Legend Isaac Hayes and Foundation Expand School Music Program

October 20, 2004 — The Freddie Mac Foundation recently joined the Isaac Hayes Foundation to help fund a school music program at J.C. Nalle Community School in Washington, D.C. To help welcome Hayes to their school, students at J.C. Nalle performed the theme song to ‘Shaft’, one of his most celebrated hits, in front of the entire student body, their teachers and families.

Isaac Hayes with Nalle student.

Maxine B. Baker, president and CEO of the Freddie Mac Foundation, congratulated the school’s students for their academic achievements and for improving their test scores more than any other school in its division. “Each of you here at Nalle – students, teachers, administrators and staff – should be very proud of yourselves. I know we are at Freddie Mac. We couldn’t be more pleased for you. So, on behalf of all your mentors, friends and fans at Freddie Mac, I want to say, ‘Congratulations!’ We’ve enjoyed being your partner and look forward to continuing to help you achieve your dreams.”

The music program funded by the Freddie Mac Foundation and Isaac Hayes Foundation will help budding musicians at J.C. Nalle pursue their artistic gifts. “The Freddie Mac Foundation wanted you to be able to develop your musical talent for a couple of reasons: first, because music makes people happy; and second, because children who study music do better in math and other subjects in school,” said Baker to the students. “Just think, the more you study music, the better students you’ll be! We’re glad we could help make that possible,” she added.

Since its creation in1993, the Isaac Hayes Foundation has shared the Freddie Mac Foundation’s commitment to help enrich the lives of children across the nation. Isaac Hayes’ vision for his organization is to assist underserved populations reach their full potential through literacy, health awareness, and music education for children.