The Jazz Foundation of America

The Jazz Foundation of America, in a very personal way, has changed and saved hundreds of lives and homes over the years. The Foundation will continue to do what it has always done: to provide emergency services, employment opportunities and long-term support to veteran jazz and blues musicians in health, financial, career and personal crisis. The Jazz Foundation of America is a non-profit organization.

In the wake of Katrina, now more than ever we will be needed to:

  • Rebuild lives, securing housing and assisting with relocation of displaced musicians preventing eviction and homelessness
  • Create employment opportunities – as we did after 9/11 with our Jazz in the Schools program in NYC, which put hundreds of elderly musicians back to work, while introducing thousands ofchildren to jazz and our “Musicians For Hire” program that generated over 500 gigs
  • Pay bills to keep phones and lights turned on
  • Keep food on the table and provide other basic needs
  • Offer pro bono legal services by the most prestigious firms
  • Provide medical and dental care through our pro bono network of physicians and specialists
  • Coordinate with other great organizations like the tireless New Orleans Musicians Clinic (NOMC), as well as Musicares, The Actors' Fund, Society of Singers, Musicians Foundation to best meet the needs of the musicians
  • Replace and repair instruments, so musicians can continue to make their living
  • For the hurricane relief efforts we have started an instrument donation exchange and are receiving instruments from all over the country
  • We are currently working on a national project that would employ hundreds of New Orleans area musicians while bringing the spirit of New Orleans to the World
  • Through the New Orleans Musicians Clinic (NOMC) we will be employing musicians to play at nearby shelters to start the healing process
  • Repair souls by taking the time to have long talks on the phone, seven nights a week, keeing spirits up when it seems that all is lost.