West Orange-based Kool Kids Foundation, founded in 2011 by the late Sakinah Deborah Bell—whose husband, Robert “Kool” Bell, fronted the Grammy-winning music group Kool & the Gang—aimed to create opportunities for young people to have access to music education by providing instruments, uniforms and financial support for schools and youth programs in music and the performing arts.
After his wife’s death in 2018, Bell continued the foundation to honor her legacy. Participating schools submit their music-related needs to the foundation, which works to fulfill those needs by purchasing instruments and other essential resources.
The foundation’s theme is “It’s Kool to keep music alive in schools,” which forwards their goal to keep music education in as many classrooms as possible…