The Music Center is a destination where audiences find inspiration in the very best of live performance, as well as nationally recognized arts education and free and low-cost arts engagement experiences. The Robert Nelson Foundation has chosen to support a special event that The Music Center puts on each year: The Music Center’s Very Special Arts Festival ‐ The annual festival provides youth of all abilities the opportunity to learn, perform and celebrate their creative talents at this annual inclusive event. The Robert Nelson Foundation has given a gift of $20,000 to support this very special event that celebrates the talents of students of all abilities.

The Robert Nelson Foundation is proud to partner with the Boys and Girls Club of Grand Rapids with a gift of $30,000.00 towards the goal of improving literacy in the lives of the young people who access services via the Boys and Girls Club. The donation will help to fund the center’s
“Read to Succeed” program. Literacy is one of the highest priorities at the Boys & Girls Clubs of Grand Rapids, and a key component in sustained academic success for the kids we serve. The Robert Nelson Foundation is proud to contribute towards this outstanding program and supports the important goal of improving literacy for all.

The Guiding Light Mission was founded in 1929 to  help  the homeless and less fortunate in Grand Rapids, MI.  The Covid-19 pandemic has posed significant challenges to Guiding Light to continue in their efforts to provide services in a safe manner.  

The Robert Nelson Foundation is proud to have contributed $10,000 towards the cost of improving the ventilation system for the facility of Guiding Light. Mr. Nelson had a heart for those who were in need, this gift will help this organization in his hometown to continue to do the great work that it does to help those in need.

The Robert Nelson Foundation has given a total of $40,000 to UCLA Health to assist with the purchase of Personal Protective Equipment and support for the staff during the COVID-19 crisis.

The Robert Nelson Foundation has given a $10,000 gift to the Mayo Clinic to assist in the fight against the COVID-19 virus. The Mayo Clinic is synonymous with excellence. This gift supports the foundation’s desire to promote excellence, caring, and proactive assistance to honor Mr. Nelson’s life.

COVID-19 Research Fund - COVID-19 and Related Viruses Targeted Research, Vaccine Development and Gene Therapies.

This research fund supports Mayo researchers in infectious diseases who are making significant progress to address the newly emerging pathogens for COVID-19 and related viruses. As one example, Mayo experts are developing a vaccine using existing vaccine platforms, as well as gene therapy, that have been successfully applied against influenza, HIV, Ebola, Zika and Clostridium difficile. Research in emerging pathogens also lays the foundation for standard operating processes to address future pandemics.

COVID-19 Clinical Fund - Testing Capability and Availability/Overall COVID-19 Response

Benefactor gifts will support ­­­­­­­­­Mayo Clinic’s COVID-19 testing capacity as well as expedite processing and response time.  Gifts will support plans to offer COVID-19 testing beyond Mayo Clinic in an effort to help patients everywhere get the best care possible.

The Robert Nelson Foundation has chosen to continue Mr. Nelson’s giving to the homeless and those in need in the Los Angeles area. The foundation has given grants totaling $60,000 to the Los Angeles Mission in Mr. Nelson’s name. This gift is reflective of Mr. Nelson’s caring and generous spirit for those in need and the foundation is proud to continue that legacy.

COVID-19 Response Update

The foundation has also assisted the mission with a $5,000 gift to assist with the special needs of the COVID-19 Pandemic crisis.