 |
Grant Recipients
Dignity Housing, Philadelphia, PA
"Thank you for your generous support and for making a difference in our programs and the lives of at-risk children in Alabama."
- Debbie Bond, Director, The Alabama Blues Project
"I really like playing music so I can grow up to be something."
- student, Kayne Eras Center, Culver City, CA
"Again thanks so much for your kindness. It is making not just a difference, but a huge difference."
- John Huffman, Executive Director, P.F. Bresee Foundation, Los Angeles, CA
"It is difficult to put into words how much the guitars have impacted my students. Each new song I introduce makes them work harder. The responsibility level of my students has also increased dramatically."
- Heather Arnold, Music Teacher, Woodin Elementary School, Bothell, WA
"The Foundation's support is very important to Community MusicWorks, and we're grateful for friends like you who are essential to making our work possible."
- Sebastian Ruth, Executive Artistic-Director, Community MusicWorks, Providence, RI
"One of the students in my self-contained middle school autism classroom at Durham School of the Arts has attended Voices Together with the self-contained high school class this year. Not only has it been one of the highlights of his week, but he has shown a great deal of improvement in both expressive and receptive communication. He is initiating more speech and uses more words in a sentence. Though I cannot credit the program for all of his progress, I think has played an important role."
-Lesley Weaver, Exceptional Children's Teacher, Durham School of the Arts, speaking of Voices Together, Chapel Hill, NC
The East End Arts Council, Riverhead, NY
"Music makes my life better and gives me a sense of self."
- student, 16, Achieving Recovery Through Creativity, St. Charles, MO
"Every week brings new residents to PREF and as we lose someone to release, the new ones are quick to sign up for the music program."
- Bob Groves, Volunteer Music Director, Plainfield Re-entry Educational Facility, Plainfield, IN
"There is no doubt your gift will boost our program, positively impacting patients and their families. On behalf of the staff, faculty and patients- the ultimate beneficiaries of your generosity- please accept my heartfelt thanks."
- Susan Swerdlick, Assistant Director, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Brookline, MA
"It has been my utmost pleasure and pride to watch a young person graduate from our band program to go on to enter college and the workplace with confidence."
- Donn Hallman, Executive Director, Orange Coast Musical Arts, Huntington Beach, CA
Guitars in the Classroom, national
"Your gift will directly benefit formerly homeless youth and will be used immediately."
- Jeanean Mohr, MSW Development Director, Dignity Housing, Philadelphia, PA
"I can't tell you how grateful we are to the Foundation. The equipment provided to us has been such a tremendous help to our music school."
- Melissa Elkins Tyte, Music Coordinator, East End Arts Council, Riverhead, NY
"The Foundation's support is deeply appreciated. This financial support is now being translated into arts programming for more than 500 individuals with disabilities that participate in 2700 hours of dance, drama and music."
- Kathie Wagner, President, VSA arts of Wisconsin
"We are infinitely blessed to count your organization as a great friend of our work, allowing us to continue making every effort to open the door to making music for America's children and teachers."
- Jessica Baron, Executive Director, Guitars in the Classroom, national
"Guitar has changed my whole life. Sacred Heart appreciates your generosity."
- Damien, 8th Grader, Sacred Heart School, Lynn, MA
The Kayne Eras Center, Culver City, CA
"I really appreciate having the new instruments here at school. It gives us students a chance to express ourselves."
- student, Kayne Eras Center, Culver City, CA
"Hands for Hope will give youth a sense of the future and empower them to succeed. Your generous donation will help provide the highest quality of enrichment to our kids."
- Lydia Floyd, Executive Director, Hands for Hope, Los Angeles, CA
"Generous contributions like yours help strengthen our mission of service. These instruments will provide an opportunity for music enrichment for many years to come."
- Kimberly Clark, Director of Development, Heritage Christian Services, East Rochester, NY
"There have been 8 children and 15 adults with special needs who have benefited from having guitars available for music instruction. Thank you so much for making this possible.
- Louise O'Connell, Music Enrichment Program, Paoli, IN
"The band program sometimes seems like the only thing that keeps me going."
- J.T., student, North High School, Phoenix, AZ
"The drums gave us the ability this year to begin developing and implementing a drumming portion to our program. They also became very vital in developing a more kinesthetic portion to our techniques for the younger age groups, which we are now serving. The joy and expression that has come from this younger population while playing these drums cannot be expressed."
-Yasmine White, Director, Voices Together, Chapel Hill, NC
Success Through The Arts, Los Angeles, CA
"My daughter is making the honor roll since being in the music program. Her assertiveness and self-esteem have blossomed"
- parent, Success Through The Arts, Los Angeles, CA
"'the real benefit of the drum line, as I see it, is the completely new, 100% positive identity the drum line gives each participant. They have a skill — something they feel they are actually good at — that sets them apart from their distinction as 'formerly homeless youth'."
- Michael Stevens, Instructor, Dignity Housing, Philadelphia, PA
"I felt totally lost at school. It's like I didn't fit in. The band program is my group, it's our group."
- Mason, student, North High School, Phoenix, AZ
"We are thrilled to have been awarded the instruments you donated. They will make a major difference."
- Yoidette Erima, ED, Parents As Primary Teachers, Brooklyn, NY
Plainfield Re-entry Educational Facility, Plainfield, IN
"You are enabling real people to overcome these challenges, helping to raise healthy and productive children, and finally contributing to the strength of our entire community."
- Raymond Schimmer, Chief Executive Officer, Parsons Child and Family Center
"Thanks to the generous support of donors such as The Foundation, VSA continues to build bridges by promoting the creative power in people with disabilities."
- Kathie Wagner, President, VSA arts of Wisconsin
"When I get angry music allows me to calm down and redirect my anger in a positive way."
- Dustin, 15, Achieving Recovery Through Creativity, St. Charles, MO
"These students once had a minimal chance of having a bright and productive future. The support that you provide is vital to helping these youths and others like them. We thank you for your generous support!"
- Charyn Harris, Founder, Project MuszEd, Albany, NY
Parents as Primary Teachers, Brooklyn, NY
"A conservative estimate is that 6,000 children and adults will be able to participate in and perform music as a result of Foundation donors."
- Bob Stagner, Shaking Ray Levi Society, The Rhythmic Arts Project, Chattanooga, TN
"So far, only one released PREF graduate has re-offended and has been returned to prison in the past 24 months. That percentage is unheard of in corrections. PREF programs work — including the music program — of course."
- Bob Groves, Plainfield Re-entry Educational Facility, Plainfield, IN
"Thanks to everyone at the Foundation for all they have done to enhance the lives of people with intellectual disabilities."
- Cliff Doescher, ED, Arc of Greater New Orleans, The Rhythmic Arts Project, New Orleans, LA
"Thank you for the guitars, I think that everyone should play. It is one of my passions, and I couldn't live without it."
- Damien, 8th Grader, Sacred Heart School, Lynn, MA
The Rhythmic Arts Project, national
"I want you to know that you have had such a positive impact on our music program. Many times students come to us with virtually no understanding of music basics, they often have never seen a flute or touched a piano. Your generosity has helped us enhance our program and offer a richer curriculum to our students."
- Janet Wilks, Director of Development, Salesian High School, Richmond, CA
"If you are ever in Berkeley, please stop by and see our guitar class in action. It will make your heart sing to know that you are a part of making it possible."
- Della Peretti, Developmental Teacher Education Program, UC Berkeley
"Thank you so much; the music teacher is overwhelmed! He is starting a small band after school and so far has two kids starting trumpet. You guys are WONDERFUL!"
- Janet McRoberts, Principal, Vineland Elementary, Pueblo, CO
"For children and adults with disabilities, the arts represent a world of resources and opportunities, providing an outlet for creative expression and unlimited possibilities for personal and academic success."
- Jody Kapp, Development Associate, VSA Arts of Wisconsin
"Contributions like yours assist us in providing much needed after school activity to hundreds of children in the most undeserved regions of our Los Angeles communities."
- Cathie Mostovoy, Chief Executive Officer, Woodcraft Rangers, Los Angeles, CA
Woodin Elementary School, Bothell, WA
"Next year's 6th graders are already asking me what guitar they get to play! Thank you for making such a difference at Woodin Elementary."
- Heather Arnold, Music Teacher, Woodin Elementary School, Bothell, WA
"Music gives me something to do. I write music on a daily basis. It allows me to express my feelings and redirect my feelings in a positive manner."
- Gordon, 16, Achieving Recovery Through Creativity, St. Charles, MO
"Your donation will allow us to provide 150 participants with high-quality instruments for lessons."
- Susan Swerdlick, Assistant Director, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Brookline, MA
"Just recently one of our piano students recorded his original music using the new keyboard the Foundation donated."
- Melissa Elkins Tyte, Music Coordinator, East End Arts Council, Riverhead, NY
"There are a lot of family moments. My mom is like, ‘Oh, I'm so proud of my son; he plays viola.’ And she'll start hugging me, and the rest of my siblings are like, ‘Mom, please!’ I remember when my family all came over on Christmas, I played and a couple of them started crying. And the rest of them were really proud. It made me feel good."
- Student, Community MusicWorks, Providence, RI
|
|
