Special Appeal:

Support the Healdsburg Jazz Festival

First of all, I want to thank everyone who stood up for the Healdsburg Jazz Festival and the music it represents. This is a victory for real, true jazz in a time when many jazz festivals have been moving away from the format, even while still calling themselves a “jazz festival.” Thankfully, the local community recognized how important the Festival is to Healdsburg, and the jazz music community fought to save the integrity of their art form.

The people have spoken: The Festival’s reputation of being one of the best in the country, if not THE world, must be maintained. What would our lives be like without great music and all other art forms?  Jazz grew out of the difficulty to communicate under severe duress  (“the blues”). Its roots may be in Africa but like America itself, it is an expression of influences from many cultures that has created a community with a common purpose. Now we will do the same.

I also want to thank the past board members for their support and service. We must now all come together in common purpose, and look only forward. The business of running this festival will resume as normal. We can build a strong foundation and solidify the future of this great event.

Our mission to preserve and promote jazz does face some hurdles, however. It is critical that funds are raised to pay off the vendors and suppliers.  I feel very confident that we can do this. The strong support from so many people gave me the confidence that we can put the organization back on solid footing, retire the debt, and raise the necessary operating capital to bring the Healdsburg Jazz Festival back next year.

If I didn’t feel this was entirely possible, I would not have accepted this challenge. I actually feel that all that has happened will make us stronger. No longer will it be taken for granted that the Festival can continue without the support of members, businesses, sponsors, foundations, grants etc. I know times are hard for many, but we can all save jazz in Healdsburg if everyone who cares about the music, and our children’s education and the survival of this great art form, does what they can. Whether you can help a little or a lot, either by a  financial donation or your personal engagement in volunteering, this challenge can be met.

It is very exciting to me to see all the new energy that has been generated to date. We have had meetings to discuss the problem and committees are now forming in fundraising, membership, and education. A nominating committee to help choose a new board is in motion, and a strategic plan is being developed. All this is just beginning.

We need everyone to help.

We are currently designing a fundraising campaign to align with our intention to create a financially sustainable festival moving forward. In the meantime, we welcome your donation to keep the doors open and the music coming!  Check out the new feature on our website that allows for a one-time donation, which can also be broken up into monthly payments or be set up to make an annual donation. Airline mileage is also needed and another way you can donate. Other ideas for raising money have been floated, and if you have an idea we want to hear it!

But today, you can visit our Donate Now page and make a direct donation by most major credit cards. If you want to break the payments up,  we can set up a schedule over the phone – call (707) 433-4644. The important thing is to recognize that the real work begins now; now is the time to begin.

It is critical we start this process immediately and keep it growing. Please make a tax-deductible donation in support of the Healdsburg Jazz Festival right away, of whatever size you can afford..

If you want to join the fundraising committee or others, please send an email to volunteer@healdsburgjazzfestival.org.

For questions about donations, email support@healdsburgjazzfestival.org

You can reach me, jessica@healdsburgjazzfestival.org 

Musically yours, Jessica

P.S. Did you miss the story? Do you know what we’re talking about? You can find is a synopsis at…. Including our petition of support, many press articles to read, and over 100 postings by musicians – George Cables, Angela Wellman, Babatunde Lea, Charlie Musselwhite and others – as well as  sponsors, fans, past festival attendees and local students who learned their jazz chops in our Jazz Education programs. All these can be viewed at http://www.healdsburgjazzfestival.org/wordpress/welcome-back