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The Warner Music Group and Blavatnik Family Foundation have unveiled the inaugural set of 2026 grantees for their Social Justice Fund, distributing nearly $6 million across 17 organizations. Since launching in 2020, the initiative has allocated more than $52 million toward groups championing criminal justice reform, educational access, and cultural advancement to promote equity across communities.
Six organizations are receiving funding for the first time, with several emphasizing music’s potential as a catalyst for social change. New recipients include the Atlanta Music Project, which delivers free music instruction and career guidance to students in underserved neighborhoods; Brooklyn Youth Sports Club’s VOICES program, designed to give Black and Latino youth platforms for creative expression through songwriting and sound engineering; Classical Pride, an international festival highlighting LGBTQAI+ voices in classical music; and Generator, which supports artists and creative professionals in northern England.
Beyond music-focused initiatives, the fund is expanding its educational efforts aimed at criminal justice reform. Over the coming five years, it will fund the establishment and upkeep of 75 new prison libraries nationwide through Freedom Reads. The foundation also backed the Global Black Economic Forum to advance voter education and economic empowerment within Black and marginalized communities through leadership development, conferences, and policy advocacy.
Len Blavatnik emphasized the foundation’s mission, stating the organization is committed to enabling talented individuals from diverse backgrounds to transform their potential into measurable success across multiple sectors.
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Originally reported by Variety →
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