Learning to play the violin at age three, music has always been an important part of Jackson's life.

This Seattle, Washington native, had been involved in writing, recording and producing music for a number of years when in his sophomore year at New York University as a Performance Studies major, Jackson applied for a grant to expand the recording studio he used for his own work and to help support of other young artists.

The Grant Committee liked what he said, and his passion for music and could see he had reached as far as he could without additional funding and decided to back him. Matt Kimm, one of the Committee members with a background in music, offered to be Jackson’s Mentor and followed him through the first year.

Two years later when several of the Committee members had met for dinner, the phone rang, and it was Jackson calling form Epic Studios in California. He had accomplished a dream he could not have imagined by being signed by one of the top record labels, the label of Mariah Carey and Michael Jackson.

Jackson says he could not have done it without the Fund's help at that particular moment in his life and he wanted to pay forward the total grant amount he received to make possible the support of another musician like himself.

His gift arrived the next morning.

Thanks to our generous supporters for helping Jackson's dream come true.