Billy Joel and Alexis Roderick
/SOURCE OF WEALTH: Singer
FUNDING AREAS: Arts & Arts Education, Health & Human Services
OVERVIEW: Billy Joel and family move philanthropy through the Joel Foundation, whose grantmaking focuses on the arts and arts education according to tax filings. The foundation gives modest sums to a select few organizations annually, with an eye towards New York City. Unfortunately, the foundation lacks a web presence, which restricts information about grantmaking strategies and deadlines.
BACKGROUND: Born in the Bronx in 1949, Billy Joel grew up on Long Island and got into piano early. He struck gold with 1973's Piano Man, featuring hits like "Piano Man" and "Captain Jack." He went on to make successful albums like Streetlife Serenade (1974), The Stranger (1977) and 52nd Street (1978). By 1999, his worldwide song sales had topped $100 million, and he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
ISSUES:
ARTS & ARTS EDUCATION: A longtime advocate for music education, Billy Joel first began holding “master class” sessions on college campuses some two decades years ago. He has also held benefit classes for the STAR Foundation (Standing for Truth About Radiation) and to establish the Rosalind Joel Scholarship for the Performing Arts at City College.
The Joel Foundation's grantmaking has supported organizations like Exploring the Arts (ETA) and Perlman Music Program. ETA was founded by legendary singer Tony Bennett and his wife, Susan Benedetto and is dedicated to strengthening arts education in public high schools. The Joel Foundation made a $1 million pledge to continue support for ETA in a recent year. He's also a strong supporter of the Long Island High School for the Arts (LIHSA). He conducted a Master Class for LIHSA students and has visited them in their classrooms. Joel pledged $1.5 million in 2016 to LIHSA. Joel also recently gave a scholarship to a budding pianist and recent LIHSA graduate to attend Berklee College of Music.
OTHER: Billy Joel and his wife Alexis, through their foundation, pledged several donations to fight the coronavirus pandemic, including $500,000 to buy personal protective equipment for healthcare workers.
Billy Joel and his then wife Elizabeth launched Charity Begins at Home in the late 1970s. Grantmaking focused on Long Island, supporting institutions like Little Flower Children's Services in Wading River, an orphanage; the Youth Opportunities Drug Program in Nassau County; and the Community Foundation of Oyster Bay.
LOOKING FORWARD: Expect Billy Joel's steady regional giving to continue. Away from his foundation, he may have other more direct avenues of giving and some important gifts may be missing from this rundown.
CONTACT:
The Joel Foundation does not provide a clear avenue for getting in touch with the family, but below is an address
The Joel Foundation
360 Hamilton Ave, Ste 100
White Plains, NY 10601
LINK: Billy Joel Website
