The LeRoi Moore Fund Announces Scholarship Programs and Charitable Endowments

September 7th Marks The Late Dave Matthews Band Saxophonist’s Birthday

The LeRoi Moore Fund, established by the late saxophonist’s trust to ensure that his philanthropic activities would continue after his passing, has created three four-year college scholarship programs that will launch with the 2010-2011 academic year.

The Fund will also make annual contributions to the following charities: Toys For Tots, Habitat for Humanity, Leukemia & Lymphoma Society and Blue Ridge Area Food Bank.

LeRoi Moore, a founding member of Dave Matthews Band, had regularly supported these organizations during his lifetime. Born in Durham, NC on September 7th, 1961, Moore died on August 19, 2008 from complications stemming from an ATV accident earlier in the summer.

“LeRoi was one of the most generous people I have ever met, although he was very private about it. It is great to see that his legacy of giving will live on,” said Rit Venerus, Trustee of Moore’s estate. The LeRoi Moore Fund, which was established by LeRoi’s Trust, is administered by the Charlottesville Area Community Foundation.

The following scholarships have been established in Moore’s name:

North Carolina Central University – a four-year/$5,000 per year scholarship open to Business and Education majors, the departments in which Moore’s parents studied while at the university. Applicants will be evaluated based on their financial need, with an emphasis on community service.

Albemarle High School – a four-year/$2,500 per year scholarship towards the recipient’s college expenses. The scholarship will be open to music students and be based on their talents, financial need and community service. Moore attended Albemarle High School, where his father was also a teacher.

University of Virginia School of Nursing – a four-year/$5,000 per year scholarship will be awarded to a Nursing Department student exhibiting financial need and a history of community service. Moore, who was treated at The University of Virginia Medical Center, had expressed a desire to honor the efforts of all those who had helped him during his time there.

Applications and additional information on the scholarships may be obtained from the respective schools.

LeRoi Moore grew up in Charlottesville, VA, where he established a reputation as an accomplished jazz musician, co-founding the Charlottesville Swing Orchestra and the John D’earth Quintet. In 1991, he and childhood friend Carter Beauford joined up with Dave Matthews and, subsequently, Stefan Lessard and Boyd Tinsley, to form Dave Matthews Band.

The group became the highest-grossing American touring act in history and has sold a collective 35 million units (CD and DVD combined) since 1994. Moore played bass, baritone, tenor, alto and soprano saxophones as well as the flute, bass clarinet, wooden penny whistle and oboe. Credited with arranging much of Dave Matthews Band’s music, he masterfully traversed jazz, funk, rock and classical styles to make what Matthews characterized as “the most astonishingly honest music.” In 1999, the band members formed The Bama Works Fund, which supports numerous humanitarian and environmental initiatives.

In early 2008, Dave Matthews Band began recording a new studio album. Although he did not live to complete the sessions, Moore is heard throughout the resulting album, the RIAA-certified Platinum Big Whiskey and the GrooGrux King.

Released in June 2009, it entered The Billboard 200 in the top position – thus tying Dave Matthews Band with Metallica as the only two groups in chart history to have five consecutive studio albums bow at No. 1.

Buy Music:

Dave Matthews Band on amazon.com

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Remember LeRoi Moore Website

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Dave Matthews Band Official Website