The Ray Charles Foundation Donates $2M to the Grammy Museum Foundation

The Grammy Museum Foundation has received a $2 million donation from the Ray Charles Foundation to support music education. Here’s the latest.

The Grammy Museum says in recognition of the donation, it will rename their rooftop terrace The Ray Charles Terrace at the Grammy Museum. Funds from the gift will be used in the Museum’s Campaign for Music Education, launched in October 2022 to expand the museum’s education programs. That includes its Grammy in the Schools programming.

An Official Grammy Week event honoring the terrace re-naming will take place on Monday, January 29 from 6:30—9pm ahead of the 66th Grammy Awards. The ribbon-cutting ceremony will be hosted by Jimmy Jam and will feature a red carpet, cocktail reception, music curation by DJ Khalil, and a performance by Aloe Blacc, who will perform some of Ray Charles’ biggest hits. The rooftop terrace offers 180-degree views of Downtown Los Angeles and the Hollywood sign, hosting more than 150 events each year.

“The Grammy Museum embodies the spirit of our mission to empower young people through education,” says Valerie Ervin, President of The Ray Charles Foundation. “We are thrilled to be able to continue our partnership with the Museum and help them achieve their goal of expanding music education and fostering a love of music in our next generation.”

“As the Grammy Museum celebrates our 15th Anniversary, more than ever we are leaning into expanding music education and access to our renowned programs,” adds Michael Sticka, President/CEO of the Grammy Museum. “We are incredibly grateful to our partners, The Ray Charles Foundation, for their generosity and investment towards the Museum’s Campaign for Music Education, which will help us further our educational mission. It’s an honor to deepen our longstanding relationship.”

This year, the Grammy Museum is celebrating its 15th anniversary as a non-profit organization dedicated to exploring music from yesterday and today. The museum offers exhibits, education, grants, preservation initiatives, and public programming to pay tribute to our collective musical heritage. Grammy in the Schools is the umbrella name for all Grammy Museum Foundation education activities that serve to fund school music programs.