Grateful Dead founding member Jerry Garcia's ex-wife Manasha Garcia and their daughter Keelin Garcia have announced the formation of The Jerry Garcia Foundation. Manasha and Keelin formed nonprofit 501(c)(3) charitable organization to support philanthropic projects aimed at artistic, environmental and humanitarian causes. Along with Manasha and Keelin Garcia are directors Glenn Fischer, Irwin Sternberg and Daniel Shiner with Grateful Dead guitarist Bob Weir and TRI Music Studio's CEO Christopher McCutcheon sitting on the Foundation's Advisory Board. 


"It is a tremendous honor to participate in nonprofit work that is in accordance with my father's values," said co-founder Keelin Garcia. 

The Jerry Garcia Foundation’s first project will be to exhibit and donate several pieces of Garcia’s fine art to the inaugural Art! Vancouver 2015 exhibition in support of the Sarah McLachlan School of Music. The Art! Vancouver exhibition will be held May 21 - May 24 at the Vancouver Convention Centre. Keelin Garcia will be featured as a new artist and Manasha Garcia and Roberta Weir's work will also be featured in Vancouver. 

"From our very first conversation, I realized Jerry was a compassionate humanitarian as well as a brilliant artist touched by the muses,” said Manasha Garcia. “My husband's art, music and vision continue to inspire love and appreciation. In many ways, Jerry is still very present. It is a blessing to share his creativity with the community.”

In June, San Francisco Bay Area nonprofit DrawBridge will team with The Jerry Garcia Foundation to display Jerry’s artwork at the Artworks Downtown nonprofit art center located in San Rafael, California. Proceeds from the exhibition will go toward DrawBridge’s mission to provide art instruction to homeless children.