THE FUNDRAISER

In March of 2017 we lost our 18-year-old son Neel in a tragic accident. Neel was a wonderful human being, loyal friend, and accomplished musician. He studied and played music from a very young age and music moved him, guided him, and fed his soul. Neel’s joy spilled out of him and was infectious; he enjoyed sharing his enthusiasm for music and life. In the midst of our grief and with the help of family and friends, we found a way to honor Neel and create a legacy.

In Neel’s memory we created two funds at the schools he attended from pre-school through high school: The Foontastic Music and Arts Fund at the Montessori Family School in El Cerrito, CA and The Fly Me to the Foon Scholarship for students in the Instrumental Music department at Oakland School for the Arts, a performing arts high school in Oakland, CA.

While we accept donations year-round, the highlight of our fundraising is the annual concert, which showcases the Fly Me to the Foon scholarship winners along with many musicians from both schools, as well as alumni, music teachers, and special guest artists. Many of the musicians played with Neel and are pursuing their musical careers around the country. It is truly a wonderful thing to see these talented youth and professional musicians come together in support of music education in Neel’s name.

What better way to honor Neel than by creating opportunities for other students to find their joy and passion through music. The funds we raise at the concert and through the online campaign allow students to enrich their lives through playing, listening, and learning about the art of music in an educational setting. Through these experiences they find connection with each other, their communities, and the world at large.

Students at Montessori Family School and Oakland School for the Arts are lucky to have some of the best music teachers in the Bay Area. It is our desire to support these two schools and enhance their music programs. We hope that your love of music will move and inspire you to join us at the annual concert and contribute to the funds.

Thank you for your ongoing support of music education. We are honored and blessed to be able to do something so meaningful in Neel’s memory. Neel would be proud but mostly joyous to know that he is remembered through music and that his legacy is supporting others like himself who want to express themselves through the arts.

We give thanks to our community for the continued love and support our family has received. We continue to be uplifted and inspired to give back.

With Love,

Brady, Genie, Ryan, Feuy, and Narayanan

About the Funds

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Scholarship Recipients

Fly Me to the Foon Scholarship Fund

At Oakland School for the Arts, Neel studied classical and jazz guitar. In his memory we created scholarships for students in the Instrumental Music Department. The scholarships are $2,000 each, and are awarded to four students each year, two from the middle school and two from the high school. The awardees can use their scholarship money towards private music lessons, a new instrument, or both. The scholarship is housed and administered through the East Bay Community Foundation.

The Instrumental Music Department at OSA offers instruction in Guitar, Jazz, Orchestra, Chamber Music, and Piano. Students from all of these programs are eligible to apply for the scholarships. The annual scholarship application process begins in September and the winners are announced at the winter concert in December. The students must submit two letters of recommendation with their application which include four short essays on how music informs their lives. The scholarship committee is made up of teachers and administrators from Oakland School for the Arts and one member of the Foon family. The selection process is overseen by the fund manager from the East Bay Community Foundation.

Oakland School for the Arts is a public charter school in the Oakland Unified School District that opened its doors in 2002 with a mission to offer immersive arts experiences in a college preparatory setting. The school curriculum revolves around the concept of integration, both between academic subjects and with the arts. OSA currently serves 795 students in grades 6-12.

Neel had a great sense of humor so we asked the students to come up with a name for the scholarship that they thought he would like. From the submissions the scholarship committee chose Fly me to the Foon. We know Neel would approve.

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How the funds are used

Foontastic Music & Art Fund

Neel attended the Montessori Family School (MFS) from preschool through 8th grade. It was at MFS that Neel’s love of music evolved into his life passion. In his memory we created the Foontastic Music & Art Fund. The majority of the funds (80%) are used to grow the music program through the purchase of new instruments and offering more music classes to all grades. The funds also allow the school to bring guest speakers and artists to teach various musical styles and genres, and to support musical field trips to nearby venues, exposing students to the rich and diverse musical scene in the San Francisco Bay Area. The chromatic instruments purchased with the funds have allowed the students access to styles of music like jazz. One benefit is that it better prepares the older students for band and orchestra programs in high school, not to mention an expanded view of what music can be! This year the middle school class will be introduced to North Indian classical music through a 12-week residency with Ali Akbar College of Music.

The remaining 20% of the funds are used to support the theater program, allowing opportunities for students to learn how to create a complete performance, everything from planning, staging and acting in school plays. The theater program also supports costuming (very homegrown, but kids organize it) and set design as well.

If you visit MFS you will see a “Buddy Bench” in the playground. This was dedicated in Neel’s memory by the parents and school. Students can go sit on this bench when they are feeling lonely or sad, and someone will come and sit with them. Neel was a wonderful buddy to many during his years at MFS.

A note from one of our recipients

“When I found out that I received the scholarship, I was the happiest I had been in a long time. I was proud of myself, and I was grateful for everything and everyone I had. I finally felt like my dreams were possible to achieve. After receiving the scholarship, I was sure I wanted to go into music. I had already known how much I loved it and that it was my greatest passion, but now I was further convinced that a career in music was possible. When I think of everything that I’ve achieved and am proud of, the memory that resonates with me most is winning the Fly Me to the Foon Scholarship. I still think to myself in awe, “I actually won the Neel Foon Scholarship.” And instantly, my confidence in myself is boosted.

The Fly Me to the Foon scholarship provided me with more than just a new flute - it gave me hope for the future and allowed me to dream big.

Although I never met Neel, I think about him sometimes. I wonder how he’d be bringing joy to people through his music and through being the wonderful person that I have heard he was. I truly hope that I and the other scholarship recipients can live up to the person and musician that he was, and that his legacy can continue to make such a big difference in the lives of other young musicians."