Matchbox 20 helps young Katrina victims

NEW YORK, May 30 (UPI) -- Singer Rob Thomas and his band matchbox 20 Tuesday donated $200,000 to help revive music education in U.S. Gulf Coast areas hit by Hurricane Katrina.

The money raised by the band via merchandise sales will be given to the New York-based Consortium for Worker Education, CWE, which is working to restore music education in schools affected by the hurricane, the musicians said in a news release.

Thomas said he would continue to raise money for the program at stops along summer tour in support of his solo album, "...Something to Be."

CWE will use the money to replace lost or destroyed instruments, hire music teachers for high schools, music curriculums and make private lessons available to students.