The Russell Joel Brown Foundation is a 501(c)(3) Foundation established to support the on-going community efforts of Russell Joel Brown. The Russell Joel Brown Foundation, a National Legacy Foundation, seeks to improve the quality of life in communities through a two-tiered approach. The first tier is geared toward providing exposure, education, and performance opportunities for young people, especially those who are economically disadvantaged. The second tier seeks to help dismantle the often arbitrary barriers to cooperation and communication within communities, including but not limited to racial, intergenerational, and socio-economic concerns. The Foundation is primarily funded through the "Mozart to Motown" productions as well as other artistic endeavors of Mr. Brown. It is also funded through corporate and individual donations from those who share the ideals of our mission.

Exposure, Education, and Performance Opportunities. Exposure to the performing arts for children will take the shape of presenting performances of "From Mozart to Motown 3!" and "A New Mozart to Motown Christmas" specially designed for school-age audiences at the Imperial Theatre. Not only will students have the opportunity to see a live Broadway-style performance, they will receive comprehensive study guides which will educate them on the music from the show and the time periods which spawned it. Performance opportunities have already been set in motion through the many master classes and camps with which Russell Joel Brown has been involved. Students from the inner-city, chosen from the Greater Augusta Arts Council's Artscape Camp appeared in last season's production of "A Mozart to Motown Christmas!" and a new group will appear in "A New Mozart to Motown Christmas" this season. Students from the 2004 Augusta State University Choir Camp will appear in the 2004 Christmas show as well as children from the St. John United Methodist Church Choir Camp and The Jessye Norman School of the Arts. All of these programs have benefited from Mr. Brown's expertise and will continue to benefit through this performance experience.

"(W)rapping Around…" - Town Hall Meetings for Teens.The Russell Joel Brown Foundation will host a series of town hall meetings for teens to get them talking about topics relevant to our community and their lives. The open-forum discussions will be moderated and gently guided by professionals (psychologists, sociologists, city leaders, etc). This safe environment for students to speak their minds offers a rare opportunity for us to hear the next generation's concerns. The first meeting will be a part of "The Voyage" campaign of the Augusta Museum of History and The Lucy Craft Laney Museum's exhibit of the "Henrietta Marie: A Slaveship Speaks" and will be called "(W)rapping Around Race."

Foundation Awards. Each year Russell Joel Brown chooses an emerging artist or arts group as a special feature of his Mozart to Motown production. In addition to providing added exposure, a platform for their artistry, and helping to build their audience base, The Russell Joel Brown Foundation presents scholarship awards to the featured guest. Past featured guests and award recipients include CutnoDance Centre for Dance Education in 2003 and Creative Impressions in 2002. This year's featured guest is Behind the Masque.

Russell Joel Brown Foundation Award Recipients:

2004
Behind the Masque was founded by Jaime Burcham in 2002 as a safe haven for performers and purveyor of performance art. Their mission is "to give every performer an opportunity to show and refine their talents, and to support awareness and education of the arts in our membership and in our community." Providing their unique brand of "adaptive entertainment", the members juggle, dance, sing, act, pantomime and improvise. In the spirit of supporting emerging artists and providing a new and larger platform for arts groups on the rise, Behind the Masque will be the Special Guest artists for "From Mozart to Motown 3!"

2003
CutnoDance Centre for Dance Education specializes in quality dance training for Augusta's youth and emphasizes cultural diversity and personal development among its staff and students. It is the only minority-owned studio in the area offering professional dance training. In accepting the Russell Joel Brown Foundation Award, Founder and Artistic Director Ferneasa Cutno announced the establishment of the Russell Joel Brown Dance Scholarship which will be awarded to a worthy student for use at the CutnoDance Centre.

2002
Creative Impressions, a private singing group under the direction of Evelyn Ellis, encourages its 42 young members to study and execute all forms of self-expression, including drama, dance, art, and music. As Creative Consultant to Creative Impressions during the 2001-2002 school year, Russell Joel Brown provided instruction in vocal production, pitch and rhythmic mastery, solo interpretation, and vocal styling to budding singers. Creative Impressions was the first group to be featured in a Mozart to Motown production and the first to receive a Scholarship Award.