Hosted by Bill Cosby
“A Great Night In Harlem" benefit concert will raise money to assist the countless elder jazz and blues artists in crisis across America, who have spent their lives making ours rich with their music. In addition, to save hundreds of displaced New Orleans musicians who are still suffering without work, without homes and facing the threat of losing their very way of life, as well as the city that grew the garden of jazz.
This year's concert is seeking to raise $2 million, and, with your help, we'll make it. This magical night will feature a performance history of jazz and blues, never before heard in NYC at the world famous Apollo Theater.
Appearances and performances by legends such as Bill Cosby, Danny Glover, and countless jazz luminaries. At this time, we have interest from other major stars and legends, who will be able to confirm closer to the date and have requested to remain a surprise.
The Evening's Program
Gala Dinner
An intimate private dinner for corporate sponsors, patrons and celebrities
6:00 - 7:30pm
A Great Night in Harlem
Concert at the Apollo Theater
8pm
VIP After Party
For major sponsors and patrons
10pm
Join us for a private dinner with Great talent, Great food and for a Great cause. You'll be in Great company!
Reserve a table
Tables of 8 are available for $50,000, $25,000, $15,000 and $10,000. See the Sponsorship Opportunities for details. Space is limited, so please make your reservation soon.
The lives you will touch with your generosity will not only save the music, but the very musicians themselves.
The Cause
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. Hurricane Katrina left countless New Orleans musicians and their families unemployed, homeless and with their lives washed away. Musicians called out for help, and the JFA mobilized to answer that call. We send a warm invitation for you to join the Jazz Foundation's extended family with Bill Cosby, Danny Glover, Richard D. Parsons of Time Warner and a host of others, for a million dollar evening of courage, community and celebration!
Musicians' Emergency Fund
The JFA has gone from helping 35 musicians a year to averaging 60 emergency cases per week. Since Hurricane Katrina, JFA has gathered its resources and worked without pause. The JFA and its small staff has served over 2,553 musician emergency cases since the flood and the hurricanes.
HOUSING
Emergency Housing funds have kept hundreds of elderly musicians from eviction and homelessness, paying rents and mortgages in times of illness. The JFA has been housing hundreds of New Orleans musicians and their families, many with small children, keeping a roof over their heads by getting them into new apartments, paying rent and security deposits. In addition, the JFA has been keeping mortgages from foreclosure for those who were forced to make mortgage payments on homes that had been destroyed, while having to pay rent elsewhere after being displaced. (Thanks to E*TRADE FINANCIAL's special housing fund contributions).
INSTRUMENTS
The JFA has facilitated the donation of over $250,000 brand-new, top-shelf brass instruments, drums and pianos, thanks to Music and Art Centers, Beethoven Pianos and Yamaha.
EMPLOYMENT
Putting the musicians back to work: In the belief that giving work and a sense of purpose is the most dignified way to ever help anyone in crisis, the JFA created the Agnes Varis/Jazz Foundation in the Schools program. Thanks to “Saint" Agnes Varis (Agvar Chemicals, inc.) and other contributors like Time Warner Inc., PearlJam and individuals like Fisher Stevens, this Program has been saving hundreds of New Orleans musicians in 8 states. This year, “Saint" Agnes has made a provision that will allow us to employ elderly musicians in NYC public schools, bringing jazz to thousands of children who have no music programs.
PRO BONO MEDICAL CARE AND OPERATIONS
For the past 11 years, partnerships with Englewood Hospital and Medical Center have provided hundreds of musicians with operations, pro bono medical care and specialists, literally keeping hundreds of uninsured jazz and blues musicians alive.
Sponsorship Opportunities
TITLE SPONSORS $100,000
- Your company logo on-stage during concert and on all JFA printed materials
- Your company logo on “step and repeat" banner outside for red carpet photo opportunities
- Title Sponsor credit on nationwide broadcast reaching millions of viewers
- Title Sponsor company listing in event program as well as logo on foundation Web site
- Company name or logo on all press releases prior, during and post event
- On-stage acknowledgment by celebrity host Bill Cosby
- Company executive on-stage appearance with Mr. Cosby
- Photo opportunities with artists and celebrities
- Your company logo on event T-shirts and posters
- Company name or logo most prominent in all event advertising
- Title Sponsors receive 1 table for 10 Platinum Circle seating (best placement) at Great Night Gala Dinner
- (16) VIP concert tickets - premium orchestra seating
- (16) VIP passes to the exclusive after party
- Full-page ad on inside front or back cover of the official event program
- Photo opportunity with celebrities
MAJOR EVENT SPONSORS $50,000
- On-stage acknowledgment by celebrity host
- Table for (8) in the Platinum Circle Great Night Gala Dinner before concert
- (8) VIP concert tickets - premium orchestra seating
- (8) VIP passes to the exclusive after party
- Company product distribution opportunity at VIP after party
- Company name or logo in all event advertising
- Company name and logo on event T-shirts, posters, invitations and in-press
- Full-page ad with priority placement in the official event program
PLATINUM SPONSORS $25,000
- Table for (8) in Platinum Circle at Great Night Gala Dinner
- (8) VIP concert tickets - premium orchestra seating
- (8) VIP passes to the exclusive after party
- Full-page ad with priority placement in the official event program
- Platinum Circle company listing in event program, in all JFA printed materials and logo on JFA Web site
EVENT SPONSORS
Gold Circle $10,000
- Table for (8) in Gold Circle at Great Night Gala Dinner
- (8) Gold Circle concert tickets - preferred orchestra seating
- (8) VIP passes to the exclusive after party
- Quarter-page black & white ad in the official event program
- Gold Circle company listing in the official event program
Silver Circle $5,000
- (4) Silver Circle concert tickets - preferred orchestra seating
- (4) VIP passes to the exclusive after party
- Silver Circle company listing in the official event program
- Quarter-page black & white ad in the official event program
For advertising in event program only, call for rates. 917-991-6198
Past sponsors including Agvar Chemicals Inc., E*TRADE FINANCIAL Corporation, Evercore, Mylan, Absolut Vodka, Time Warner Inc., HIP Health Plan of NY, Citibank, DIRECTV, MTV, Delta Airlines, Morgan Stanley, Johnson & Johnson, New York Magazine, WBGO Jazz 88.3, BET J, Concord/Fantasy Records, Time Warner Cable, Anheuser-Busch, Warner Bros., CB Richard Ellis, Quincy Jones, Danny Glover, Bonnie Raitt, Elvis Costello, Whoopi Goldberg, Bill Cosby and Chevy Chase have been thrilled to have been a part of saving these musicians...musicians who have spent their lives making us rich with their music.
Praise for the Jazz Foundation Of America
“When I had congestive heart failure and couldn't work, the Jazz Foundation paid my mortgage for several months and saved my home! Thank God for those people."
~ Freddie Hubbard
“I was going blind and couldn't see to shop or cook, I was living on two cans of SlimFast a day for over a year and a half...The Jazz Foundation saved my life."
~ Cecil Payne
“The Jazz Foundation has been a lifesaver to so many musicians from New Orleans, housing them and giving them the opportunity to work and earn money with dignity. They've done more to help the New Orleans musicians than any other group that I know of."
~ Dr. Michael White (famous New Orleans bandleader/historian)
“When I broke my hip, the Jazz Foundation saved my home, made mortgage payments when I had to cancel my tours, and even visited me in the hospital. I don't know what I would have done without them."
~ Odetta
“I cannot even imagine the world without jazz and the blues, and I cannot imagine turning our backs on the very people who gave their lives, their life experiences, and the music to us all these years, especially now when they need us most. The Jazz Foundation is saving the music."
~ Quincy Jones
For more information contact:
Wendy Oxenhorn, Executive Director
Email [email protected] or call 917-991-6198
For more information contact All About Jazz.
