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"Secret Millionaire" Dani to Revisit Joy of Music School

dani johnson
Dani Johnson to revisit Joy of Music School

KNOXVILLE -- In April 2010, entrepreneur millionaire Dani Johnson posed as a volunteer for a documentary film producer and came to Knoxville to do volunteer work for the Joy of Music School. She was to document everything she experienced.

Dani gave the appearance of being a person of humble means, an ordinary woman. Her good deeds were filmed by a crew claiming to be creating a documentary. With a surprise ending, she revealed that she was actually a millionaire and presented the school with a $40,000 donation. Her generous act was captured by the cameras of the ABC Television program "Secret Millionaire" and broadcast to over 13 million people on March 6, 2011.

This week Dani Johnson is returning to the Joy of Music School, where the art and discipline of music transform young lives.

An author and motivational speaker, she is currently on a national book tour and made a point of putting Knoxville on her itinerary so she could stop in to see how things are going at the Joy of Music School. This Knoxville non-profit organization's volunteer teachers provide free music lessons to hundreds of disadvantaged and at-risk children.

On Thursday, July 7, at 3:00 p.m., students, families and teachers will gather at the school to enjoy Menchie's Frozen Yogurt and to look back on the TV broadcast that made such a big difference in the organization. The kids and families who participated in the filming of the "Secret Millionaire" TV show, along with volunteer teachers, staff and board members, will be on hand to see Johnson in person for the first time since last summer and to revisit the themes that motivated her to donate $40,000 of her own money to support the school.

"Dani's return to Knoxville gives the students, families, staff, volunteers and supporters of the Joy of Music School another opportunity to thank her for her generous donation, and to return the love," says Joy of Music School Executive Director Francis Graffeo. "Her act of kindness, and ABC's excellent portrayal, have inspired a lot of people. We are still realizing benefits months after the fact—although our need for volunteer music teachers remains high."

Published July 4, 2011

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