About Us

Created in early 2010, Music Empowers Foundation was established as a private foundation for the purpose of providing funding to nonprofit organizations that offer engaging and innovative music instruction to children in communities where music education either does not exist or is underdeveloped. Music Empowers Foundation is founded on the knowledge that music ignites children's creativity, fosters a sense of accomplishment and empowers them to achieve and succeed in all aspects of their lives.

Music Empowers Foundation recognizes that there are hundreds of organizations and thousands of programs attempting to fill the ever-widening void in music education for children. Our goal, however, is to identify and partner with innovative nonprofits that have the best potential to make a sustainable and measurable impact, reaching a broad number of children and giving them the opportunity to learn, play, create and perform music. These nonprofits will be identified by the founder with the help of the Board of Trustees and, especially, the Foundation's Advisory Committee. The latter includes accomplished and experienced experts from the fields of music and arts education, and philanthropy. (See Advisory Committee for more information.)

Although Music Empowers Foundation was just launched this year, we already have made significant progress in bringing music education to children. Since it started, we provided or pledged grants totaling over $125,000 which will impact more than 25,000 children across the country (visit Our Grants for more information). In addition, we have partnered with organizations such as Little Kids Rock, The Dr. Phil Foundation and Donorschoose.org. Music Empowers Foundation is also an active member of the Quincy Jones Musiq Consortium.

We hope you will seek to learn more about Music Empowers Foundation and how you can join us in helping to bring the profound and life-changing benefits of music education to all children.

HISTORY

Music Empowers Foundation was founded by Andy Davis in memory of his late wife, Carol Cohen Davis. Music and education were key passions for Carol, and Carol and Andy had long discussed establishing a foundation that would merge these interests and provide a means to support the establishment, development and expansion of music education for children in schools and communities across the country.

Both Carol and Andy come from families with a history of music affinity and accomplishment, so they have experienced first hand the profound effect music education can have on one's life. During their years together, Carol and Andy were avid patrons and fans of all forms of music. Love of music continues in the current generation as one of their sons is an accomplished drummer/percussionist and is pursuing a career in music production and business.