The purpose of the Hefflin Legacy Foundation is to retell the story and keep the legacy of Leon Hefflin Sr., the producer of the Cavalcade of Jazz, alive.  The telling of the story starts with his successful manufacturing business, which he lost during the Depression.    He converted his building into the “first colored country club,” the Appomattox Country Club, where  Les Hites and Marvin Johnson played at the opening.   Next came  Sweet N’ Hot, his musical, which created the format for the concerts that would be held at Wrigley Field.  Sweet N’ Hot played at the Mayan theatre for 11 weeks, played nightly, and featured Dorothy Dandridge.  Curtis Mosby was his business partner on this star-packed performances.  This event was covered in over 20 newspapers across the country.

The Lincoln Rollerrink was converted into an elegant ballroom but was a failed investment due to being denied a permit based on his race. Leon and his brother Bill rented various venues throughout the city to host big band dances.

The Cavalcades of Jazz concerts were the most significant part of his legacy.  Leon Hefflin, Sr. rented out the famed Wrigley Stadium and Lane Field in San Diego for his grand yearly Cavalcade of Jazz concerts from 1945 until 1958. He featured the most outstanding musicians of the time, including  Lionel Hampton, who appeared four times; Louis Armstrong, Dizzy Gillespie, Sam Cooke, Count Basie; Dinah Washington appeared twice; Frankie Laine, Perez Prado, Sarah Vaughn, Valdez Orchestra, Ray Charles, and over a hundred more.  He also featured a beauty contest and a list of performances that outdid any concerts at the time.  He also owned the 250-room Santa Rosa hotel on San Pedro Street.