The Ireland Funds – Inspiring a Generation of Young Musicians
The Ireland Funds
Image: irelandfunds.org
Michael T. Jackson resided in Belvedere, California from 1994 to 2002. He holds an MBA from the University of Southern California. While he and his wife moved from Belvedere to Florida several years ago, much of their family continues to live in California’s Bay Area. Michael T. Jackson focuses on a number of philanthropic causes and serves on the Board of Directors for the US chapter of The Ireland Funds.
Founded in 1976, The Ireland Funds is a global philanthropic network involved with Irish-related causes across the globe. Through chapters in 12 countries, the organization has raised more than $550 million to fund various programs, including Music Generation.
Music Generation is a music education project established in 2009 in partnership with the rock band U2, which was formed in Dublin and has become one of the best-known groups in the world. U2 and The Ireland Funds sponsored the program with gifts of over €7 million, deemed as the single largest charitable donation to music education in Ireland’s history.
Through the program, tens of thousands of young people have been able to access subsidized tuition for musical training within their localities. Moreover, in excess of 350 job opportunities opened to musicians who were employed to help deliver the program across the country.
Since its initial development, the program has received a second round of major funding from U2, The Ireland Funds, and the Bank of America Charitable Foundation, as well as a commitment from the Irish government to co-fund the program in the future.
Michael T. Jackson (Belvedere) 