House of Blues Music Forward Foundation announced it has received a $150,000 grant from the Living Legacy Foundation, which will expand its organizational impact and establish the first-ever college scholarship for homeless and former foster youth pursuing music industry careers.
The Living Legacy Foundation grant will support the expansion of Music Forward’s industry-focused programs and services throughout Southern California—doubling its impact on youth from under-represented communities, reaching 4,500 youth in 2019 and beyond. Music Forward provides free educational and employment programs that connect passions to professions in the music industry.
In addition, Music Forward will launch a new $10,000 national scholarship named in memory of David Eugene Ballard, music enthusiast and late father-in-law to philanthropist Alisha Ballard, founder of the Living Legacy Foundation, designed to support youth who have experienced homelessness or been part of the foster care system and are attending college to study music business. Fields of study for the scholarship include live-event operations, production, music engineering, music business management and other related fields. The David Eugene Ballard Scholarship joins Music Forward’s unique portfolio of scholarship programs to support college students pursuing music industry careers, many of which are made possible in partnership with Live Nation concerts.
Music Forward Foundation helps youth navigate the music industry, learn music business strategies, and develop the knowledge and confidence for a career in the industry, both on and off the stage. In 25 years the Foundation has impacted over 1 million young lives and invested $25 million in transformational programs for youth from underserved communities.
Applications for the David Eugene Ballard Scholarship will be accepted now until March 31, 2019, and must be submitted online at http://hobmusicforward.org/programs/scholarships/. Scholarship recipients will be announced in May 2019.
“We are deeply honored and grateful to receive this generous, first-time support from the Living Legacy Foundation,” said Nurit Smith, executive director of Music Forward Foundation. “This grant establishes a truly distinctive scholarship program targeting our most vulnerable young people and will increase the scope of Music Forward’s work.”
“We are thrilled to partner with Music Forward to create the new David Eugene Ballard Scholarship and support the Foundation’s initiatives,” said Alisha Ballard, vice president and executive director of Living Legacy Foundation. “This life-changing scholarship offers crucial financial support for homeless and former foster youth pursuing careers in the music industry.”
About Music Forward Foundation
Music Forward transforms lives, inspires careers and champions a more inclusive music industry. Focusing on young people ages 12-22 in under-represented communities, Music Forward sets the stage for success by providing workshops and showcases to inspire the next generation of music industry leaders and innovators. Learn more at hobmusicforward.org.
About Living Legacy Foundation
Living Legacy Foundation is a private family foundation that supports organizations serving people who suffer from poverty, poor health, abuse, lack of education and a lack of opportunities to better their lives.
