KeyNote has been a transformational program for so many young lives and their communities. Its diverse reach to children of all ages brings programming to more than 22,500 children a year in Jewish, Arab-Israeli, immigrant, religious, and secular K-12 Israeli schools. Its aim is to encourage a shared passion for culture in the next generation while promoting openness, tolerance, and mutual respect through music.

AFIPO’s support was pivotal in founding KeyNote and is proud to continue supporting the initiative to this day.

KeyNote Kindergarten gets Israel Philharmonic musicians to visit kindergarten classrooms and lead interactive lessons. The year culminates with the IPO hosting the children in a memorable, fun-filled chamber performance.

For first and second graders, the KeyNote beginners program includes special chamber concerts, kid-friendly workshops, and full-scale IPO concert experience.

Children in grades 3-6 can experience multiple in-classroom sessions with IPO ensembles. They get exposed to classical music and prepared for a special morning concert at the end of each semester.

The high school experience in KeyNote gives young musicians access to the IPO. By providing diverse ways to engage in classical music, high school students are provided hands-on opportunities to hone their skills and achieve a greater level of music appreciation to take with them after graduation.

Aspiration describes themselves as “the leading platform to help people spend, save, shop, and invest to ‘Do Well and Do Good.’” At its core, it’s not much different from the Israel Philharmonic’s values.

“The Israel Philharmonic was founded to save the lives of Europe’s Jewish musicians from the Holocaust. Planting seeds for the future is embedded deep in our DNA,” said American Friends Executive Vice President and CEO Danielle Ames Spivak. “We’re thrilled to be working with a visionary company like Aspiration to send a message that cultural institutions have an integral role in saving our planet from the effects of climate change.”

Wondering what you can do to help fast track the positive effects of this special partnership? Sign up for an Aspiration account using this particular link—again, each sign up results in Aspiration donating an instrument to the IPO. And each transaction you make using Aspiration’s financial services will result in a tree being planted through Aspiration’s forestry partners.

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• Read more about our partnership in the Jewish Journal!