Music prevents crime?

From Jacksonville:

Cuff says exposing children to music at a young age will rescue them from a future of crime.

"If we can begin to emphasize culture in our kids, we're going to change our community."

He reaches out to many children through the Jacksonville Symphony Youth Orchestra.

It has been around for 15 years. There are 220 children, between the ages of 6 and 22, who make up the orchestra.

When he isn't working with JYSO, Cuff is reaching out to under-priviledged and at-risk children, through the Jump Start Strings Summer Camp.

The Potter's House Christian Academy has partnered with JYSO for the annual camp. It gives about 100 underserved children between the ages of 6 and 11 years old the opportunity to learn to play a string instrument.

He also joined forces with Dr. Richard Kersey, a member of the NASEMBA Business Alliance.

Dr. Kersey sponsors a group of children, known as Kersey's Kids, who are participating in the summer camp. He allows the children to use his Northwest Jacksonville office after-hours to practice music.

Through these efforts, Cuff hopes to see a change in the youth culture in Jacksonville and help spread the joy that music has put in his children's lives.