Four-time Grammy nominee Jeffrey Osborne returns to Providence every year for his fundraiser. PHOTO: TERRELL OSBORNE
The Jeffrey Osborne Foundation has donated more than $50,000 to Rhode Island nonprofits serving families and youth. The organizations include the Boys & Girls Club of Providence, the Rhode Island Philharmonic Music School, Amos House, Button Hole and the MET School.
The foundation, established in 2012 by international vocal artist and Providence native Jeffrey Osborne, is philanthropic tradition that has maintained an influential presence in Rhode Island, providing over $1.5 million for businesses, schools and programs.
Contributions for the most recent gifts, announced on May 12 at the MET School, were raised through proceeds from the 2025 Jeffrey Osborne Celebrity Classic, an annual golf and fundraising initiative that has become a Rhode Island staple. The event aims to provide financial assistance to educational, arts and music programs, food banks and youth development organizations. With an increase in community support and relationships, this year’s Jeffrey Osborne Celebrity Classic will return to the Quidnessett Country Club on Sept. 14-15, according to an announcement made earlier this month.
Each year, the golf tournament invites renowned figures and celebrities from the entertainment sphere while bringing awareness of the importance of community. Originally named in honor of his late brother and mother, renowned jazz musician Clay and Wanita, the event was ultimately renamed after accumulating a local following.
“The first five years Magic Johnson would host and go to the Boys and Girls Club in Providence, and there were hundreds of kids there,” Osborne noted. “A lot of kids have never seen a celebrity before or [one] from Rhode Island. …He really got the ground running those years and it took off. I never imagined it being this scale.”
As a young singer, Osborne grew up in Providence influenced by the community and culture around him. Known for the 1982 hit song, “On the Wings of Love,” Osborne garnered worldwide acclaim and four Grammy nominations since 1984: two for best male R&B vocal performance, one for best R&B performance by a duo or group and one for best traditional R&B vocal album.
For Rhode Islanders, Osborne serves as a symbol that Black children can achieve their dreams, and as a reminder of a rich community of Black artists born and bred in Providence. The visibility he has brought to his home state is in part due to a tradition of generosity and desire to give back.
“When I was growing up there weren’t a lot of Black musicians from Rhode Island. But I remember the L.T.D.’s were playing in Providence one night. …So I went and I sang with them for three sets,” Osborne recounted to the Banner, adding that he was invited to join the group on tour in Los Angeles.
Though they were promised a record deal, it ultimately took two years to obtain. He went on to say that artists must “be ready when the opportunity comes.” Accordingly, this year’s donations were centered on youth-based organizations that cultivate interest in sports, the arts and music.
Historically, music education initiatives are among the first on the chopping block during budget cuts and are now growing more frequent as schools lose enrollment. Osborne recognizes the importance of these programs on young artists’ growth.
“Growing up in a low-income family and one of 12, I wanted to give back to those initiatives. … The MET allows students to pursue what they want to study; a lot of schools don’t do that. The Rhode Island Philharmonic is important because music programs are the first thing cut,” he said.
For more than a decade, the Celebrity Classic has garnered continued celebrity support and a returning crowd from locals and visitors from across the country. Regular celebrity guests include Magic Johnson, Smokey Robinson, Anthony Anderson, Kareem Abdul-Jabaar, Cedric the Entertainer, Seema Sadekar, Michelle Kwan, Doris Burke and Johnny Gill. “The loyalty is priceless,” Osborne said. “Every year we get Rhode Island talent as well, television and news broadcasters who show up and support.”
Foundation media manager Terrell Osborne, brother of Jeffrey, believes the turnout is driven by genuine relationships cultivated over the years. The annual event affirms the sentiment of Rhode Islanders and past attendees: that people can achieve their dreams regardless of where they grew up, with adequate access to resources.
While many celebrities host fundraising events in Los Angeles and southern California, Osborne chooses to return home. He acknowledged that this legacy “means everything” to his hometown.
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‘ Some details of this article were extracted from the following source baystatebanner.com ’
