What does music mean to us?
Help us kick off our 2024 end-of-year fundraising campaign by telling us what music means to you – fill out the short form on the home page of our website and give us your testimonial!
Visit https://www.thejwf.org
By Claire Levine
Love of music underlies everything we do, so for the rest of this year, we want to celebrate how and why music is so compelling – and why we feel it’s so important to help those who keep the music alive in our community.
As word of the Jeremy Wilson Foundation’s work grows, so does demand for assistance. To make sure we can serve those who approach us for help from the Musician Health & Services Program, our end of year 2024 campaign fundraising goal is $45,000.
Music is at once personal and universal. Asking people about their associations with music elicits lyrical responses, emotional answers and poignant memories. Like music, these reflections offer a glimpse into thoughts often unexpressed, and into experiences sometimes forgotten. It is a sweet connection to people you may know and those you may never meet.
Let’s start with Jeremy Wilson, who founded the organization in 2010 and continues today as the executive director. A life-long creator and performer, Jeremy’s life has been shaped by music. Here’s a glimpse into what motivates him, and why he has spent so many years watching out for those who make the soundtracks of our lives.
“I believe that music is a mystical language that can express the things we can't always put into words any other way. Music has a way of seeping into the hearts and minds of the listener that not only helps us to understand or cope with the world around us better, but also can inspire us to live our best lives.”
For many years, Rachel Melissa has chaired the foundation’s board of directors. She has volunteered hours and hours setting directions and advising on programs that help the foundation grow and accomplish its goals. She said:
“Music means so many things to me. It evokes my childhood, when I learned to play piano and then clarinet and spent countless hours practicing alone or with a group at school. It recalls fun times hanging out with friends at live shows or at home, just relaxing and listening to a tape or CD.
Music was with me during the most sad and painful times in my life, as well as the most joyful and euphoric. Music is what brought my partner and me together, and what has deepened the beautiful bond I have with my teenage daughter. In short, music is threaded through every aspect of my life, from my earliest days to this very moment.”
Melanie Bobbett’s services are what distinguish The JWF from almost any other program that helps musicians dealing with medical issues. A trained social worker, she is a guide, a sounding board and a problem-solver for those seeking assistance. Those she has helped express immense gratitude for her advice on resources, her solutions and her calming words. She said:
"Music is my favorite source of nostalgia, joy, comfort, inspiration, escapism, and connection."
Sarah Lonigro, development associate, helps the foundation bring in the critical funds that it in turn uses to assist musicians and others in the industry.
"Music is transcendent. Music is inspiring. Music is evocative. Music is healing. Music is something I treasure because it brings joy, new experiences and creates memories."
Philip Hornik is an attorney who plays an essential role on the board. He also is a musician who performs In one of Portland’s most enduring country swing bands, Shorty and the Mustangs. He said:
“Playing or listening to music means using the other side of my brain than the one I use for my day job. Music heals me from the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune that we all experience.”
Drummer, knitter, basketball fan and mom, JWF board director Kate Hufford finds the time to give back to the community she cherishes – Portland musicians, venues and supporters.
“For me, music is too many things to define. In the practical sense, music offers both a channel for individual expression and a language for connecting and communicating with others.”
Michelle Ryan has recently joined the JWF board, and she brings with her a lifelong love of music that has influenced her career.
“Music brings me back to cherished memories and helps me connect with others in ways that transcend words. It resonates deeply with my emotions, offering a space for expression when words fall short. Music has the power to soothe, energize and heal, allowing me to release the stressors of my day. As a movement instructor, being surrounded by sound grounds my mind, while my body moves freely, releasing tension and knots. Music is not just an experience—it’s a way of feeling, healing, and connecting.” (not pictured)
It's challenging to put our love of music into words, but these folks have succeeded beautifully. And they put their love of music to work every day, bringing energy, ideas and resources to a foundation that supports the music community.
These are just a few of the many, many volunteers, contributors and advocates who make the foundation’s work possible. We encourage you to learn more about those who work behind the scenes to make the JWF successful. Thanks for your continuing interest and support!
And if you’d like to tell us what music means to you, we would love to hear from you. And we would love your help in reaching our $45,000 year-end fundraising goal.
On behalf of the entire music community, thank you for your support of The JWF’s Musician Health & Services Program. Your dollars help keep the music alive. Or, as we’ve said over the years. Your Support Makes Music!
