The Allstate Foundation Awards Ronald S. Kaplan The Agency Hands in the Community Award

Ronald S. Kaplan was awarded the Agency Hands in the Community Award for his commitment to volunteering in the musical community. With this award comes a $500 grant from The Allstate Foundation for the American Songbook Preservation Society where Ronald S. Kaplan volunteers as Executive Director.

Ronald received the award for his personal commitment to building a national foundation to continue the legacy of the collective body of work known as the Great American Songbook for future generations to discover and enjoy. The years of 1920-1960 represent a unique period in America history, which is considered to be the zenith of this truly American art form and craft, consisting of the Songsmiths, Lyricists, and Arrangers of the Tin Pan Alley Revues, Broadway and Hollywood Musicals. This music was the popular music of the day and later became the reservoir of the Jazz Standards repertoire. Some of the better-known names from this period include Irving Berlin, Cole Porter, George and Ira Gershwin, Duke Ellington and Billy Strayhorn. This list goes on and can be viewed at the organization