In loving memory of Jack Benny, a man who made us laugh. He was a quiet, unsung philanthropist, and passionate about music. We, his family, dedicate this foundation to the furtherance of music appreciation and education.
Our mission is to continue the work he started. Though a talented and classically-trained violinist, he discovered early in his career that playing his violin – badly for laughs – was a very effective way to entertain. He toured the country as violin soloist, played his comedy concerts with all the major orchestras, and raised millions of dollars for the Musicians Pension Fund. He generously supported concert halls in both Los Angeles and New York. He cared about keeping the music of the great composers relevant for future generations. His persona was a cheapskate, but in truth, he was anything but.
The Jack Benny Family Foundation for Music is dedicated to training the next generation of musicians and inspiring the next generation of music audiences. Grants will be made in the following areas:
• Youth orchestras
• Programs for gifted young musicians
• Music appreciation classes in schools
• Scholarships for select individual violinists
We hope to honor Jack Benny’s generosity of spirit and love of music through the recipients of these grants.
The Jack Benny Family Foundation for Music is a component fund of the California Community Foundation. To make a donation, click here.
The Jack Benny Family Foundation for Music 