One of the advantages of living in a small island community is that if one chooses to get involved, one can make a real difference in tangible ways. Here is what Meg Ruley is currently up to with her volunteer efforts:
Meg Ruley is the vice president of the non-profit MUSACK.org. Founded in 2008 by Emmy Award winning comedy writer and Nantucket local Donick Cary, the mission is to provide instruments and instruction to students; to award grants for music related field trips or productions; and to offer college and post secondary scholarships to graduates of NHS. After a rash of teen suicides in 2007, Cary wanted to give back to his community, since being in a band and playing music were big part of what helped him get through the winter months, and MUSACK was created.
Meg and Donick, who were voted ‘most musical’ of their Nantucket High School graduating class of 1986, are two of MUSACK’s founding board members. Other board members include Alex Stancioff of Miami, Florida and Donick’s long time friend Dave Finkel in Los Angeles. Current programs on Nantucket include drum and guitar lessons at the Boys and Girls Club; Rap Lab and Pod Cast Lab at the Nantucket Community Music Center; gap funding for school music and theater programming, and scholarships. In the past three years MUSACK has expanded its reach into schools in Los Angeles, Appalachia and Haiti. To learn more visit www.musack.org