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Auntie Karen Foundation

The Auntie Karen Foundation is a non-profit organization whose mission is to create and implement a series of reproducible community outreach programs that will empower, enlighten and educate through the arts.

This foundation is in its sixth year of existence. Founder Karen Alexander describes it as an "educational entertainment firm that creates, markets and distributes products and programs with a special emphasis on the Education Market." Her professional background in education, sales and marketing and music were instrumental in creating a wide array of products to tackle many of today's concerns relating to health, wealth and cultural awareness for all ages. For younger children, puppets with varying programs are designed to engage children to think and be creative.

One such product is Olivia the Octopus. Olivia, a multilingual international jazz diva, uses jazz music to educate young people on topics ranging from safety to health. Other characters used in the educational program are the Jamaican Yams and Bull and Bear. The Jamaican Yams is a reggae band that uses music to teach nutrition, character building and healthy living. The Auntie Karen Foundation partnered with SCE-TV and Benedict College to create a Bull and Bear show which teaches business and financial literacy through R&B and Blues music. Many of these puppets have traveled across the United States and abroad uplifting and educating children through cultural awareness.

The Auntie Karen Foundation also promotes cultural awareness throughout the Richland County community by partnering with Richland One School District. Auntie Karen Foundation facilitates an "Artrepreneur" program, which offers classes to more than 200 students at six schools. These classes include quilting, dance, etiquette, musical instruments, cooking and various forms of art.

In addition to offering programs for younger children, the Auntie Karen Foundation also provides a Young Entrepreneur Conference for young adults and a "Legends of Concert Series" for all. For the past five years, The Young Entrepreneur Conference has offered workshops on computer training, music, entertainment, local talent, and community business leaders with over 400 young adults attending annually. The "Legends" series is the key fundraiser for Auntie Karen Foundation offering cultural entertainment foll ages. Over the past four years, "Legends" has brought talents such as Roberta Flack, Dianne Reeves, Al Jareau and Patti Austin. Offered during Black History Month, Legends brings more than 1,500 individuals together to enjoy a concert of jazz, R&B, gospel or blues artists.

To learn more about the Auntie Karen Foundation, please visit their website at www.auntiekaren.org.