Roger Williams University student Jason Rosa knows how much of a stress reliever playing music can be. He also realized recently how few foster children have access to musical instruments and he’s hoping to be able to change that through a fundraising effort he has spearheaded for Together We Rise.

Rosa, a graduate of Cranston High School West, has been completing an internship for Together We Rise, a 501(c)3 non-profit organization that works to improve the lives of foster children in America. The organization is led by “motivated young adults and former foster youth,” according to their website, www.togetherwerise.org.

When Rosa proposed a drive to get musical instruments to the people at Together We Rise, which is based out of California, the response was positive and the organization was on board.

“Most foster kids move from home to home with only two trash bags of belongings,” Rosa said. “With all of the evidence out there about how good music and the arts are for boosting grades, increasing memory and relieving stress, it surprised me that no one had proposed something like this sooner. Emotional challenges are a reoccurring thing for foster children. Music would help them to get their stress out in a healthy way.”

Once Rosa was given approval to start his drive here in Rhode Island, he set up a fundraising page at www.fundraise.com/together-we-rise-corporation/musical-instruments-for-foster-children, and a Facebook page at www.facebook.com/musicforfosterhomes?ref=hl.

“I am looking for money donations, new or used musical instruments, or gift cards that will go directly towards foster children in Rhode Island. Every little bit helps tremendously! My goal is to raise upwards of $3,000 by mid-December towards the purchase of starter guitars and basic equipment for over 50 foster children throughout Rhode Island,” he wrote on his fundraising page.

Before he knew it, donations of instruments and money were coming in.

“I’d set a goal of $3,000 and before I knew it, I was already halfway there,” he said.

On Dec. 4, Rosa, along with Groovy Girls, Dreamchasers and Adoption RI will run a musical workshop for foster children, focusing on guitar, piano and ukulele lessons.

“It’ll be a two-hour workshop showing them the basics for the instruments and at the end I’m hoping to surprise them and let them keep the instruments that they’re using during the workshop,” Rosa said.

According to Rosa, if the Rhode Island drive is successful, Together We Rise may consider it for other states in the future.

“This has really opened my eyes to something that’s very interesting and rewarding,” Rosa said. “By far it’s been one of the best experiences I’ve ever had. I have had a lot of support from my family and friends and I’ve been able to recruit a few other interns for this organization. I hope to be able to help out as long as I can, even beyond the end of my internship on Dec. 5,” he said.

Anyone wishing to donate funds or instruments for foster children for Rosa’s drive can do so by accessing his fundraising page at www.fundraise.com/together-we-rise-corporation/musical-instruments-for-foster-children.