LAFAYETTE, La. (KLFY) -- The death of beloved Acadiana musician Chris Stafford shook the Acadiana music community, but something of a silver lining has emerged from the tragedy.

Aug. 20, Stafford's birthday, will now also mark the birth of the Christopher Stafford Memorial Foundation Fund, a fund and initiative dedicated to sustaining the meaning and impact of his life, tragically cut short earlier this year.

Money raised in the days after his death have seeded the fund at the Community Foundation of Acadiana.

According to a Wednesday news release, the Christopher Stafford Memorial Foundation’s mission is to elevate artists’ access to music and music education, fostering inclusivity across diverse backgrounds. Programs funded through this foundation will include operation of Staffland Studio as an open resource for emerging musicians, scholarships for music education and the creation of a public memorial to sustain Stafford's memory.

The Stafford family welcomes and encourages donations, which can be directed to the fund through the CFA’s website. Donations are tax deductible.

“Chris always said, ‘I don't want to be a front guy — I just want to make people sound
the best they can.’ And that he did for hundreds of artists,” said Lisa Stafford, Chris’s mother. “Chris was a 'music whisperer' and a very gentle soul whose life mission was to create and help others in creating to the best of their ability. His ear was impeccable and his heart was big. We want to continue that mission.”

Stafford was a multi-instrumentalist, producer and researcher, perhaps best known for his band Feufollet, which he co-founded when he was 11 years old. The band played in last year’s Festival International de Louisiane, and gained national recognition for their unique sound and style, even garnering a Grammy nomination in 2010 for Best Zydeco or Cajun Music Album.

“Chris Stafford enriched our community with his extraordinary talent and dedication to the music we all cherish,” said Lafayette Mayor-President Monique Blanco Boulet. “As we honor his memory, the Christopher Stafford Foundation will be committed to nurturing our young, aspiring artists and preserving our vibrant culture. Together, we can ensure Chris’s passion continues to inspire future generations, keeping the rhythm of his legacy alive.”

Updates about programming, events and fundraisers can be found on the Foundation’s website, on Facebook and Instagram.

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