| Sweet Relief Musicians Fund | |
| Type: | Charity |
| Founded Date: | 1994 |
| Founder: | Victoria Williams |
| Area Served: | United States |
| Focus: | Sweet Relief Musicians Fund provides financial assistance to all types of career musicians and music industry workers who are struggling to make ends meet while facing physical or mental health issues, disability, or age-related problems. |
| Method: | Financial Aid |
| Homepage: | http://www.sweetrelief.org |
Sweet Relief Musicians Fund is a nonprofit charity that maintains a financial fund from which professional musicians can draw when in need of medical care or financial needs. Initially intended as a one-time CD launch benefit for Victoria Williams, Sweet Relief has evolved into a charity organization that relies on donations from artists and the public as a general fund to all professional musicians in need. The fund provides financial assistance to all types of career musicians who are struggling with their finances while facing illness, disability, or age-related problems.
The organization was started after musician and singer Victoria Williams was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis (MS) in 1993 and had no way to pay for her medical expenses. Money was raised through benefit concerts and the release of a CD, , featuring artists like Lou Reed and Pearl Jam.
A second CD titled was released in 1996. All of the proceeds went toward Sweet Relief Musicians Fund to aid the organization. A variety of alternative rock artists volunteered their time to perform a variety of songs from Vic Chesnutt. Some well-known artists including Garbage, R.E.M., Hootie and the Blowfish, The Smashing Pumpkins, Joe Henry and Madonna performed for the CD.
Sweet Relief provides service to the music community through financial assistance in the following categories:
Candidacy for assistance depends, among other factors, on the availability of funds and the number of eligible applicants, along with the following criteria:
Exceptions may be made to any individual who does not meet these criteria but believes himself or herself to be eligible for assistance.
Sweet Relief Musicians Fund has worked with many notable musicians. A list of supporters, past and present, is shown below: