Fostering the Power of Community, Service and the Arts 2002 Annual Report – Return to Active funding t was with great pleasure that work of Latino artists interested in the Rex Foundation announced creating symbols and language for a Iits 2002 Awards and Grants in new society and a new time. November, the first year of substan- 510 South First Street, San Jose, CA 95113. tial grant giving since 1995. This re- 408-998-2783. www.maclaweb.org port describes the beneficiaries, the RALPH J. GLEASON AWARD fund raising activities, and the com- In memory of music journalist Ralph J. Gleason, a major figure in the advancement of music in munity support which has enabled America in the 1960s, whose openness to new this. A list of grants since 1984 and music and ideas transcended differences between updates on current activities are generations and styles. available on the website. Save Our Sounds, The Zuni Tapes American Folklife Center BILL GRAHAM AWARD In memory of pioneering producer and founding Save Our Sounds is a project of the Rex board member Bill Graham, himself a refugee, American Folklife Center of the Li- this award is for those working to assist children who are victims of political oppression and human brary of Congress, which strives to rights violations. preserve and digitize the most en- Clowns Without Borders dangered sound recordings in the Center’s deteriorating analog media “No child without a smile.” Clowns Photo: Moshe Cohen collections. As a result, these song Without Borders seeks to improve and story collections will be perma- the psychological condition of popu- JERRY GARCIA AWARD nently available to the public, re- lations living in refugee camps and In memory of Grateful Dead guitarist and found- searchers and musicologists. The areas of conflict by organizing vol- ing Rex board member Jerry Garcia, this award is designed to honor and support individuals and Zuni collection, 400 hours of open- unteer artist performances, and groups that work to encourage creativity in reel audiotape of over 800 stories, is through performance workshops young people. said to be the largest single collec- with children and with educators. Movimiento de Arte y Cultura tion of folklore and folk history re- CWB also seeks to raise our society’s Latino Americana, Inc. (MACLA) corded concurrently from one Na- awareness of affected populations tive American nation. The stories and to promote a spirit of solidarity. MACLA’s mission is to support Latino were told by 19 elders. The language Missions specific to this grant in 2003 artists to create and showcase new of the tales, of course, is Zuni, and will be to Chiapas, Mexico, to per- work in the visual, literary and per- these recordings reveal a traditional form in communities and camps of formance arts to help define, interpret style of oratory, of dramatic pacing, displaced persons; and a return ex- and transform society. While most chanting and rhythmic speech, and pedition to Bhutanese Refugee Latino community based art organi- other devices that mark all great oral Camps in Nepal (over 100,000 refu- zations have concentrated on the pres- literary traditions. gees in seven camps). ervation and dissemination of tradi- tional art forms, MACLA has been Peggy Bulger, Library of Congress, 101 Indepen- Moshe Cohen, 540 Alabama Street #215, San dence Ave. SE, Room 613, Washington, D.C. 20540. Francisco, CA 94110. 415-626-7737 explicitly dedicated to supporting the 202-707-5510. www.saveoursounds.org From the Executive Director The Healing Power of Music benefit in 2001 not only launched the renewal of the Rex Foundation in the absence of direct funding from Grateful Dead benefit concerts, it also exemplified the magical combination of community and music. During 2002 we sought to build on this spirit by BOARD OF DIRECTORS presenting and engaging in activities that honor the power of community, service and the arts. We are grateful that so many people responded to our Bob Weir Cameron Sears efforts and take great pleasure in reporting about our sponsored events Sage Scully and broad community of supporters. Because of the success of these ef- John Scher forts we donated $156,500 to further 20 excellent programs, which are Danny Rifkin Cliff Palefsky described in the following pages. Roger McNamee Nicholas Morgan As we prepare this report we are mindful of the challenges grassroots John Leopold programs face given the economic downturn and resulting reductions Michael Klein in overall funding. We know many people are dealing with personal Mickey Hart economic constraints and fears about the consequences of the current Freddie Hahne Carolyn Garcia global instability. So, we start 2003 with our second annual benefit – Life, Barry Caplan Music and the Pursuit of Happiness – to once again bring people together, Larry Brilliant especially amid these difficult times, to enjoy great music and share good Diane Blagman will. We look forward to another year of successful efforts that foster Bernie Bildman community and multiply our grant making to support many worthwhile ADVISORY BOARD programs. Bill Walton With thanks and hope, Jon McIntire Sandy Sohcot John Perry Barlow Mission Statement Emeritus The Rex Foundation continues to embody the spirit of generosity and Hal Kant concern that evolved in the culture of the Dead Heads and the Grateful Bill Graham (1984 – d.1991) Dead, aiming to help secure a healthy environment, promote individu- Jerry Garcia (1984 – d.1995) ality in the arts, provide support to critical and necessary social services, assist others less fortunate than ourselves, protect the rights of indig- Executive Director enous people and ensure their cultural survival, build a stronger com- Sandy Sohcot munity, and educate children and adults everywhere. Administration Chris Meharg Guiding Principles and Values Publishing • We respect traditional wisdom cultures. Alan Trist • We respect individual rights and differences. Volunteers • We are willing to take risks and trust people. Jeff Zittrain • We help people who are helping others and are trying to make a Andrea Sahli Debbie Matson difference. Alan Loving • We help people develop bold new solutions to problems. David Large • We benefit the broader community and the broader good. Tamara Klamner • We practice inclusiveness and open-mindedness. Bob Hollis • We support organizations committed to grassroots action. The Rex Foundation is • We seek to identify entities doing good work that might otherwise named after Rex Jackson, be overlooked. a Grateful Dead roadie • Our support helps beyond direct funding by boosting the visibility and later road manager until his of the recipient’s work. untimely death in 1976 • We want to be a catalytic agent of change, where our involvement helps leverage greater impact. REX FOUNDATION • We are non-partisan. P.O. Box 150390 • We promote an active, informed citizenry. San Rafael, CA 94915 (415) 457-3032 • The Foundation is an efficient conduit for supporting the community. • Being part of the Rex Foundation is enjoyable. www.rexfoundation.org • We carry on the best of the spirit of the 60’s to create a more Federal ID # 68-0033257 harmonious world. 2 Community of Supporters We want to acknowledge the invaluable help that the Rex Foundation’s often invisible Community of Sup- porters has provided in many different ways. Our first thanks goes to all the attendees, charitable and in-kind contributors, host sponsors, musicians, and vol- unteers who made the 2001 Healing Power of Music ben- efit concert such a success. It is on this model that our current reawakening to full activity is based. In 2002 our thanks go to the following groups and individuals who have given their time and energy – they are our community of supporters. Rex Activities. Thanks to: DARK STAR ORCHESTRA For headlining the April 13, 2002 Rex Benefit concert at the Warfield Theater. THE OTHER ONES For contributions from the Alpine Valley, Wisconsin, Special thanks to the many volunteers and workers, our Grateful Dead Family Reunion concerts. community of supporters, without whom these events would not have been possible. Thanks to the Musicians Who Perfomed in Support of Rex: THE FLYING OTHER BROTHERS BAND Statement of Revenue and Expenses January 12, 2002 benefit at the Sweetwater Saloon. and changes in Fund Balance FAMOUS LAST WORDS for Year Ending 12/31/02 GROOVE, and MOOD FOOD August 1, 2002 Rex fundraiser concert. INCOME Contributions $ 51,291 CUBENSIS Fundraising Income 66,330 Fundraiser concert on August 9, 2002. Dividends/Interest 4,785 MOE AND PARTICLE $ 122,406 RELIX MAGAZINE and the JAMMYS DISBURSEMENTS for presenting the October 2, 2002 Grants $ 156,500 post JAMMYs Rex Benefit in New York City. Operating Expenses STEVE KIMOCK BAND Administration & Office 44,573 AARON GADIEL, BOB HOLLIS and JOHN GLYNN Salaries 63,750 of the Boulevard Cafe – Fundraising concerts in Fundraising Expense 24,002 Chicago on November 22 and 23, 2002. $ 288,825 Thanks to Friends Who Contributed Their Resources to Rex: Excess of expenses over income $ (166,419) ATLANTIC PRINTING Fund balance, start of year 415,625 for producing printed material for Rex. Fund balance, end of year $ 249,206 DAVID GANS for publicizing the Rex Foundation on The Grateful Dead Hour radio show. How Rex Works JAMBASE.COM The Rex Foundation has no paid board members. Vir- for publicizing Rex Foundation events. tually all of our grant recipients are selected through the personal knowledge of our decision makers – as a SONOMA CRUSHERS BASEBALL result, grant requests are not solicited. We have no ap- for designating Rex beneficiary of Grateful Dead Day. plication forms and no published guidelines. Grants are JIM URBAN, PAINTER & ILLUSTRATOR made once or twice a year, and our report is published for creating the Rex Foundation banner. annually. 3 REX EVENTS In 2001 the Rex Foundation began its renewal efforts with The Healing Power of Music Benefit Concert.