Jazz Foundation of America

Almost 20 years ago the Jazz Foundation of America was the first organization to provide emergency assistance and long-term support to veteran jazz and blues musicians across the country. Since Katrina, the Jazz Foundation has assisted over 3,500 emergency cases and created housing and employment for over 1,000 musicians in crisis.

HOUSING:   
Our Emergency Housing Fund prevents hundreds each year from becoming evicted and even homeless by paying rents and mortgages. None of this Fund is used administratively – all monies go directly to housing musicians.

EMPLOYMENT:   
With over one million dollars, our Agnes Varis Jazz in the Schools Program has kept over 1,000 musicians working from New Orleans to New York, revitalizing their lives, making it possible to pay their own rent, while introducing jazz and blues to thousands of public school children. None of this fund is used administratively.

PRO BONO MEDICAL CARE AND OPERATIONS:   
For 14 years our partners at Englewood Hospital and Medical Center to date have provided nearly 1,000 uninsured musicians with pro bono operations and specialists, medical care and diagnostics, literally keeping hundreds of jazz and blues musicians alive.

INSTRUMENTS:    
The Jazz Foundation facilitated the donation of over $250,000 worth of brand-new, top-shelf brass instruments, drums and pianos to New Orleans’ most beloved musicians.

But so much more than this goes into our efforts – with the priority being the care of the spirit, creating dignified solutions.

Together, we are saving jazz and blues... one musician at a time.