The New Orleans Musicians Relief Fund, a 501(c)3 grass roots charity founded by and for displaced New Orleans musician Jeff Beninato four years ago, is grateful to those who have contributed instruments including including two baby grands, one to a teacher from Pearl River).   Williamstown School in New Jersey just donated the band uniforms to a New Orleans school working toward its first marching band, and Stephen's brand new saxophone (at right) came from a woman who donated it in memory of her friend's son.  As described by Chris Rose in the Times Picayune, our charity has been able to pass along evacuation vehicles, guitars, horns, drums, concertinas and more. We're sorting through 10,000 strings donated by Taylor Guitars. Hallmark Magazine recommended donating instruments to displaced musicians (tip #2), and so did Blog Action Day ( tip #10). Visit our Impact Award nominated MySpace page for details.  The first post-Katrina holidays we brought the Great Southwest Holiday Toy Sleigh Ride for musicians’ children - the airline gave the New Orleans Musicians Relief Fund space to bring 200 pounds of toys home post-Katrina. We also mailed many toys out to displaced musicians’ children. So many toys came in, WWOZ DJ and drummer Bob French announced that parents could pull up out front of the studio while we distributed everything from skateboards to dolls from our Jeep. Bob’s now out of his FEMA trailer and we delivered his new couch as a Saints game was starting. We're pleased that Bob's living in Habitat for Humanity's Musicians Village, couch and all.

Helping Young Rockers The New Orleans Musicians Relief Fund has given out Rock n Roll Fantasy Camp scholarships and, thanks to Chicago teenager Mel who donated her Bat Mitzvah funds to buy guitars for 14 young New Orleans musicians (Olivia at left), one of the young rockers got to play his new guitar at Rock Camp along with the great Shamarr Allen who just got off the road with Willie Nelson. The rock counselors spent time with the legendary Smokey Johnson and Cosimo Matassa and named their group the Cosimo's Kids, winning Best Set of the Tour. Individual donations, from instruments to clothing, have helped keep our grass roots organization growing for four years now.

The Car so Nice NOMRF Gave it Twice In the first few years after the storm, the New Orleans Musicians Relief Fund was able to mail hundreds of direct grants to musicians across the country to help them return, but the charity now receives more physical items than financial donations, ranging from drums to desks. One example is Tanio, a brass band drummer who received a donated van for gig transportation (at right). When his NOMRF van was stolen, the lawyer who processed the donation paperwork donated her car just in time for his family's Hurricane Gustav evacuation.  Helping support NOMRF is Euclid Records which released a limited run of Benefit 45 albums with live tracks from Steve Wynn of the Dream Syndicate, Terry Adams of NRBQ, Peter Holsapple and Chris Stamey and more. Legendary album artists provided covers  HERE.

Instruments and Furniture Delivered to Musicians Village For those who have returned to New Orleans and are just now furnishing their homes, Furnishing Our Neighbors partnered with the New Orleans Musicians Relief Fund's ReDefine 8/29 Campaign to offer four-star hotel-donated furniture. More than 1,000 people have already been helped with $8 and $29 furniture, and free furnishings from sofa beds to armoires have been delivered musicians including legends in the Musicians Village like Smokey Johnson, longtime Fats Domino drummer. The New Orleans Musicians Relielf Fund also brought Smokey a saxophone for his church, with the help of the ultimate friend of new Orleans music - Dr. John. Rock n Bowl which hosted Jazzfest benefit featuring Dr. John, Marcia Ball, Joe Krown, Cynthia Chen and more for a Living Legends Benefit and tribute to Eddie Bo. As we attempt to keep ReDefining 8/29 post-Katrina, our supporters are deeply appreciated.  As the new Grammy Winner told Entertainment Weekly about the New Orleans Musicians Relief Fund. "It's small organizations - they've done more than these big organizations with a lot of money." The upcoming Love Song to New Orleans song contest will help raise awareness for New Orleans musicians with a song contest and CD. Stay tuned for details.

Family Piano REM featured our founder's piano print (HERE), and the benefit print is available HERE to help NOMRF provide gigs, emergency help and instruments.

Sport Your Support Our reloaded New Orleans Musicians Relief Fund's ReDefine 8/29 download includes Dr. John, Ian Hunter and many others (HERE). NOMRF also offers tracks with legendary sax players through Sax on the Web, Music lovers are still reaching out to New Orleans from Southern Comfort to Sony Playstation's Little Big Planet soon offering game levels by Family Guy artists. Our tees for ReDefine 8/29, NOMRF logo, Headphone Tee (left) and more are available HERE. Jackson Squared artist L. Steve Williams, Jr. printed posters are also available at More Fun Comics on Oak Street, Snake & Jake's Christmas Club Lounge and Winky's on Magazine.