Our Cultural Assistance Program for Students (CAPS) is an innovative program created in 1992 to put refurbished musical instruments into the hands of public school students long on talent but short on funds. Beginning in 2004, the CAPS program began receiving funding from the seven Olympia-area Rotary Clubs, primarily from the proceeds of the Annual Jazz Festival held each October.

CAPS is the critical connection

Without a refurbished instrument, these students would not be able to bring their musical gifts to school band and orchestra programs.

To date, POSSCA has placed approximately 400 new or refurbished instruments with students in need within the local public schools systems that we serve. We average approximately 40 instruments each year, ranging from flutes to saxophones to drums to violins to basses and many others.

Music 6000, Yenney Music, Westside Music Center and South Sound Music Center act as yearlong collection points for used instruments. We pick up the instruments as they come in and bid out the repair work to local refurbishers. Any remaining dollars go to the purchase of new or nearly-new instruments.

Put the next Brubeck in a music program

1. Bring your musical instrument to Yenney Music, Music 6000, Westside Music Center or South Sound Music Center.
2. Receive a tax receipt.
3. Send the tax receipt in with your income taxes.