The Foundation
Our Origin Story
The Alicia Juarez Gift of Music Foundation was born from Alicia’s extraordinary legacy and her deep belief in the healing power of music.
Throughout her life, Alicia faced many adversities that prepared her for some of her toughest battles. She faced stage 4 cancer three separate times—breast cancer in 2002, non-Hodgkin lymphoma in 2015, and a recurrence in 2025. Through every diagnosis and treatment, Alicia refused to be defined by her circumstances. She met each challenge with courage, compassion, and an unwavering desire to bring hope to others.
During her cancer journey, Alicia discovered the harp and found peace, comfort, and healing through music. She often played for people experiencing homelessness in the parks of Yuma, Arizona. Even while receiving hospice care, she continued sharing her gift by playing for others around her.
Alicia believed that every child should have the opportunity to experience the joy, confidence, and healing that music can bring. She was never a victim of her circumstances—she was a champion for the people and causes she loved.
What began as her family’s desire to honor her memory has grown into a mission to provide underserved children with fully funded summer music lessons. Through each lesson, we hope to fill a child’s summer with creativity, encouragement, and the transformative power of music.
Our Journey
The Melody of a Legacy
Honoring the life of Alicia Juarez by transforming silence into song. We provide underserved youth with the tools to discover their rhythm through fully funded music education, ensuring that every child has the opportunity to experience the profound healing and peace that music brings into the world.