BOCA RATON, FL-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 Andrew Foreman, Zoe Fromer
and pianist Jermaine Teague, 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.
To purchase benefit concert tickets visit
www.natkingcolefoundation.org/concert or call
561-237-9000. For more information on Nat King Cole
Generation Hope, Inc., call 561-213-8209 or email
info@natkingcolefoundation.org .
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 Schoo
Dade County:
American Senior High School
Heritage Elementary School
New World School of the Performing Arts
Northwest Miami Senior High School
Palmetto Elementary School |