On February 27,2016 I brought my Hohner-sponsored Harmonikids session to the Salt Lake Valley Detention Center (SLVDC), In Salt Lake City Utah. SLVDC is a full-security facility designed to rehabilitate troubled youth detained by court order. Such facilities have become among my favorite to provide Harmonikids humanitarian services. Sadly, most of these teens are there ultimately as a result of abandonment, neglect, abuse, or violent childhood environments. Their confidence and self-esteem are likely shaken if not shattered – leaving them feeling broken, hopeless, and trapped.

On January 28, 2016, while performing at the Western Folklife Center's National Cowboy Gathering I brought my Hohner-sponsored Harmonikids session to the Nevada Youth Training Center (NYTC) in Elko, NV. NYTC is a a full-security facility designed to rehabilitate troubled youth detained by court order. Such facilities have become among my favorite to provide Harmonikids humanitarian services. Sadly, most of these teens are there ultimately as a result of abandonment, neglect, abuse, or violent childhood environments.

Greetings From Harmonikids!

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, 2015 was particularly productive. Harmonikids sessions and humanitarian outreach effectively aided and delighted youth with widely diverse special challenges all over the country - including those who are hospitalized, in Big Brother Big Sister programs, African refugees, economically challenged, developmentally disabled, in substance abuse rehabilitation, at risk, and in correctional facilities

On December 16, 2015 I gave a Hohner-sponsored Holiday Harmonikids session to the Shriner's Children's Hospital, bringing healing joy to over a dozen child patients, members of their families, and hospital staff. It was a fun and cheerful session starting with a concert in which I played and the children sang along.

"This morning (10/16/15) we welcomed over 400 third through fifth grade students for our school performance program. With Gary Allegretto on harmonica (I think he played about 20 different ones throughout the morning!)… the students got to experience American music and hear more about the history of its origins."