Wednesday, April 15, 2009

Songs of Love to provide its "Medicine of Music" to children staying at the Ronald McDonald House of Long Island

New Hyde Park, NY (April 2008) - John Beltzer, President and Founder of the non-profit organization called the Songs of Love Foundation recently met with the Ronald McDonald House of Long Island to offer free songs specifically geared to help children with challenging illnesses or disabilities. Songs of Love writes and records personalized songs based on the personality, hobbies and life of each child. Songs of Love CD's will be available free of charge to every child whose family stays at the Ronald McDonald House of Long Island.

"Songs of Love is a very unique and insightful organization,'' said Robert S. Weitzner, President of the Ronald McDonald House of Long Island. "These amazing CD's will bring joy and laughter to our children and their families who are going through some very difficult times.''

John Beltzer of Forest Hills, Queens, founded the organization in 1996. A drummer in a cover band that began in 1980, with his brother Julio on vocals, he was inspired to start a non-profit that would help children after recording a song called Songs of Love. The song, written by his
brother Julio two months before he passed away in 1984, became the namesake of Mr. Beltzer's organization. Mr. Beltzer continued recording songs and in 1995, signed a record deal on Elektra Records with an artist by the name of Alana Davis.

"My goal is to ensure that every child who has family staying at the House will walk away with a song in hand,'' said Mr. Beltzer. "We have had thousands of letters exclaiming the benefits our songs have on the children. I look forward to creating an everlasting collaboration between the Ronald McDonald House of Long Island and the Songs of Love Foundation.''

The Ronald McDonald House of Long Island is a "home-away-from home" for families who are caring for seriously ill children undergoing medical treatment in area hospitals. Located on the campus of Schneider Children's Hospital, the House accommodates families in a warm and supportive environment. Since opening in 1986, more than 12,000 families from the United States and more than 80 countries around the world have been served.

Many of the families are from Queens, Suffolk and Nassau Counties, as well as the surrounding metropolitan area.