Keeping The Blues Alive Foundation Inc

KEEPING THE BLUES ALIVE FOUNDATION (KTBA) IS DEDICATED TO OFFSETTING THE LOSS OF MUSIC EDUCATION PROGRAMMING DUE TO BUDGET CUTS ACROSS AMERICA. WE STRIVE TO PASS THE TORCH ON TO THE NEXT GENERATION BY EMPOWERING THEM TO MANIFEST THEIR TALENTS WITHIN THE ARTS COMMUNITY AND USING MUSIC AS AN OUTLET TO EXERCISE CREATIVITY IN THE ENTERTAINMENT WORKFORCE. AS OF DEC 2022, KTBA HAS SUPPORTED OVER 585 SCHOOLS AND REACHED 89,000 STUDENTS BY PROVIDING NEW INSTRUMENTS, SHEET MUSIC, SUPPLIES, AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT TOOLS FOR MUSIC TEACHERS. KTBA SUPPORTS MUSIC EDUCATORS WHO GIVE THEIR STUDENTS A POSITIVE AND REWARDING EXPERIENCE IN THE ARTS. AS KTBA PROMOTES THE ADVANCEMENT OF STEM TO STEAM CURRICULA IN SCHOOLS, KTBA ACKNOWLEDGES THE INHERENT RESISTANCE FROM DATED EDUCATION ADMINISTRATIONS AND DIMINISHING ARTS AND MUSIC PROGRAMMING BUDGETS. EACH QUARTER, KTBA ASSESS ITS GOALS AND MEASURES ALLOWING THE STAGING THE OPPORTUNITY TO IMPROVE AND ADJUST ITS PROCEDURES ACCORDINGLY. KTBA MAKES A WEEK

JOE BONAMASSAS FUELING MUSICIANS PROGRAM (FMP) IS AN EMERGENCY RELIEF PROGRAM FOR MUSICIANS FACING HARDSHIP. THIS INITIATIVE IS DESIGNED TO SUPPORT MUSICIANS BY PROVIDING IMMEDIATE FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE FOR ESSENTIAL LIVING EXPENSES SUCH AS FOOD, SHELTER, AND MORE. FMP PROVIDES CASH PAYMENTS OF $1,500.00. IN 2022, 36 AWARD PACKAGES WERE DISTRIBUTED TO MUSICIANS FACING HARDSHIP. RECIPIENTS ARE REQUIRED TO SUBMIT GRATITUDE CONTENT TO BE ELIGIBLE FOR FUTURE FUNDING. RECIPIENTS MAY RE-APPLY FOR FUNDING IN THE NEXT CALENDAR YEAR.

EVERY WEEK, KEEPING THE BLUES ALIVE CHOOSES A DIFFERENT SCHOOL TO DONATE RESOURCES, INCLUDING INSTRUMENTS, SHEET MUSIC, AND RECORDING EQUIPMENT THAT ACCELERATES THE GROWTH AND IMPACT OF MUSIC EDUCATION IN SCHOOLS. IN 2022, KTBA FUNED 57 PROJECTS, SUPPORTING AN ESTIMATED 11,275 STUDENTS. PROJECTS REACHED THE FOLLOWING STATES: AL, AZ, CA, CO, FL, GA, IL, IN, LA, MA, MD, MI, MO, MS, NC, NJ, NM, NV, NY, OK, PA, RI, SC, TN, TX, VA, AND WI.

KEEPING THE BLUES ALIVE FOUNDATION HAS PARTNERED WITH GLOBAL LIGHTHOUSE STUDIOS (FORMERLY, INSPIRE CITIZENS) IN ORDER TO HIGHLIGHT THE RICH CULTURE OF BLUES HISTORY IN SCHOOLS BY CONNECTING QUALIFIED TEACHERS AND STUDENTS WITH FUN, STUDENT-LED ACTIVITIES THROUGH A VIRTUAL LEARNING SETTING. THESE ACTIVITIES WILL INCLUDE PODCASTS, SONG RECORDINGS, LYRIC WRITING, TINY DESK/CLASSROOM CONCERTS, AND A CUSTOMIZED CURRICULUM FOR EACH COHORT. THE PROGRAM CONSISTS OF A MINIMUM OF FOUR (4) CLASSROOM SESSIONS PER PARTNER SCHOOL PER SEMESTER. SESSIONS INCLUDE A $1,000 STIPEND TO BE USED TO PURCHASE INSTRUMENTS REQUIRED FOR THE PROGRAM. THE PROGRAMS MISSION IS TO INSPIRE & EMPOWER STUDENTS TO CAPTURE THE DIVERSE SOUNDS, STORIES, HISTORIES & PERFORMANCES HIGHLIGHTING THE POWERFUL INFLUENCE OF THE BLUES ON COMMUNITIES AROUND THE WORLD.