We are incredibly sad to announce that due to COVID-19 and with an abundance of caution, the 2020 Lowcountry Jazz Festival originally scheduled for September 4-6 is officially canceled.

The Lowcountry Jazz Festival is the primary fundraiser for Closing the Gap in Health Care, Inc., a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization whose primary mission is decreasing health disparities and increasing health literacy, especially for African Americans and the underserved in our community, South Carolina, and the nation. Proceeds from the Festival support the mission of the organization and the Thaddeus John Bell, M.D. Endowment Fund. This scholarship was created conjointly with the Coastal Community Foundation of South Carolina to assist African American students who pursue a health science degree from the Medical University of South Carolina. This will facilitate an increase in the number of African American health providers across the country.

Dr. Thaddeus J. Bell, founder of Closing the Gap in Health Care, noted, “As the world is responding to the current situation, we are inspired by the sense of unity and compassion pouring from the jazz community. The Lowcountry Jazz Festival will continue to follow our mission of decreasing health disparities in our great country and community.”