They say, “Be the change you want to see,” and the annual Kool Kids Foundation Summer Celebration Series in New Jersey gave supporters the chance to do just that by gathering for a weekend dedicated to giving back.
Founded by Robert “Kool” Bell of the legendary band Kool & the Gang, the nonprofit hosted its annual fundraising events to benefit underserved families and strengthen music education across New Jersey. The celebration included the fifth annual Kool Kids Foundation Day Party and the seventh annual Charity & Celebrity Golf Outing. Proceeds will help provide musical instruments, educational resources and opportunities for underfunded school music programs.
Bell said the foundation’s mission is rooted in his own childhood experiences with music education.
“When I was in high school, you was able to go play cello, violin, telephone, which is like a French horn, and so we’re raising money to bring the music back into the school,” Bell told WBLS. “That’s what this is all about.”
The annual celebration welcomed entertainers, athletes, business leaders and community advocates. While guests enjoyed music and fellowship throughout the weekend, the focus remained on expanding opportunities for young musicians.
Investing in the Next Generation
For Bell, preserving music education extends beyond honoring the past.
“We’re trying to work to bring music back into school,” he said.
That commitment is shared by longtime supporters, including Vin Rock of Naughty by Nature, who served as host of the foundation’s annual day party.
“So the beauty about the Kool Kids Foundation is they’re bringing live music and live instruments back to kids,” Vin Rock said. “It’s been extracted from the schools. They’ve taken live music and instruments out of the schools.”
He said access to instruments creates opportunities that extend far beyond the classroom.
“But we need kids to learn to write music, compose music,” he continued. “So high school bands, all of that stuff, they produce some of our most incredible musicians, so it’s very important to keep music in the school and keep an instrument in the kids’ hands, and that’s what we’re doing here.”
The foundation’s work also includes partnerships with community organizations that provide year-round programming for young people.
One of those partners is Inspire Life in Asbury Park, which collaborates with the Kool Kids Foundation by providing musical instruments, equipment donations and performance opportunities for student musicians.
Building Confidence Through Music
Dr. Semaj Vanzant, co-founder of Inspire Life, said music programs help students develop valuable life skills.
“These types of programs are extremely important and they’re critical because one of the things it does is helps these young people to express their genius in musical ways,” he said. “Not only do they get a chance to express it, but it builds their confidence.”
He added that the discipline learned through music often carries into the classroom.
“It also impacts positively the academic performance because when they are practicing music in the regimen and developing the discipline, then they also translate that into the academics,” Vanzant said. “Our community is the better for it because it’s not just about music, but it’s about how do you come together as one, how do you participate as a part of a team, and how do you make everyone around you better.”
Carla Vanzant said representation remains one of the most meaningful parts of the partnership.
“My favorite part about it is the representation,” she said. “How powerful is it for kids to see themselves represented.”
She said young musicians benefit from seeing accomplished artists and mentors who reflect their communities.
“For kids to see these powerful figures leading in the music industry, participating, it helps them to see themselves stepping into places that they never dreamed of or imagined,” she said. “I love the community, the mentorship, the love. There’s so many things that we love about it, but that’s number one.”
As another successful fundraising weekend concluded, the foundation’s message remained clear: investing in music education today creates opportunities that can shape generations to come. Through community partnerships and continued support, the Kool Kids Foundation hopes more New Jersey students will have the chance to discover their own rhythm.