For Immediate Release: October 27, 2005
Press Contact: Suzanne Parsons Stymiest at 985-898-5243.

 

St. Tammany Arts Commission: Arts, Cultural & Non-Profit Recovery Resources Update:
The Higher Ground Hurricane Relief Fund

 

The Higher Ground Hurricane Relief Fund, administered through the Baton Rouge Area Foundation, announces grants for musicians and music industry-related enterprises from the Greater New Orleans area. Individuals and organizations affected by Hurricane Katrina can download applications and review eligibility requirements at www.FoundationsForRecovery.org.

Grants for individuals will be made up to $15,000, with priority given to professional jazz musicians. Grants up to $100,000 will be issued to nonprofit organizations, with priority given to music-related institutions. Applications are subject to deadlines.

Derek E. Gordon, President and CEO of Jazz at Lincoln Center commented, "The focus of the Fund will be to help those individuals and families evacuated from the Greater New Orleans area as they address immediate concerns related to housing, food, education, health care and basic survival necessities.  The Fund will also provide resources to assist individuals over time to rebuild their homes and livelihoods."

The Higher Ground Hurricane Relief Benefit Concert, held on September 17th, was hosted by the Emmy Award-winning PBS series, Live from Lincoln Center. The event included performances by an array of musicians and entertainers, and raised funds for disaster relief by encouraging viewers to make donations to the Higher Ground Hurricane Relief Fund. To date, over $1.5 million have been raised. Revenue from DVD and CD sales of the performance will also benefit the fund. Find out more about this event at www.jazzatlincolncenter.org.

The Baton Rouge Area Foundation is a community foundation, a nonprofit organization composed of over 300 charitable funds with over $375 million in assets established by individuals, families, corporations and organizations. Since 1964, the Foundation has made grants in the areas of Arts & Humanities, Community Development, Education, Environment, Human Services, Medical/Health, Religion and Scholarships.

For more information about the Baton Rouge Area Foundation, visit www.braf.org or call 225.387.6126.

For a listing of available resources, please visit the St. Tammany Arts Commission website at www.stpgov.org/arts/. We will update the site as new opportunities and programs are available.

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