Students in University of the Pacific’s Conservatory of Music will soon benefit from a new source of support: energy bars.

Philanthropist Jennifer Maxwell is the creator of JAMBAR, a line of organic, naturally sweetened energy bars whose name derives from her personal passion for music. She donates 50% of the bar’s profits to music and active living organizations.

This summer Maxwell gifted $100,000 to Pacific to establish the JAMBAR Music Endowed Scholarship. Beginning fall 2025, the scholarship will be open to any Conservatory student with financial need.

“Music has been transformative for me, and I want others to experience that,” Maxwell said. “Pacific students provide those transformative experiences. They work with music in so many impactful ways, and the more we support them, the greater their ability to use their gifts to bring joy, hope and healing where it’s needed most.”

This fall, 93% of Conservatory students received scholarship or grant aid. More than a third received a Pell Grant.

“Jennifer is providing opportunities at Pacific for those who wouldn’t have them otherwise, and whose research, artistry and service are powerful catalysts for change in our world,” said Conservatory Dean Peter Witte. “Her gift will enhance our students’ ability to create and share music for generations.”

Maxwell is best known as the co-inventor of PowerBar. She and her late husband Brian Maxwell, both avid marathoners, founded PowerBar out of their Berkeley apartment in the mid-1980s. A novel concept at the time, the high-protein, low fat snack achieved unprecedented popularity and was eventually purchased by Nestle USA.

After Brian Maxwell died in 2004, his wife stepped away from marathons but found healing in music. Jennifer Maxwell took up drum lessons, appreciative of how, like running, drumming requires active physical engagement and a steady rhythm. The mother of six has studied drums for 17 years and currently performs live with two bands.

Fueled by her love for music, Maxwell launched JAMBAR in 2021. She sought to stand out from the competition with an organic bar made from premium, natural ingredients, all-natural sweeteners and a good amount of protein and fiber. Her music-inspired flavors include Chocolate Cha-Cha, Musical Mango, Malt Nut Melody, Jammin’ Jazzleberry and Tropical Trio.

JAMBARs are sold online and distributed nationwide at many health food, athletic and grocery stores, including The Grove on Pacific’s Stockton Campus. They are also a featured bar for Pacific Athletics.

Maxwell donates JAMBAR’s profits to numerous charitable organizations. Pacific joins a diverse list of partners who present affordable concerts, provide music education and instruments for youth, offer financial support for performers, and use music to champion humanitarian causes.

“Brian and I felt so supported by our community when we started out 40 years ago. We started from nothing, and we received so much love as we grew. It’s a privilege to be able give that back now,” Maxwell said.

Last year, the Conservatory of Music enrolled more than 200 students from 17 states and six countries. Scott Biedermann ’05, ’20, Pacific’s vice president for development and alumni relations, emphasizes the continued need for support as the university enrolls a record number of students for a second straight year.

“More students means more need—more opportunities to make a difference in someone’s life,” Biedermann said. “Jennifer calls JAMBAR her labor of love, and this gift encapsulates everything she loves most: nutrition, music, and an investment in healthy, well-rounded students who ultimately will join her in making a powerful community impact. We are honored to have her partnership.”

To learn more about supporting Pacific students through scholarships, contact Scott Biedermann at 209.946.2166 or sbiedermann@pacific.edu.