Thejustinveatchfund

The Justin Veatch Fund is a New York State charity and 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to empowering teens through music and awareness. Founded in memory of Justin Veatch, a talented young musician who died at age 17 from a drug overdose, the Fund awards annual music scholarships to graduating high school seniors pursuing music as a career or an avocation. Its scholarship program supports young people’s musical ambitions and invites applicants to learn about the awards and access an application.

The organization also offers educational and creative initiatives that share Justin’s story and encourage conversations about substance use. Jeffrey Veatch, Justin’s father, has presented the multimedia talk A Message from Justin to more than 60,000 students. Other projects include Whispering Spirits, a film about Justin’s life and the family’s grief and reconnection through his music, and a podcast where people affected by the drug crisis share experiences and insights. The Fund also promotes Permagrin, a compilation of Justin’s original music performed by him and other artists.