A letter from our founder…

Dear Reader,

First and foremost, thank you from the bottom of my heart for your interest in The James Legacy Foundation. Whether you’re here to help aid in our mission to make music and arts more accessible to children in our community, or you’re seeking assistance- you bring great value to our mission.

I started The James Legacy Foundation in 2025 in honor of my late grandparents, Bob and Katy James. You see, they are the reason that I have a career in music and arts today. From driving me to lessons and auditions to attending EVERY. SINGLE. performance and recital (and there were MANY), they were big supporters in who I am today. Even renovating their basement to create a lesson studio for me to begin my teaching career in 2011.

After their passings in 2019 (Katy) and 2024 (Bob), I felt incredibly lonely and uninspired. I wanted to create something in their honor that would last beyond even just me. Maybe even something I could pass along to my own son someday. So I started The James Legacy Foundation. I wanted to pay it forward for all of the unwavering love and support they showed me in my life. Other kids deserve that too.

Our ongoing donations, support and grants allow us to provide fine arts instruction, instruments, materials and mentorship to those in need in our local community. It allows my grandparents generous legacy to continue with me and my incredible team. Thank you for being here and supporting our mission and their legacy.

Best,

Ariana Ollendick (James), Feb 18th 2025