A Note from the President

Summer is almost over, and I hope it was wonderful for you and yours. It has been a very productive summer for orphaned and homeless children around the United States as they have continued to make great progress musically.  We are anticipating wonderful  news when they get their academic progress reports, as we know that therapeutic music lessons positively change academic outcomes for children who have experienced trauma as these children have.

Heading back to school is usually an exciting time for children, as they go shopping for new school clothes, shoes, backpacks and school supplies.  However, for children living in group homes, shelters, and even cars, going back to school can be a hurtful experience. Foster and homeless children are often shunned, as their clothing, lack of school supplies, and hygiene identify them as having far less than other children.  This makes them vulnerable to bullying, shaming, and ostracism. It is heartbreaking, because they have already experienced so much pain and loss through no fault of their own. Unfortunately, it impacts their educational outcomes as school becomes a place where they are stressed out, frightened, and lonely. Bullying can seriously affect the mental, physical, and academic outcomes of children and they are already so fragile.

The impact of bullying is one more reason why these precious children urgently need the safe, consistent mentorship and emotional healing that comes with therapeutic music lessons, and the pride that comes with owning their own musical instrument.  They are not lesser-than human beings.  We need to demonstrate that they are not forgotten, and that there are caring people who will help make a way for them to have a better future. Last month I mentioned that right now we have children living in orphanages waiting for us to say yes.  These children see other children participating in the program and they can’t.  Summer financial support was very limited, but we are hoping that now that you know how serious the situation is, you will step forward to sponsor one of the U.S. orphans that urgently need the healing that comes with loving, consistent mentorship from trauma trained teachers, and therapeutic music lessons to provide a safe place to heal.

For the Most Vulnerable Children,

Ed Kelly

President/CEO
All Kids Need Music

CEO Jason Bowers of JLC Roofing  stepped up in a major way to help fund the summer camp for homeless children.  At the last moment when we were still short of funding, Jason helped make sure that every homeless child had the opportunity to benefit from the therapy they so urgently need.   JLC Roofing is a family owned Arizona company with over 25 years of serving Arizona businesses and Arizona families’ roofing needs.  They understand the importance of what is underneath the roof they build or repair.  Jason understands the importance of good corporate citizenship. He and his wife Jenni are passionate about making a difference in the lives of Arizona orphans and underprivileged children.  Find out more about JLC and ways they serve Arizona  HERE.

If your company would like to practice good corporate citizenship by changing the lives of our nation’s most vulnerable children, and experience great public relations benefits, GO HERE to find out more.