For 17 years, the Jazz Foundation of America has been an organization at the forefront of providing emergency assistance and long-term support to veteran jazz and blues musicians across the country. Katrina left countless New Orleans musicians and their families unemployed and homeless, with their lives literally washed away.
“The Jazz Foundation has been a lifesaver to so many musicians from New Orleans, giving them the opportunity to work and earn money with dignity. They've done more to help the New Orleans Musicians then any other group that I know of"--Dr. Michael White, noted New Orleans bandleader/historian
It's been 18- and even 20-hour days for Jazz Foundation's Executive Director Wendy Oxenhorn and her small staff who “normally" handle 500 cases a year. Since Katrina, they've assisted 1,100 New Orleans emergency cases, and were still there for 600 of their regular elderly musicians in crisis who they normally serve. But the Jazz Foundation needs to keep going and needs our help.
“Their troubles will not go away anytime soon. We need people to support such organizations as ours who are doing what the government is not “ says Jarrett Lilien, President of E*TRADE FINANCIAL and the Jazz Foundation.
“With the Jazz Foundation, It's simple; you give to them and they give to the musicians in crisis who made our lives rich all these years" says Richard Parsons, CEO & Chairman of TIME WARNER Inc., “It's a wonderful organization and they do exactly what they say they do."
This year you've seen and heard about the Jazz Foundation on CNN, ABC, NBC, CBS, WOR, FOX . HBO, WBGO and NPR and you've read about it in PEOPLE Magazine, Wall Street Journal, NY Times, Post, Daily News, Associated Press and 98 other publications, television and radio stations around the world. It is the work of the Jazz Foundation that attracted people like Danny Glover, who joined their Board of Directors, and Richard Parsons, their Board of Advisors, and Bill Cosby, Elvis Costello, Quincy Jones, Bonnie Raitt and Chevy Chase are also dedicated supporters.
“As rewarding as it has been to be there for these heroic men & women, it has been devastating to see the effects of the aftermath on families. More then anything, to see this destruction of a world like no other, where music once filled the streets 24 hours a day and it was commonplace to see 12-year-olds walking home from school, practicing the trumpet. If low income housing is not created for artists and for the poor, the very garden that grew this city of music will be at risk of extinction and New Orleans will become a cardboard city without a soul" says Wendy Oxenhorn, Executive Director of the Jazz Foundation of America. “We must find a way to bring the people of New Orleans back home and stop this unconscionable man-made devastation of American families and lives."
Jazz Foundation Programs:
HOUSING: Days after the Flood, because of the ongoing efforts and contributions of Jarrett Lilien, President of E*TRADE FINANCIAL & JFA, as well as the special people at E*TRADE FINANCIAL Corp., the JFA was able to establish New Orleans' first post-Katrina Emergency Housing Fund for musicians--housing, relocating and saving hundreds of New Orleans musicians and their families from homelessness and mortgage foreclosure in nearly 20 states.
EMPLOYMENT: Through the beautiful heart of “Saint Agnes" Varis, of Agvar Chemicals Inc, the Jazz Foundation created the first performance employment program, which has grown into an $800,000 solution. This Agnes Varis Jazz Foundation in the Schools Program was also made possible with the help of Richard Parsons & the good people at TIME WARNER Inc.
To date, this program has already given 3,100 individual employment opportunities. It has put several hundred displaced musicians back to work, with a minimum of $200 per gig, bringing free performances to thousands of children in schools and the elderly in nursing homes, in over eight states where the musicians have been forced to settle. Recording sessions are being planned to give musicians a CD they can sell to help increase income at club & festival gigs.
$250,000 OF DONATED INSTRUMENTS: Through the huge hearts at Music & Arts Center ,Yamaha and New York's Beethoven pianos the Jazz Foundation secured over $250,000 worth of new top-shelf instruments to New Orleans most beloved senior and junior jazz and blues artists, including Treme Brass Band, Rebirth Brass band, The Hot 8, Davell Crawford, Shannon Powell, Dr. Michael White, Henry Butler, Lionel Ferbos (age 95) Cyril Neville, Derwin Perkins just to name a few.
It was the Jazz Foundation of America that replaced Fats Domino's piano after the Flood.
QUOTES FROM NEW ORLEANS
“They came to my rescue! The JAZZ FOUNDATION of AMERICA is a 'for real' benefactor ... keeping The music ...and the MUSICIANS ...ALIVE!"--Harold Battiste, celebrated musician/ producer/teacher
“The Jazz Foundation of America it is doing wonders for New Orleans musicians. It's been a beautiful association. They not only housed us but they put us back to work. And they are also some of the nicest people I ever knew"--Wardell Quezergue, celebrated arranger/producer/ musician ("You Send Me", “Chapel of Love," “Mr. Big Stuff")
“The Jazz Foundation is doing an amazing job preserving New Orleans music, its culture and the musicians themselves, for generations to come"--James Andrews, noted N.O. musician
After being displaced by Katrina, the Rollins family of New Orleans, like many Katrina survivors, ended up in a city far from home. There had been frightening moments -- like having to search for their oldest son who had first stayed behind because wouldn't leave without his dog. They found their son, but the police would not allow his one year old puppy, Zina, to evacuate. They had to leave her in the house with bags of dog food. Three months later, when they were allowed to return, the dog was still alive! The ASPCA would not let their son take the large dog out of state until they had a house with a backyard.
They were forced to settle in Atlanta. Mom, Dad, four children and two baby grandchildren, but at least they were alive and together. It was difficult, it meant living in a small apartment in a rough part of town. Ella, mother with four children at home, secured a full- time job at a local chain store making $233 a week before taxes.
Rodney, her husband, who had always earned his living as a musician in New Orleans, was now employed by the same store as his wife, he was working the night shift, she was working days. Wendy Oxenhom remembers the day he called in a panic. Their teenage son, Davon, (a young pianist), was in the hospital after trying to save the younger ones from a grease fire on the stove. He was so worried that they might lose their new home, after all they'd lost in New Orleans, that he actually carried what was on fire, out of the house. They didn't know if he would ever be able play piano again because his hands were badly burned, he also could not walk for a month and a half because of burns on his feet and legs. They had no health insurance and the Rollins' needed help.
Months later, Davon has healed, and he can play the piano again and walk just fine.
“When this first happened, I was so depressed," said Davon. “The Jazz Foundation called the hospital social worker and got me Medicaid insurance. Then Wendy told me that with all these burns and bandages, I would need some cool clothes and they gave me $500 to the best store in town and I even got to rent a tuxedo for the Prom. She even got me some gloves to cover my hands, I felt so great, I went to the prom and I never thought that would happen. They made me feel comfortable with my scars. Wendy emailed and called, always checking on me, like a friend would do."
Within a week, The Jazz Foundation moved the family into a wonderful house, with a backyard in lovely neighbourhood, thanks to E*TRADE FINANCIAL, where they could now be reunited with “Zina" the puppy.
Currently The Jazz Foundation is trying to help Davon get into college, but it's a struggle because his high school transcripts were lost in the Flood. They have moved the family back to Louisiana and Rodney will be employed in the Jazz in the Schools Program.
“We're going back to New Orleans," said Rodney. “Thanks to the Foundation, I will be playing music again, like I am supposed to do on this Earth. I'm getting back my purpose in the world. I'm getting the music back, and that's what will keep my soul alive."
To make a donation, got to the website below.
For more information contact All About Jazz.
