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.

Denier Youth Correctional Center

On October 4, 2013 I brought my HOHNER-sponsored Harmonikids session to the DeNier Youth Services Center; a correctional facility in Durango Colorado. It was my third visit to this full-lockdown strict disciplinary environment designed to rehabilitate kids who had lost their way and were being held there by court order.

Snowden Cottage Youth Detention Center

Sometimes Harmonikids programs focus on youth who have been abandoned, neglected, abused, and/or are at gang risk – including some who have gotten in trouble and have been admitted to correctional facilities.

Sometimes my Harmonikids sessions have particularly deep-rooted personal meaning. Such is the case for my return visit to Sunflower Landing, in Dublin, MS. So much of the music and musicians that made the Blues the most popular and beloved music ever to be played on the harmonica came from rural towns in the Mississippi Delta. Howling Wolf, James Cotton, and Sonny Boy Williamson are just a few of the great Blues harpmen to come directly from the area.

On Sunday March 10th, 2013 Gary Allegretto was asked to provide a Hohner-sponsored Harmonikids session to the children at Big Brothers Big Sisters (BBBS) of Kamloops in B.C., Canada. As described in their website: "BBBS is Canada’s leading child and youth mentoring charity, facilitating life-changing relationships that inspire and empower children and youth to reach their potential, both as individuals and citizens. It is the mission of BBBS of Kamloops to foster positive self-esteem and competency in children and youth by providing and promoting friendship, guidance and support."