Organised by Story
Honoring Kofi’s Legacy by Inspiring the Next Generation of Musicians
Kofi Burbridge was an extraordinary artist whose generosity, talent, and spirit touched countless lives. A graduate of the North Carolina School of the Arts, he was a passionate advocate for music education and a constant source of inspiration, both on and off the stage.
The Kofi Burbridge Day of Service is an annual nationwide event honoring Kofi’s legacy by encouraging us all to give back to our communities. He believed in the power of music to change lives. Today, many students long for that same chance—but without working instruments, they can’t fully participate.
To mark this year’s Day of Service, Tedeschi Trucks Band is proud to partner with Mr. Holland's Opus Foundation's Adopt A School campaign. Together, we’re raising funds to provide much-needed instruments to a deserving school music program in Florida—a state that’s home to many in the Tedeschi Trucks Band family—continuing Kofi's gift of music for generations to come.
Support a Music Program in Florida: Riverside High School – Jacksonville, FL
Riverside High School serves 1,675 students in grades 9–12, with 83% coming from economically disadvantaged backgrounds. For many, the school’s music program is not only their creative outlet but also their safe haven.
“At Riverside, music is more than notes on a page—it's our PRIDE, it’s how our students learn perseverance, responsibility, integrity, discipline, and effort. These values shape them as musicians and as people.” — Issac Green, Band Director
Led by Band Director Issac Green, the program offers band, choir, music theory, music technology, and world music, engaging hundreds of students across disciplines. Yet, despite strong student interest and support from school leadership, the program faces severe challenges with its resources. Nearly all students depend on school-owned instruments, but the existing inventory is aged, incomplete, and beyond repair. Currently, over 60 band students must share a total of only 25 instruments—sometimes with 3 to 4 students rotating on the same instrument each day.
The impact of these shortages is personal and profound.
Ruth, a junior tenor saxophonist, managed to earn a spot in the District Honor Band despite an instrument that broke down multiple times during the year. With access to a reliable instrument, students like Ruth could reach even greater heights, focusing on their music instead of struggling against limitations.
Supporting Riverside’s music program means far more than purchasing instruments. It means ensuring equity and opportunity for students whose families cannot afford to buy or rent their own. It means replacing broken or missing instruments so every student can participate fully. And it means empowering young people to discover their voice, their discipline, and their sense of belonging.
With your support, Riverside’s band program can grow stronger, eliminate the need for students to share, and open the door for even more youth.
Donate Today!
An investment here is not just in instruments—it is in the lives, character, and future of hundreds of students who carry PRIDE in everything they do.
Your donation goes to the Mr. Holland’s Opus Foundation, allowing the foundation to work with the Riverside High School's music teacher to purchase the school’s needed instruments. Instruments are then delivered directly to the school.
Every contribution helps! Your generous support will:
*Equip students with high-quality instruments
*Expand access to and participation in music education
*Inspire creativity, confidence, and success in school and life
How your donation works: Your cash donation goes directly to the Mr. Holland’s Opus Foundation to help purchase the instruments each school needs at deeply discounted rates (typically one-third of retail price). Instruments are delivered directly to the school; no cash is given to schools. A 5% service fee is retained by JustGiving, and the Foundation retains 10% to cover administrative costs, including school vetting and grant management.
How we select the school: The Mr. Holland’s Opus Foundation identifies schools through a combination of outreach and research, focusing on those that meet specific grant eligibility requirements. Once a school is determined to be eligible, the music teacher is invited to complete a detailed grant application and participate in an in-person or virtual site visit. This process helps the Foundation understand the school’s unique needs and ensures that any donation will result in a sustainable, long-term impact on students’ access to music education.
Learn more about Kofi Burbridge
Born on September 22, 1961, Kofi passed away on February 15, 2019, due to complications from a cardiac condition. A two-time Grammy Award-winning keyboardist, flautist, composer, and arranger, he shared his musical gifts as a member of Aquarium Rescue Unit, The Derek Trucks Band, and the Tedeschi Trucks Band. He was also a guiding force to his younger brother, bassist Oteil Burbridge—now a member of Dead & Company. Kofi’s legacy lives on in the music he created, the lives he touched, and the artists he inspired.
Soul Sweet Song
“Soul Sweet Song” appears on I Am The Moon: IV. Farewell, the final installment of TTB’s acclaimed album series. Written in the wake of Kofi Burbridge’s passing, the song is a heartfelt tribute, and this original video beautifully features Kofi himself.
Join us to remember Kofi’s impact and continue his spirit of generosity through supporting music education through Adopt A School!
#KofiDayOfService