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| Harmonikids Annual Year End Newsletter 2012 | ||
Greetings from Harmonikids! Every year at this time I take time to reflect upon and share Harmonikids annual accomplishments. Even in light of considerable achievements in past years, 2012 was a particularly productive year. In spite of the economic challenges that continue to face nonprofit organizations in the continued recession, my sessions and workshops effectively aided and delighted children with special challenges all over the map. Here's some highlights from just a few of the participating facilities in their own words and photos:
"It changed my perspective on the way I see things. I can see how things can be healed with music. I also like how you can fix your music mistakes and start over. I like how he taught us this, and how we can fix our own (life) mistakes, then forget about them and move on." Alfredo, a Salt Lake Valley Detention Center Harmonikids session participant
"Even though you came to share music with my students, you ended up sharing much more. You demonstrated that there are people who care about them outside of their family and the classroom." Kathleen Riser, Teacher (for children with learning challenges) & Band Director
"Thank you for donating harmonicas and providing a Harmonikids session to our facility… We had one kid just brighten up after Gary’s sessions and musical gifts. This was very special for me to witness, as this kid comes from a broken home where drugs was his only outlet. Now to see him so excited and to play a harmonica for the first time warmed my heart in a way never before felt… All the kids were happy, focused, and entirely interested in the endless possibilities that a harmonica could bring them. Music has opened their hearts to a brighter more pleasant side of life." Cliff Ray, House Parent (Visit this link to read Hohner's feature article on this session.)
"It was an amazing activity and so meaningful to see the reactions on the faces when they realized they were really playing a musical instrument! Having a musical instrument that they can keep with them, practice, experiment by “creating” music and turn to as a means of recreation, stress relief or a new possible career passion is an opportunity that most in our program do not have, especially since most music programs have been removed from the schools with which we partner. This became even more apparent when the school principal told us that positive offerings like this are few are far between for children attending schools who have very limited resources." Adrienne Hessert, Manager, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Southeastern PA (Visit this link to read Hohner's feature article on this session.)
"The Harmonikids event and performance was a great success - the families loved it! We are truly impressed with the good work you do." Fordham Murdy, Director
The Riverfront Blues Festival's annual Harmonikids workshop tent Hohner Introduces the New Harmonikids Model Harmonica!
Harmonikids is extremely proud to have had it's own Hohner harmonica model released in the fall of 2012. A portion of proceeds from sales will be donated to fund Harmonikids programs. Hohner is the world's leading harmonica manufacturer and historically the choice of the very best musicians. The launch of the Harmonikids Harmonica is an unprecedented honor and on behalf of Harmonikids I extend my deep heartfelt thanks to Hohner for their fine products, generosity, and humanitarian spirit. Now available for purchase at: http://www.hohnershop.com/harmonikids-harmonica/ HARMONIKDS 2012 EVENTS AND WORKSHOPS: To see details of all of the many wonderful accomplishments this year please see: www.harmonikids.org HOHNER ALLIANCE: In 2012 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. AWARDS & RECOGNITION: This year I was honored with a prestigious E-chievement Award by "eTown", the internationally-syndicated radio show heard by more than a million listeners each week on 300 commercial and NPR stations worldwide. The E-Chievement Award segment of the program highlights stories of "hometown heroes" from around the country working to make a positive difference in their communities and beyond. For more please visit: www.etown.org/e-chievement/gary-allegretto/ 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), publicity and technical support (Xiren Wang) and assistance of every kind - 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, Kind regards for the New Year and always, LOOKING FOR A TAX DEDUCTION? Your tax deductible donations help Harmonikids continue its important work: * 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: 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.
“I am heartily supportive of Harmonikids…we have seen the power of music in transforming young lives. Gary Allegretto and his work are most worthy of support.” Dan Aykroyd More information about founding director Gary Allegretto's music and work is available at: www.garyallegretto.com
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