Eddie Van Halen Saved Millions For Music Education

The late Eddie Van Halen, guitarist and a founding member of the rock band Van Halen, was said to have offered a sizable donation to The Mr. Holland’s Opus Foundation, following his death in 2020. The news is confirmed by the music nonprofit.

Announced last April 20, the guitarist allocated a “substantial, transformative bequest” in his will. The amount is undisclosed to the public; but was revealed that the sum were up to seven figures.

“Eddie’s support and friendship over the years meant the world to us and to his fans,” Felice Mancini, the foundation’s CEO wrote in a statement. “His passion for music and our work created a strong bond, which is evident in his extraordinary bequest. To know how much our foundation meant to Eddie is intensely humbling and gratifying to all of us – and we know that Eddie’s family is confident that his powerful legacy and values live on through our efforts.”

The Mr. Holland’s Opus Foundation is founded in 1996 by the late musician Michael Kamen, a year after scoring the Richard Dreyfuss film of the same name. Its main goal is to supply instruments to underfunded music programs in schools across America.

Moreover, Eddie’s son, Wolfgang Van Halen has also donated the earnings from his first single, “Distance,” under the rock band Mammoth WVH. “Mr. Holland’s Opus are champions for our musicians of the future and it is my privilege to continue supporting that mission and carrying on my pop’s legacy,” Wolfgang shared.