Harmonikids Year In Review
02 March, 2014
Every year at this time I take time to reflect upon and share Harmonikids annual accomplishments in the past year. Even in light of considerable achievements in past years, 2013 was a particularly productive year. Harmonikids sessions and workshops effectively aided and delighted children with widely diverse special challenges all over the country. Hohner Harmonicas was particularly generous in it's sponsorship of eight sessions.
Here's some highlights from several of the participating facilities in their own words and photos. Please click on the links for the full reports and visit www.harmonikids.org for more about our annual achievements:
February 1, 2013: Kingsbury Middle School, Special Education Class, Memphis, TN
"What a joy to see students who normally would not show excitement glow with pride! My students will always remember this day."
~ Kathleen Riser, Kingsbury Middle School band teacher
Read full report: http://us.playhohner.com/news/harmonikids-at-kingsbury-middle-school-in-memphis-tn/
February 25, 2013: New Castle County's Vocational Tech (NCCVT) School for the Severely Disabled, Wilmington, DE.
"What was accomplished last year on February 25th is among Harmonikids' proudest achievements. Remarkably, through Harmonikids 40 severely disabled students found a path to make music in spite of formidable challenges. Among them, and of monumental note was a student who is both deaf and blind that learned to play music on the harmonica by touch and vibration!"
~ Gary Allegretto, Founding Director, Harmonikids
"Music is the international across all intelligence language! It dissolves barriers of being different and allows students to express themselves. I cannot thank you enough for having such a wonderful program that gives the gift of music to students who do not have many opportunities to feel so free and joyous."
~ Deborah Scott, NCCVT School Program Coordinator >
March 10th, 2013: Big Brothers Big Sisters, Kamloops, B.C., Canada
" It was remarkable to watch the youngsters, some rather fidgety at the outset, open up and simply shine as they realized that they could actually learn to play music, right then and there, and have fun at the same time. And for them to walk away after the workshop with sheet music and a shiny new Hohner harp in their hands was something they could scarcely believe. As adults, we understand music is one of the wonders of the world, that it breaks down barriers, and that it can deeply and positively affect youngsters – these children now know that, as well."
~ Brant Zwicker, Vice President, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Kamloops & Region
Read full report: http://us.playhohner.com/news/harmonikids-hohner-sponsored-session-to-big-brothers-big-sisters-of-kamloops/
June 15, 2013: Sunflower Landing Teen Substance Abuse Rehabilitation Center, Dublin, MS
"Much like last year, as soon as Gary left, sounds of harmonicas filled the hallways with many of the residents playing their instrument for hours on end. It gave residents that were confined to their rooms as punishment a healthy outlet for their frustration and helped residents who were free to hang out together something to bond over."
G. Hays, Supervisor, Sunflower Landing Teen Substance Abuse Rehab Center
Read full report: us.playhohner.com/news/harmonikids-at-sunflower-landing-teen-substance-abuse-rehab-center/
July 29 - August 4, 2013, Snowden Cottage Youth Detention Facility and the Riverfront Blues Festival, Wilmington DE
"The youths were engaged and excited during the entire program. It was very refreshing to see the youths enjoying themselves. Music is chicken soup for the soul. Mr. Allegretto encouraged the youths to keep hope alive, and to never give up on their dreams. This was such a blessing."
Lester Whidbee, Treatment Specialist Supervisor
Read full report: us.playhohner.com/news/harmonikids-snowden-cottage-detention-center/
Read full report: http://us.playhohner.com/news/gary-allegretto-brings-harmonikids-to-his-native-state-of-delaware/
August 15-17, 2013: SPAH 50th Anniversary, St. Louis Children's Hospital, Girls Inc., St. Louis, MO
"Thank you for providing the patients with such a great opportunity. The patients really appreciate someone taking the time out of there busy day to teach them a new and fun skill. It provides the patient and family with a much needed break from their hospital routine. Patients were really excited to demonstrate their new harmonica playing skills for their nurses and doctors."
Pamela AuBuchon, Child Life Specialist, St. Louis Children's Hospital
Read full report: http://us.playhohner.com/news/hohner-sponsors-harmonikids-at-the-50th-anniversary-spah-convention-in-st-louis/
October 4, 2013, Denier Youth Correctional Center, Durango, CO
"Thank you for bringing harmonicas to DeNier. Since you have left the daylight of music has overpowered the dullness of day to day life. The fact that you stopped by here shows how selfless you are. Please keep on helping; on helping the world become one through music. Thanks for everything you have done."
- SJ Brunso, a youth in detention, DeNier Center
Read full report: us.playhohner.com/news/harmonikids-hohner-sponsored-session-7/
December 24, 2013 (Christmas Eve), Ferris Youth Detention Facility, Wilmington, DE
"They played beautifully. Their faces beamed brightly with the wide smiles that accompany boosted self-esteem and confidence. These young troubled "tough guys" were suddenly just happy teenagers having a great time making joyful music. It seemed that for at least within that brief Christmas Eve Harmonikids session, they had found a way to forgive the world - and themselves."
Gary Allegretto, Founding Director, Harmonikids
Read full report: http://us.playhohner.com/news/christmas-eve-harmonikids-session-to-youth-in-detention-at-ferris/
HOHNER'S HARMONIKIDS MODEL HARMONICA
Harmonikids is extremely proud to have it's own Hohner harmonica model.
A portion of proceeds from sales are donated to fund Harmonikids programs.
Available for purchase at:http://www.hohnershop.com/harmonikids-harmonica/
HARMONIKDS 2013 EVENTS AND WORKSHOPS: To see details of all of the many wonderful accomplishments this year please see: www.harmonikids.org
HOHNER ALLIANCE: In 2013 Hohner continued its alliance with Harmonikids by generously providing harmonicas and sponsoring sessions and events. Clay Edwards, CEO of Hohner, Inc. stated, "Harmonikids is a first class organization with its heart in the right place and Gary Allegretto couldn’t be better in relating to the children”. For a link to Hohner's web press release, please click HERE.
THANKS TO OUR SUPPORTERS! Very special thanks to all of Harmonikids supporters in every regard. Through your many generous individual donations, corporate donations (Bentley Systems), events (The Riverfront Blues Festival in Wilmington, DE), fundraisers (Barbizon), alliances and partnerships (Hohner, The Folk Alliance), media coverage, web support and design (Barb Belli), and assistance from many others - you have helped make these remarkable accomplishments possible. Please also see www.harmonikids.org/sponsors.htm for a list and links to some of our sponsors.
This is just some of the terrific work and positive impact that Harmonikids had in the past year. Please pass this along to someone who may be interested in reading about and supporting Harmonikids. Your support and assistance makes it all possible. You can also help by donating money or mileage, bringing a Harmonikids or a "Blues in the Schools" session to a facility near you, or by providing Harmonikids workshops at your local festival or event.
Kind regards for the New Year and always,
Gary Allegretto
Founding Director, Harmonikids
Established 1985
www.harmonikids.org
gallegretto@earthlink.net
323-605-8742
LOOKING FOR A TAX DEDUCTION?
* A TAX DEDUCTIBLE CONTRIBUTION. NO DONATION IS TOO SMALL. PLEASE USE OUR CONVENIENT NEW PAYPAL FEATURE RIGHT NOW BY VISITING THE HOME-PAGE AT: www.harmonikids.org
OR MAIL A DONATION TO: Harmonikids, 2144 Beech Knoll Road, Los Angeles, CA 90046
Please note: Harmonikids donations are tax deductible. For tax purposes please use EIN 33-1099865
* PURCHASE A HOHNER HARMONIKIDS HARMONICA: http://www.hohnershop.com/harmonikids-harmonica/
* DONATE AIRLINE MILEAGE. HARMONIKIDS NEEDS AIRLINE MILEAGE TO REACH KIDS. IF YOU (OR SOMEONE YOU KNOW) HAS MORE THAN YOU CAN USE PLEASE CONTACT US.
* SPONSOR A HARMONIKIDS (OR BLUES IN THE SCHOOLS) WORKSHOP AT YOUR LOCAL SCHOOL, FESTIVAL OR EVENT IN 2013. The healing joy of music - just under a child's nose. www.harmonikids.org A 501(c)3 tax-deductible charitable org