Founded in 1980, The Blues Foundation's mission is to: Preserve Blues history; Celebrate Blues excellence; Support Blues education; and ensure the future of this uniquely American art form. The Foundation has some 1500 members worldwide and serves as the umbrella organization for over 100 affiliated blues organizations around the globe. Annual events include: The W. C. Handy Blues Awards, awarded each spring in a gala Memphis event to the year's best Blues artists and recordings; The Blues Hall of Fame honors awarded in a spring induction ceremony; The BluesFirst weekend of seminars for Blues societies and bands; The International Blues Challenge in which the best emerging Blues bands and solo acts compete on Beale Street for over $25,000 in cash and prizes; and The Keeping the Blues Alive awards given to non-performers in 20 categories, such as art, literature, education andr promotion. In addition, the Foundation is at the center of the emergence of Blues as an educational tool. The Foundation serves as the driving force behind the increasingly successful use of Blues music in classrooms to teach young children lessons ranging from teamwork and musical skills to history, sociology, and broader lessons.