BOCA RATON, FL--(Marketwire - March 17, 2010) - Music legend Nat King Cole would be 90 today, and his twin daughters, Timolin and Casey Cole, are keeping his legacy alive through Nat King Cole Generation Hope (www.natkingcolefoundation.org), a non-profit organization that supports music education in public schools.
"Our father will forever be recognized and celebrated for the trailblazer that he was in breaking down racial barriers and for his technical and stylistic contributions to the world of music," said Timolin Cole.
The Cole Twins launched the Foundation after learning of budget cuts in South Florida public schools. It was created to provide funding for music education to children of all ages, ethnic backgrounds and diversities, including instruction in musical instruments, composition, songwriting and recording arts as well as several other seminars and field trips. Established in 2008, the Foundation donated musical instruments to schools throughout South Florida, with plans to expand nationally in the near future.
"We believe our father, by right, has earned his place in history as a true American hero and legend through his contribution to the world of music," said Casey Cole. "By enriching students with the opportunity to enhance their musical talents and abilities, our father's legacy lives on."
While the arts were an integral part of the educational curriculum in his lifetime, today's youth are art starved. Research shows that over 72% of students with a high involvement in music score in the top two quartiles of standardize tests. This is in comparison to the 45% of students with low involvement in music. Music education can also help students learn important life skills such as problem solving, creative thinking and mental discipline.
Nat King Cole Generation Hope, Inc., a 501(c) (3) non-profit organization, is helping support music education in Florida. Musical instruments, instruction, seminars, state-of-the-art recording equipment and funding are being provided to students with the greatest need and fewest resources in Palm Beach, Broward, and Miami-Dade counties. For additional information regarding the Foundation, please visit: www.natkingcolefoundation.org.
Contact Information:
CONTACT: Elizabeth Kelley Grace
561-702-7471; Elizabeth@thebuzzagency.net