EDITOR’S
NOTE: CLICK
HERE FOR HIGH-RES PHOTOGRAPHY
For more information and interviews, please contact:
Kaye Communications, 561-392-5166
Natalie Cole to
Headline at
Nat King Cole Generation Hope, Inc.
Nat King Cole Generation Hope, Inc.
GENERATIONS Concert
to Raise Funds
for Music Education
for Music Education
TICKETS NOW ON SALE
BOCA
RATON, FL (January 24, 2013)-- Nine-time GRAMMY® award-winning singer and songwriter
Natalie Cole will headline at the second annual GENERATIONS, a Nat King Cole
Generation Hope Inc. concert benefit to raise funds for music education on
Friday, March 1, 2013 at the Keith
C. and Elaine Johnson Wold
Performing Arts Center at Lynn University in Boca Raton, Florida (the venue of the final 2012 Presidential
Debate).
Twin
daughters of music legend Nat King Cole, Timolin and Casey Cole of Boca Raton,
launched Nat King Cole Generation Hope, Inc. to honor the legacy, music and
life of their father Nat King Cole in 2008 after learning of budget cuts in
public schools directly affecting the arts. Since that time, donations in
excess of $66,000 have benefited more than 5,000 children with “the greatest
need and fewest resources” in Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach counties.
“Our
family history is one of musical excellence and charitable giving,” said
Timolin Cole. “Our father was a trailblazer in the music industry and
will live forever through his style, grace and unforgettable music. Our
mother Maria, also an entertainer, sang with Duke Ellington and was known for
supporting multiple causes throughout her life. By giving students the
opportunity to enhance their musical talents and abilities, our family’s legacy
lives on.”
Casey
Cole added that “In keeping with that legacy, the concert will showcase
generations of musical greatness, including performances by our sister Natalie
Cole, students from the Nat King Cole Generation Hope Summer Strings Camp, and
local teen performance artists Andrew Foreman and Zoe Fromer.”
“We
believe that every child should be exposed to music education,” continued
Timolin. “Studies prove that participation in school music has a positive
impact on areas considered outside the realm of music including dexterity,
coordination, self-discipline, self-esteem, thinking skills, listening skills,
and personal expression.”
This
past summer 105 students from 7 Title 1 Palm Beach County schools were
transported to Lynn University in Boca Raton to attend the inaugural Nat King
Cole Generation Hope, Inc. Summer Strings at Lynn University, a camp that
provided elementary students without means an opportunity to receive the
highest quality string instruction. Nat King Cole Generation Hope, Inc.,
the School District of Palm Beach County and Lynn University Conservatory of
Music worked together to make this week-long program happen with Nat King Cole
Generation Hope, Inc. funding the cost of running the camp, the school district
providing transportation and lunches for the campers and the university
donating the space. Students received small group section instruction and
private lessons with Lynn’s conservatory students serving as their mentors. The
week-long camp culminated in a concert performed in the Keith C. and Elaine
Johnson Wold Performing Arts Center.
“Plans
are currently underway to expand the camp program next year based on
fundraising from this GENERATIONS Concert,” noted Casey. “While giving has been
predominantly in Palm Beach County, the organization has supported programs in
Broward and Miami-Dade Counties with a goal to replicate successful programs,
like our recent Summer Strings opportunity, across the country.”
The
GENERATIONS concert event begins at 7:00 p.m. with a reception hosted by
Celebrity Cruises featuring music performed by students from the Lynn
Conservatory of Music and an ensemble of children they mentored during Nat King
Cole Generation Hope Summers Strings and a silent auction that will include a
4-foot x 3-foot original painting of Nat King Cole by Salvatore Principe, a
vintage handbag from the private collection of Maria Cole, wife of Nat King
Cole and mother of the Cole sisters, Natalie, Timolin and Casey; and a
limited edition print of the legendary artists who performed and recorded
"We Are The World", including Michael Jackson, Quincy Jones, and
Diana Ross with each artist's signature and portrait, along with the musical
score of the song. At 8:00 p.m. the attendees will enjoy music from the
talented, local youth performers followed by the performance by headliner
Natalie Cole.
VIP
tickets priced at $350 include premier seating, open bar at the Celebrity
Cruises pre-concert reception, a private meet-and greet with performers, and
post-event dessert reception; Donor tickets priced at $150 include priority
seating and two drink tickets for the Celebrity Cruises pre-concert reception;
and General Admission tickets priced at $75 with cash bar at Celebrity Cruises
pre-concert reception are available, but limited.
GENERATIONS Concert sponsors include Silver Sponsor Celebrity
Cruises; Bronze Sponsors Allied Health Institute and West Boca
Medical Center; Patron Sponsor Florida Power & Light; Partners Boca
Raton Bridge Hotel, Cruisin-America, Kaye Communications, Inc., Lynn
University and SmartCruiser.com; Media Sponsors The Boca
Raton Observer, The Boca Raton Tribune, Seaview Radio and LivingFLA.com.
The
mission of Nat King Cole Generation Hope, Inc., a 501(c)(3) non-profit
organization, is to provide music education to children with the greatest need
and fewest resources. It is accomplished by funding programs that provide
for instruction, mentoring and resources. Nat King Cole Generation Hope,
Inc. accepts grant applications throughout the year, which are reviewed by its
Board of Directors and grants are awarded twice yearly based on the merit of
application and availability of funds. Organization board members include
Timolin Cole, president; Casey Cole, vice president; Robin Coven - Levin
HomeCare; Rainford Knight - Florida Institute of Finance, LLC; Toni
Mastrullo - Telecom Resources of America, Inc.; Sharon Gordon Mullane,
Esq.; Thais Piotrowski – Ameriprise and Milana Walter.
GENERATIONS Concert sponsors include Platinum Sponsor Patriot National Insurance Group; Silver Sponsor Celebrity Cruises; Bronze Sponsors Allied Health Institute, Excel Services Corporation and West Boca Medical Center; Patron Sponsors Florida Power & Light and Global Tower Partners; Partners Boca Raton Bridge Hotel, Cruisin-America, Kaye Communications, Inc., Lynn University and SmartCruiser.com; Media Sponsors The Boca Raton Observer, The Boca Raton Tribune, Seaview Radio and LivingFLA.com.
To purchase benefit concert tickets visit natkingcolefoundation.org/concert or call 561-237-9000 or more information on Nat King Cole Generation Hope, Inc., call 561-213-8209 or email info@natkingcolefoundation.org.
# # #
Editor’s
Note: Schools that have received funding from the Nat King Cole Generation
Hope, Inc. include:
Palm Beach County:
- Boca
Raton Middle School
- Boca
Raton Community High School
- Belvedere
Elementary School, West Palm Beach
- Canal
Point Elementary School
- Cholee
Lake Elementary School
- Forest
Hill Community High School
- Jaega
Middle School
- North
Palm Beach Elementary School
- Plumosa
Elementary School of the Arts
- Summer
Strings at Lynn University
- Roosevelt
Community Middle School
- U.
B. Kinsey Elementary School
- Youth Orchestra of Palm Beach County
Broward County:
- Dillard
High School
- Piper High School
Dade County:
- American
Senior High School
- Heritage
Elementary School
- New
World School of the Performing Arts
- Northwest
Miami Senior High School
- Palmetto
Elementary School