Today we’d like to introduce you to Chad Staples.
Hi Chad, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
Perseverance through Adversity – God’s plan for my life. I started playing music when I was 19. I loved playing music but hated the late nights, bars, and travel. So, I put a limitation on myself; If I couldn’t make a living in music by the time I turned 30, I’d walk away. In 2008 I sold all my gear and I didn’t touch an instrument for ten years. In 2010, I hired on at Delta Air Lines as an Aircraft Support Mechanic painting airplanes. I was also a college baseball umpire. I went back to college an obtained an undergrad in Business Management. I had a plan to move up through the ranks at Delta and retire…. fat and happy. In 2013, I stepped on a roll of plastic in the paint shop and took a nasty fall. At first, I thought I broke my ankle, but turns out I had a substantial back injury. So for the next year, I went to physical therapy, MRI’s, multiple shots in my spine, and nothing took the pain away. I wasn’t able to umpire baseball. I couldn’t work. I was miserable! My doctor finally decided that the only way to move forward was surgery. I had an ALIF (anterior lumbar interbody fusion) on my L-4, L-5 in my lower back. The surgeon stated that it would take up to a year to recover and get back to work so I decided to complete my graduate degree from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, a Master of Business Administration in Aviation, and did so in 11 months. When returning to work (healthy), I focused on networking and joining employee engagement groups in an effort to find a position outside of the paint shop. I had a plan!
After a year, I received an opportunity to be the program manager for the Delta Care and Scholarships Fund’s annual fundraiser 5K. The Delta Care and Scholarship Fund is a non-profit that is funded by Delta employees and benefits Delta employees. They approached me to offer the volunteer position and I had seven weeks to pull it off. I couldn’t have told you what a 5K was! So I took it on and worked 60 to 70 hours a week (regular job and the 5K) and wound up raising $8,000. Leadership were elated because the last few races had not raised any money. They wanted to do another 5K in six months and I said, “Good luck!'”. It was just too much work. So the Director of the Care and Scholarship Fund worked it out so that I could come over to corporate HR on temporary assignment so that I could focus on the 5K. At this same time in my life, I went to a Chet Atkins convention with my uncle, and a fire was rekindled in my soul to play music again. I went and bought an acoustic guitar and began practicing daily. In the months leading up to the race, I was exposed to non-profit board meetings. Although I did not know it, this was an experience that would impact my life tremendously. I also had access to talent recruiters and executives. I tried everything to connect and make a way for my future. The race was successful, raising $50,000 for the fund, but I was not successful in landing another job outside of the paint shop.
So, two weeks after the race, I went back to my position as a painter, defeated and downtrodden! Ten days after being released back to the paint shop, I was suited up to paint an engine cowling. We have roll-around chairs to help paint. The wheel on the chair hung up on a crack in the concrete and dumped me on my back. I knew immediately that the pain I had experienced for so long before…. was back! I was devastated! So, the process started all over again. Doctors, workers comp, PT, shots. This time is was the disc below my last surgery. In January of 2020, I had a TLIF (Transforaminal Interbody Lumbar Fusion) on my L-5, S-1. The surgeon stated that he would not be able to release me back to work without restrictions. Unfortunately, my job required that I had no restrictions. Also, Covid-19 hit in March of 2020. In my recovery, I served at a local food bank, Bridging the Gap, every Saturday for a year. I played music, served food, and loved on my community. This was pivotal in guiding me to where I am now. After several months, clients whom I had developed a relationship with approached me, stating they wanted to get their child lessons for guitar or drums. When I turned to my community, there was nothing there for at-risk or underserved youth.
At this time, I was still employed at Delta (but not working), I had begun to play music at church, writing music, and my mind was racing. What can I do? For a few weeks, I pondered how I could help these students. One night I couldn’t sleep. Tossing, turning, mind racing. So I got up, went to the computer, and wrote a business plan for a non-profit More Music Foundation in about 4 hours. The name stems from my niece, who is autistic, always requesting through sign language, ‘more music!’. The next few months was spent recovering, building a strategic plan, applying for every license and government agency to make my business legitimate, and formulating programming. In late 2020 I settled the work comp claim and took the early leave package Delta was offering. I then began to build a board of directors, build relationships with other non-profits, teachers, and leaders in my community. When the world started turning back to normal, I knew it was time to begin rolling out programs. In February of 2022, we had our first free music workshop at Ruth Hill Elementary School. We partnered with Boys and Girls Club to offer our first ‘Learn to Earn’ program.
In 2022, More Music served 782 students through 104 free program events. We gave away two ‘Music Teacher Care Grants’ to music teachers in our community. We partnered with Bridging the Gap’s Christmas in Coweta to give away 20 instruments and six months of lessons to 20 kids for Christmas. We gave away a total of 37 instruments and we put four students who went through our programming on scholarship to receive private music lessons weekly! In 2023 we have continued to serve our community in this capacity and will likely double all the numbers of 2022! More Music Foundation is committed to providing music education programs to at-risk youth and cultivating community through the unifying art of learning to play music.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
After leaving Delta, I was hesitant to even start! I no longer had a job or benefits. I had to turn to friends and family for support. Over the course of about two years, I raised enough money to pay myself $1,500 a month. My wife and I (married in 2021) made huge sacrifices in an effort for me to pursue More Music. I was scared, intimidated, and felt insecure because I was taking a huge leap of faith. My path has been full of adversity. So much time spent ‘not knowing’ what was next or which direction I should take. Fortunately, my faith and trust in God’s plan has landed me here…. still ‘not knowing’ where my path will lead…
As you know, we’re big fans of More Music Foundation, Inc. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
More Music Foundation is committed to providing music education programs to at-risk youth and cultivating community through the unifying art of learning to play music, Shaping students’ lives through the power of music.
Our Goals:
Partner with community schools, teachers, and leaders to provide music education programs.
Provide musical instruments and music lessons to students in our community.
Cultivate musicality through communication, active listening, instruction, and relationship building.
Pledge to reach and teach at-risk and underserved students.
moremusicfoundation.org
https://www.facebook.com/MoreMusicFoundation
Our Partners:
Pathways Youth Care Center
Howard-Warner Boys and Girls Club
Maggie Brown Middle School
Newnan Boys and Girls Club
Ruth Hill Elementary
Family Patterns Matter
Musicology
Grassroots Music
Bridging the Gap
Independent Music Teachers in our community
Have you learned any interesting or important lessons due to the Covid-19 Crisis?
Yes! It’s all about perspective! Covid-19 was an opportunity for me to seek positive thoughts for my life AND to show love, patience, and kindness to people.
Contact Info:
- Website: moremusicfoundation.org
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MoreMusicFoundation
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@moremusicfoundation7253
