Fundraiser Featuring Ken Dashow of Q104.3 Raises $1,000 for Songs of Love!

Ken Dashow was guest bartender at Antarctica serving up a McCartney Slider cocktail, created by Herb Westphalen, to celebrate Paul McCartney's concert at Yankee Stadium. Part of the night's proceeds went to Songs of Love. Songs of Love thanks Ken Dashow and Sammy Steinlight for putting all together. Special guest for the evening was May Pang.

The Employees of Joseph's Classic Market Sing the 22,000th "Song of Love" for Mariah!

Mariah is all smiles as she holds her very own "song of love".


The employees of Joseph's Classic Market in Palm Beach Gardens, FL, took a moment to lend their voices on a "song of love" written for Mariah Walton who is battling leukemia. It was the 22,000th "song of love" written by the Songs of Love Foundation. Mariah was all smiles when she heard her song and then received her copy. (Listen to the song below.) Joseph's Classic Market is holding an in-store fundraising drive and was presented with the initial check for $1,000. Songs of Love is grateful to Joseph Acierno, the proprietor of Joseph's Classic market and to Songs of Love songwriter/chiropractor Mitch Siegal for helping to coordinate the event.

"Mariah Walton"








Some of the employees of Joseph's Classic Market who sang on Mariah's "song of love".




(Pictured left to right): Proprietor Joseph Acierno, Mitch Siegal, John Beltzer and Joseph's Classic Market store manager Dominick Cassenelli.

Letter of the Day

Happy Monday!
We received yet another amazing letter from a song recipient. This absolutely illustrates the positive and palpable impact of the songs we do on these children's lives. Your car donation and cash contributions have really made the difference. We're so pleased to be able to share this with you today. Enjoy!


Hello,

I am writing for two reasons. First, to express my appreciation for your organization. I have promoted you on Brianna's caringbridge site, my Facebook page, my personal blog, and personally to every one of my friends, family members, and co-workers. What you guys are doing is absolutely phenomenal!

During the first week of July 2009, my granddaughter Brianna received her song from Songs Of Love. We love, love, love it! And, Brianna - who is now 4 years old - loves it too. Brianna is severely disabled (can't sit, stand, crawl, walk, talk, etc). She has multiple diagnoses including brain cancer, severe CP, seizure disorder, hydrocephalus, blindness, gastronomy, and tracheomalacia. However, despite Brianna's disabilities, we've always known that she DOES understand some things.

Brianna was hospitalized for one month in December 09 and January 10 when she got her trachestomy. There were several complications and a lot of pain for Brianna. During this extremely stressful time, when we often felt completely helpless, we played or sang Brianna's Song to our sweet little girl. The nurses were amazed that almost every time we'd sing the song, if Brianna was distressed, agitated, or in pain, half-way through the song, her heart rate would regulate and she would visibly calm down.

More proof that Brianna loves her song (and somehow knows it's HER song):

Several months ago, Brianna's vision therapist introduced her to using a switch device. The hope is that one day she will be able to graduate from this to other communicative devices. As of now, she has learned to operate the switch on command to turn on a fan, a little music toy, and - most recently - an MP3 player that has her song on it along with other songs as well. She will switch through many of the songs but will always stop at Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star, at BINGO the Dog, and at Brianna's Song. Brianna's Song from Songs of Love is most definitely her favorite!

My second reason for writing is to ask how I can obtain another copy of the CD. We have the song downloaded on my computer and in Brianna's MP3 player, but the original CD was damaged (broken) by a very clumsy - but apologetic - therapist. I would be more than happy to pay for a second CD.

The information I have is that the song was for my granddaughter Brianna Moore-Harriman. Her "record number" is 19305.

Thank you again,
Julie Engel - Brianna's custodial Grandma and her biggest fan

"Thank You" Letters - March 30th, 2011

Today's thank you letter is a brand new one! We just received this letter this morning, along with an amazing video with the child's song of love, which you can see by visiting out Facebook page. As you know, these moments of joy and positivity are possible only through your continued generosity, by way of car donations and cash donations. Please take some time to read the letter (if you can read Spanish!) and to visit our site for a direct look at the children who are most affected by your donations. You can see pictures and videos, along with comments from families!

And so, on to today's thank you letter!

Hola
Soy mama de Jonathan Espinoza y quisiera  disculparme primeramente por no mandar la carta de agradecimiento  antes, ya que estos últimos meses han sido muy duros y no hemos tenido dinero ni para la estampilla, pero quisiera dar muchicimas gracias a Ernie Gold por su bellicima voz, gracias de todo corazón,  el CD llego en un momento muy oportuno de la vida de mi hijo Jony  ya que en ese momento su terapia estaba siendo muy intensa y difícil para el, en el momento que El escucho su cancio le brillaron sus ojitos de alegría ya que repetía varias veces su nombre, y eso lo hacia sentirse importante y también el saber que tenia los nombres de sus hermanos y amigos , gracias de todo corazón por esta alegría que brindan a estos niños, ruego a mi Padre Celestial que los Bendiga siempre con todo lo que ustedes necesiten y que siempre puedan tener ese animo y esa disposición para dar felicidad a otros menos afortunados, gracias por su labor y su gran esfuerzo que depositan dia con dia que el Señor los colme de bendiciones , una vez mas MUCHICIMAS GRACIAS …
DE PARTE DE LA FAMILIA ESPINOZA DESDE UTAH…


Remember, something as simple as a car donation can make such an absolute difference in the life of a young person!

Steve Smith of the New York Giants Joins Songs of Love!

Songs of Love has just scored a New Year's touchdown by having New York Giants wide receiver Steve Smith join our symphony of love! A special Songs of Love tab has been placed on his Facebook page of over
154,000 fans!



Steve has really shown his love for Songs of Love
by asking all of his fans to make a donation. He will also be providing
special items to be auctioned off so we can keep providing our
Medicine of Music™ to many more children. Thank You Steve!
Click here to watch a video of Steve Smith asking for donations.

"Thank You" Letters - March 24th, 2011

How many times do you get the opportunity to hear directly from the people you help with your donations from charity? We bring you these direct letters from the recipients of our songs of love, made possible only through your generous donations, whether they be car donations or cash donations. In prior years, we've received close to 12 car donations a day, allowing us to provide songs for several thousand kids in those years alone. This year, we are down to receiving only 2-3 car donations a day and we are, as a result, down to cutting our song output drastically. This year, we will only reach a projected 1,000 sick children. Read today's letter and please help us continue our mission and provide songs for many, many more children. Thank you!



Thank you so much for all you do. We received a cd for my son Shane, who is 3 years old (and now bald) and has Leukemia. He has not had to face many of the complications of sickness as we have seen other kids go through and we are very thankful for that. The first time he heard his song, we were in the car and I put the cd in the player. The song came on and when he heard his name, his eyes got big, his jaw dropped, and he smiled as he covered his hand with his mouth in astonishment. He couldn't beleive they were singing about him...and his toys, and his nurses and doctors, and his favorite foods and games. He still loves to listen and we've had the cd since summer. Thank you for all you do for these kids. The level of joy you put in a sick child's life is probably more than you imagine.
Thank you,
Kindra McFarland


A cash donation, car donation...whatever you can do to help makes all the difference in the world to these kids.

"Thank You" Letters - March 22nd, 2011

Spring has officially arrived! The year is already moving so quickly and we don't want to be left in the dust financially as we continue to work hard and struggle through this economy. As always, we need your help, via car donations and cash donations, to get us through these tough times and help us continue to bring music to sick children. It is through your help alone at this moment that will help us go on. As a gift to you for your support, we bring you these enlightening letters from the families of the children we aim to help everyday. In our song, we hope to bring them a bright light, and their bright light to us is in their letters. We hope these letters motivate you as much as they motivate us.



MY NAME ANTHONY TARANTINO MY GRANDSON IS PETER LISA YOU JUST MADE A SONG FOR HIM HE GOT IT TODAY.TO SAY THANK YOU IT IS NOT EVEN A DROP OF WHAT I FEEL .I CAN NOT PUT INTO WORDS WHAT ALL OF YOU GREAT PEOPLE DO FOR THE KIDS .I CAN SAY GOD BLESS ARE OF YOU.BUT I KNOW GOD DID THAT ALREADY.PETER CAN NOT TALK,CAN NOT SEE VERY GOOD.HE JUST STARTED TO WALK 2 MONTHS AGO HE IS 8 YEARS OLD.HE LOVES THE SONG HE JUST STANDS BY THE STERO AND LISTENS TO THE WHOLE SONG AND SMILES .AND I CRY TO SEE THAT.I LOVE PETER  MORE THEN ANYTHING HE IS MY HEART.HOW CAN I JUST SAY THANK YOU .I LET YOU KNOW ONLY THIS THANK YOU COMES FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART.I WILL WRITE A LETTER TO THE GREAT PEOPLE ON THE DISC.BUT I JUST HAD TO WRITE SOMETHING NOW.I AM ON S.S.DISABLITY A SHOULDER REPLACEMENT.HAVE TO RETIRER.BUT I WILL SEND SOMETHING TO YOU.GOD BLESS ALL OF YOU. I HOPE I DID OK ON THE SPELLING I AM BAD AT THIS WRITING ON A COMPUTER.I JUST HAD TO WRITE MY LOVE TO ALL OF YOU  ANTHONY TARANTINO  OH THERE ARE ONLY 350 KIDS IN THE WORLD THAT HAVE MMA CLBC.THAT IS HOW RARE IT IS WHAT PETER HAS HE GETS B12 SHOTS EVERY DAY AND IT BREAKS MY HEART LOVE TO YOU ALL



Donate a car. Donate online. Please help us give back to the children who bring us so much joy.

"Thank You" Letters - March 11th, 2011

We hope we've inspired you in some way with these letters from our Songs of Love recipient families. These letters are, after all, meant to inspire all of us with the amazing tales of a child's courage and strength in a time of such adversity. To make moments like this possible for thousands more children for years to come, please consider making a donation, such as a car donation, to help us fund this dream. Just as these children inspire us, we want to use these songs to inspire these children. And now, we bring you today's bit of inspiration!




We just received our Songs of Love CD for my daughter, Rebecca Daniel. We
have played it over and over again. What a fun, uplifting and positive
song!! This will definitely be something that Rebecca will have for those
days that she doesn't feel like all the other "normal" kids. She asked me
this morning to make sure all her other Spina Bifida pen pals know about
"Songs of Love" and to make sure that their parents go to the website to
fill out an application. I have forwarded your website to all the people
that I know that have children that would benefit from a Songs of Love CD.

Thanks, again!

Holly Daniel



A car donation, cash donation...anything at all to keep inspiring these young brave kids!

"Thank You" Letters - March 10th, 2011

A car donation can make a world of difference - just ask one of the thousands of children and families we've helped over the past 15 years! Something as simple as a car donation has great benefit and utility for non-profits who have such programs. The revenue brought to organizations like us through programs like this is the lifeblood, necessary for our survival. Donating a car has such a great benefit for our children, as each song costs $250 to complete, from hiring songwriters to producing, packaging and shipping the finished CD. The value of each song, however, is priceless, as you can see from these letters from the families of the children we help. Here's today's letter!



Hellooooo! OH, MY..... God bless Timmer and Kristin for the songs they wrote to for my son and daughter.
 
Raquelle can communicate and function (her special needs and disability is not obvious) when we put her song in her eyes lit up!  She kept saying "oh, your killing me mom" as she was laughing.  I wished I had been prepared with the digital camera!  We will certainly play again and send in some pictures.  She loves the song and how you included so creatively and fun the most favorite things she likes and people close to her.  Bubbled giggles and laughter came with each new name and verse.  Then the tight hugs and declarations of "mommy I love you".  Something she does only during time when she is so happy about something...like a new pet...a special song!  You've made her feel so special today.
 
As for Dallas he can communicate only through physical gestures or facial expressions.  He was sleeping soundly when we put in his song and when he heard his name his eyes popped right open, he stretched, and little creases came between his brows (like he was trying to figure it out).  Well, when Timmer said he was driving a monster truck with Mommy and Rick by his side the sly smiles came out.  We helped him clap his hands to the beat (Mommy & Rick) and he was bright eyed and turning his head to the speakers.
 
The timing is perfect.  This song of love for Dallas will comfort and keep him feeling special while his family is going on vacation for a week.  Due to his complex medical needs and round the clock nursing care we have yet to be able to take him on vacation with us for extended periods of time.  So BRAVO and hear the applause coming from our sunny home in Fort Myers Florida to your hearts.
 
Raquelle will be taking her CD with her to keep her company during the 4 hour drive.  As her mommy, she thought it was me that was singing to her.  It took some convincing and sharing the letter to get her to believe I wasn't singing on the tape.  Too funny! That is so heartwarming!  How cool is that?!  Thanks, Kristin.
 
It isn't an easy road we live with 24 hour nursing in our home seasoned with weekly IV treatments for my son and then going to hospital trips (6 hour visits) at a time for my daugther to access her port (which is is so afraid of).  I am hoping that this amazing song of love will help with "distracting" her through the small time to access and get the IV going and for that....I send my deepest gratitude as her mommy.
 
Nothing is better than seeing the smiles and joy on my kids' faces.  You put that in our home today, Timmer and Kristin.


Your car donation makes moments like these possible. Please consider donating today!

"Thank You" Letters - March 9th, 2011

Another day, another awesome thank you letter from an awesome family! It's all in a day's work here at Songs of Love, but as you all know, we can't possibly do it without you. In order to bring smiles and joy to these amazing, brave children, we need your car donations and cash donations. Through these donations, we can continue to fund these musical projects and bring the healing spirit of a song to these ailing children. With that in mind, we bring you another inspiring thank you letter!



SONGS OF LOVE STAFF, my wife and i would like to take a moment to express a giant heartfelt thanks to all of you wonderful people for the fantastic work you do! We absolutely love Trapper's song,our family members are ecstatic over it and baby trapper dances and dances when we play it. I don't know where you find men like Mr.William Sherry, but we would like for him to know that he has brought no small amount of happiness to a very troubled family. My wife says you sir are very deserving of a huge hug-neck. Trapper has discovered that this song is saying his name, so he goes over and beats the face of our speakers and does his little trapper dance when we play it. I am e-mailing you this note and a picture of trapper, currently we are back in the hospital and he's not doing well, but as soon as he is we'll video trapper dancing to his song and rush it to you right away. You may use this material any way you see fit and to benefit songs of love would make us very happy. You deserve this and so much more! Again thank you and if we could help you in anyway please contact us. We'do any thing for you. Warmest regards and well wishes Preston Hayes and Family


Again, we can't do it alone - donate a car, start a FirstGiving page - every bit of help matters!

"Thank You" Letters - February 25th, 2011

Yesterday, we mentioned out Facebook page - feel free to visit that page at any time! We offer videos and other news items with the latest developments from the Songs of Love family, including videos of the children we help reacting to the songs they have received. We are always adding new videos and links, so check it out today! This is, of course, only possible because of your unending support, with cash donations and car donations. Take a look at what your donations are doing!



Hello, my name is Ashley Scobee and my daughter is Cryslyn Hannah. We just received Cryslyn's CD today and she absolutely loves it we have listened to it over and over and over again!!! She now believes she is someone special and is so excited that she has a song of her own! Cryslyn would also like me to tell you that she thinks you are the sweetest people ever cause you sent her this CD! I have also attached a couple of pictures of Cryslyn with her new CD, hope ya'll enjoy them and once again thank you very, very much Steve Scheffert for making my little girl feel so special!!
Sincerely,
Ashley Scobee &
Cryslyn Hannah



Donate a car! Donate cash! Whatever you can give, we greatly appreciate it.

"Thank You" Letters - February 24th, 2011

If you have a chance, check out our Facebook page! Our latest post is from Anna, our oldest spokesperson at 100-years-old! Her plea is for more donations so we can have the durability and vigor to keep going for many, many years - just like Anna! One way to make this possible is through a car donation. Another way is through cash donations or credit card donations on our website! Please check it out for more information or contact us directly. And now for today's letter!


My name is Jillian M. Cheek.  My daughter, Sarah-Elizabeth, recently received the song that was written for her.  I just wanted to express my most sincere gratitude for the smile that this wonderful gift has given her.  She and her brother, Peyton, love to sing along to this special treasure.  God has given the people in this organization a remarkable talent and ability to use this talent to bring joy in the lives of the most innocent.  I am so impressed by what you all do so unselfishly.  Thank you again so much on behalf of my daughter and our family. 
 

Whatever you can contribute - a car donation, a cash donation - makes a difference!

"Thank You" Letters - February 23rd, 2011

Are you looking for ways to give back to the community? Do you have an old car that you can't sell? Why not look into the Songs of Love car donation program?! By donating your car, you'll be funding many more personalized songs for children who are suffering from life-threatening illnesses and chronic, debilitating diseases throughout America! Doesn't it feel great to give back? And now, today's thank you letter!




Donna,

We received your beautiful song today. I didn't tell Melorah that the song was about her, I just told her to listen. When she heard her name, she got a confused look on her face, then once I told her that you wrote a song just for her, she beamed from ear to ear. Of course thru all this, I am bawling my eyes out! I cannot begin to tell you how humbling it is that someone is willing to take the time to sit down and write a song for your child. I don't know how to begin to thank you enough for this act of kindness.

We are working so hard to help her remember her trip to Disney (she forgets quite a bit). This will help considerably. I am also grateful that use used both the cats name because we had to put Cory asleep right after we got home (he was over 17 years old). He only loved Melorah and myself, already Melorah is having trouble remembering him. I am doing such an inadequate job of expressing our thanks.

You are awesome!!!

Jennifer and Melorah



Donate your car today!

"Thank You" Letters - February 22nd, 2011

As the days are getting brighter, so is our outlook for the economy and for the future of Songs of Love. Staying positive during such difficult times is key, but it's only one of many tools we have to use to get through and survive. As we've pleaded before, we need your help. A car donation or a monetary donation is potentially a tax deduction for you and a life-saver for us. Ultimately, it is a gift, a personalized song for a child in need, so they can have their very own positive outlook and be better equipped to deal with their own illnesses and obstacles. With this in mind, we bring you today's thank you letter!



Dear John,

This is Rena Rudisill, Ashley Abernathy's mom. Your foundation wrote a song
for her in 1999 and David Lee Roth sang it. I just wanted to let you know
how she is doing.

She is a two time cancer survivor and is doing great. She was nine years
old when you met her. She is now 15 1/2 and is a freshman at Forestview
High School here at home in Gastonia NC. She now has a thick head full of
frosted blond hair. Beautiful brown eyes and has the little boys chasing
her like crazy. But she will soon turn sweet 16 in August have her drivers
license so she can get away from them a little faster. But seriously, I
did want to update you on her status. I still check in on your website and
see what you have going on. I have been interviewed about Ashley's cancer
by the local news and for a demo tape for Oprah Winfrey to promote the
treasure boxes. I have mentioned your organization in each. You are doing
a wonderful thing for these children. I thank you from the bottom of my
heart. If I can ever do anything to help, please let me know.

Sincerely,

Rena Rudisill


Something as simple as a donation - a car donation, cash donation, etc. - can make such a big difference.

"Thank You" Letters - February 18th, 2011

Another week has gone by and we are thankful to be able to do the work we do, providing joy and comfort to thousands of children through the original, personalized songs we write. It is only through your donations, your contributions (car donations, cash donations, worth of mouth) that we are able to keep on going and keep on writing these healing songs. We are asking for your increased support today due to continued hardship due to the economy's impact on non-profits, especially arts non-profits. In our plea for your support, we bring you yet another letter from a family who has been helped through these songs.




I know it has been a while since we received this awesome CD, but like most families who have received one, life gets pretty hectic with hospital visits, etc.  We want to thank you from the bottom of our hearts for this wonderful gift of music.  Carl Allocco, you did an awesome job on the words, music and vocals.....you've certainly made Songs of Love proud! 
 
As soon as the CD arrived in the mail, I couldn't wait to listen it.  I put it in the player and as soon as the music started, I knew you captured my son perfectly with the type of music you chose for him.  I cried the whole way through it!  Once Seth came home from preschool, I told him that there was a surprise for him and I showed him the CD and played it for him.  He couldn't believe the song was about him!  He danced and jumped around the whole time.  After we played the song, I said to him "Wow, Seth.  How does it feel to know someone took the time to write a song just for you?"  He turned to me, and with a look of enormous gratitude, he started crying!  For a 4 year old, he may not have known how to say it, but he definitely knew in his heart how to show how he was feeling.  Your talent and thoughtfulness will never be forgotten. 
 
We've had to make a copy of this CD just so that we don't wear out the original!  We took it to the Children's Hospital so that everyone could hear it.  It was great.  You should have seen the tears rolling down all those nurses' faces!  It's amazing how much one song can touch so many people.  Seth continues to listen to the song daily.  We take it with us when he has to be admitted so that he can be reminded of the special people in his life who cared enough to get him this song. 
 
Thank you, again, for your wonderful work.  I am attaching a couple of pictures of Seth with his new CD.  Although words can't describe how thankful we are, I'm sure his smiling face can say it all!
 
With lots of hugs,
 
The Guffey Family
Maurice, Kristi, Tabetha and Seth


Again, our sincerest thanks for your car donations and other charitable contributions. Have a lovely weekend!

"Thank You" Letters - February 17th, 2011

If you've ever considered donating your car, consider doing so through Songs of Love! A car donation can do so much to help underwrite the cost of operating an arts non-profit like ours. We need all of the help and assistance we can get from supporters like you each and every day. Our costs to operate right now are going beyond the donations we are receiving. The cost of creating each unique song for these children who are suffering with chronic and life-threatening illnesses is $250 per song. You can help underwrite that cost with a car donation if you happen to be in the mode to donate a car at this point. We remind you of the work we are doing and the positive impact of your donations with these letters. Please take a moment to read today's letter.



Dear Mr. Danny Obadia,
 
Thank you so much for writing and singing Alyssa's song.  She smiled and laughed when hearing it.  These days she does not do much smiling or laughing, so we treasure the times that she does.  We all love hearing it because it really describes who Alyssa is and it is so upbeat.  You have made a very significant difference in our lives. 

The letter that we received with the song indicated that a picture of Alyssa would be appreciated.  We already sent three pictures of Alyssa with the information about Alyssa.  One picture of when she was baby and two recent pictures. Would you please check to see if these pictures could be found?  Songs of Love is welcomed to use them in promotional materials. 
 
Much appreciation,
Abel and Margaret Saldana--Alyssa's parents


Again, your car donation means so much to this organization, especially in these times. Thank you.

"Thank You" Letters - February 16th, 2011

Happy Valentine's Day from the folks at Songs of Love! February is almost over, which means winter is almost over. As we start to thaw out, we are reminded of the quick pace at which the year marches on. As we "march on" to March, we need your continued financial support to keep going and to keep operations open at this critical time. We need your donations, car donation and cash donations as well. This is the only way we can make it to another year of bringing hope, joy and comfort to thousands of sick children and their families. Please hear our plea. With that plea, please take a moment to read a thank you letter from another family who was touched by the work we do here at Songs of Love.






Thank you so much for all you do. We received a cd for my son Shane, who is 3 years old (and now bald) and has Leukemia. He has not had to face many of the complications of sickness as we have seen other kids go through and we are very thankful for that. The first time he heard his song, we were in the car and I put the cd in the player. The song came on and when he heard his name, his eyes got big, his jaw dropped, and he smiled as he covered his hand with his mouth in astonishment. He couldn't beleive they were singing about him...and his toys, and his nurses and doctors, and his favorite foods and games. He still loves to listen and we've had the cd since summer. Thank you for all you do for these kids. The level of joy you put in a sick child's life is probably more than you imagine.
Thank you,
Kindra McFarland




A car donation, a cash anything - anything you can afford can make all the difference in the world!

"Thank You" Letters - February 9th, 2011

Can you believe we're already almost halfway through February? It seems like New Year's was just yesterday! We have kicked into full gear and are taking on another year of creating beautiful moments with our personalized songs for terminally and chronically ill children throughout the United States. We can't do this, however, without you. Car donation, cash donation - any way you can help brings us closer to our goal of bringing joy and keeping operations open into the future. Please help. Check out today's letter to see the impact your donation has. Thank you!




I am Jennifer Kinsey, Mother of LaKesha Brewer whom you made a song for, sung by Alex Forbes, and also one of your newest music messengers. I am not sure whether I have written or not, we stay busy with many out of town doctor visits for LaKesha who is actually doing very well at this time.
I can not express to you what this song has meant to LaKesha and to me. I have requested that her song be played at our local radio station, and I still need to re-visit them and ask about this again. I talk about how wonderful LaKesha's song is, and how wonderful this organization is for children like LaKesha and many others that I know. I have filled out forms for two children since i became a music messenger. I cried the first 20 times i listened to it, and now I can sing her song word for word, it is truly a blessing to us. I will send a picture of LaKesha with her CD as soon as I can, and send it along with a copy of this letter once I have the picture downloaded and ready to email.

Thanks again and may God bless you richly!
Jennifer Kinsey
Mother of LaKesha Brewer, song recipient.



Again, a donation - donate a car, donate cash - only you can make a difference!

"Thank You" Letters - February 7th, 2011

Here in the northeast, we're finally getting some much-needed relief from the extreme cold and snow of the past month, but we're not out of the woods yet. Much like the weather, we've "weathered" the current economic climate, but we're not out of the storm's path quite yet! That's where you come in! If you can, please donate any amount you can afford - $5, $25, maybe sponsor a song at the $250 level, or even make a car donation! We need all the support we can get to make sure 2011 is a successful year and that we can continue to make a difference in the lives of sick children. As you know, these thank you letters are as much addressed to you as they are to us, as the smiles and joy created would not have been possible without support from people like you. Please take a moment to read these letters on this site to get a sense of the real difference we are making in these kids' lives.




My name is Kathy, and my four year old son was diagnosed with a Wilms tumor last November. He has had his kidney removed, and he currently is going through chemotherapy that will last until July.
We recently received a Song of Love for Simon done by Danny Obadia.

I want to take this moment to let you know how important your work is... and how much it means to the kids and their families. I cannot express enough what an "uplift" this song was for little Simon. We listen to is ALL the time. It is absolutely the best. Listening to it brings tears to my eyes.... my mother to.... it is so moving and touching.
Your work is so appreciated and I don't have a doubt that the good Lord smiles down on you.
Thank you so very much for your wonderful kindness and love, especially during this tough time.
May you be blessed with all that you do.

I also wanted to let you know that I would be more than happy to display brochures or displays in my community. If you could let me know how I go about doing so, I would appreciate it. Its the least I can do.... I would love to give a donation, but right now, we are struggling, so I am unable to do so.
Thank you so very much...
Sincerely,
Kathy Tobar




Any amount you can give - a few dollars, a song sponsorship, a car donation - makes all the difference in the world!

"Thank You" Letters - February 2nd, 2011

Today's thank you letter is especially timely and really pulled at our heart strings here at the Songs of Love office. We are absolutely thrilled to have the privilege to share this letter with you from a family who received their song a few short weeks ago. They tell their story about their young son, and we had the exciting opportunity to tell his story to him and be part of a sweet, heart-warming family moment. As we've said before, moments like these are really possible because of people like you! Your car donation and cash donations have supported us over the years. Please consider spreading the word about our charity!




Dear Becky, Nathan, and the entire "Songs of Love" team,
 
Over the weekend we received the song you wrote for our son, Collin. I am at a complete loss of words to adequately describe how touched, moved with emotion, and delighted we were by the beautiful song you wrote. I never imagined the song would be so perfect - from the lovely flow of lyrics, to the beautiful instrumentation and melody, to Becky's gorgeous voice - it is truely a masterpiece! We already have the song on constant repeat and every time we listen to it, it fills us all with such happiness. Although Collin is still too young to understand what a special gift this is, I can promise you that he recongizes the joy the song has brought to his parents. Collin's life has been plagued with hardships that no infant should ever have to cope with and it has been particularly difficult on my husband and me. This song will always provide us with solace and comfort as we continue to endure future medical challenges with our sweet baby boy. Becky, please know how grateful we are that you so generously shared such a special talent and gift with us.
 
Many thanks and we will always remember and cherish this special gift,
 
Kathy, Tony, and Collin Broughton





Remember, a car donation or a cash donation goes a long way in sustaining our work to bring joy and comfort to the sick kids out there!

Car Donation

Vehicle donation programs are how a huge number of charities and non-profits organizations survive in this day and age. Several of these charitable organizations and non-profits are depending on car donation programs now more than ever before. If you are interested in assisting a charity financially, you can do so for the non-profit of your choice through a car donation and have a true impact if you have a car to donate. You can do your homework ahead of time and see if your a charity that is close to your heart has a car donation program operating - ask the right questions to make sure this is the right decision for you, and discover whether or not this is how you will contribute to the non-profit sector. One of the many benefits to donating a vehicle is that you will be eligible to write off your donation as a tax deduction. If you're going to donate a vehicle, you can find further information on the web or by clicking one of our page links to see more details about our car donation program. The proceeds of your donation always go toward funding our charitable operations, including creation of the songs, while keeping administrative costs low. See what a difference we are making!




Hello,

This is Katherine Roseberry and recently your
organization sent my daughter (Lady Alejandra Victoria
Roseberry or as we call her Ladybug) a song of love.
I want to first thank this organization for what it
does. I was in total awe and shock when I received
this CD. It moved me and bought tears to my eyes. I
have played it for everyone and have been emailing and
calling all of the radio stations here in Indiana to
see if I can get someone to play this song on the air.
Everytime she hears her name in the song she just
puts on a big smile. I took some pictures of me
playing it for her and would like you to see her
smile. I also want to especially thank the gentleman
who wrote and sung the song for her. I love it.
Thank you so much Mr. Phil Badalamenti. My family
love it and we were all so happy with our special
gift. I will spread the word about this organization
and will be happy to be your Music Messenger. Please
send your displays and brochures.

I'm really very pleased and proud of our Ladybug's
theme song and will proudly play it anywhere.

Thank you so much. People like you make it easier for
people like me that have to take care of a special
needs child.

Katherine Roseberry and Family

Car Donation

Car donation is the means of survival for so many charities and non-profits. Many charities and charitable organizations depend of such programs for their very survival. You can help a non-profit of your choice and make a real difference if you have a car or other vehicle to donate. Just do your research and find out if your favorite charities have car donation programs running - ask questions and get specifics, so you will know if this is how you would like to contribute. A great benefit to doing this is that you'll be able to write off your donation as a tax write-off, otherwise known as a deduction. If you are interested in donating a car, you can find information online or check out one of the links on this page to find out more about our program. Every penny goes towards underwriting out outreach and charitable operations, with low administrative costs. Our car donation goes towards moments like this:



I would like to thank everyone at Songs of Love for the outstanding gift you give to children. Thank-you doesn't say enough for the dedication of all who take their time to participate in the making of these very unique Cd's. As my daughter battles a brain tumor she finds much joy in listening to her song.Through Kiyanna's excitement she  has played her song for her many doctors, therapists, family and friends. It has brought tears to most,even the men and woman in uniform from the Air National Guard who presented Kiyanna with a Young Hero's Medal for displaying courage and strength while battling this illness.During Kiyanna's hospitalization she also met Dora The Explorer a loved character to Kiyanna but her most cherishable event to her is receiving and listening to  what she calls her "Kiyanna Song."This music is definitely a form of medicine and Kiyanna will be the first one to tell you it makes her feel better and helps to keep her dancing.Thank-You for bringing my daughter joy and encouragement in a most difficult time.If possible could you send 3 copies of the CD?
                                                   Sincerely,
                                                           Tara & Rich Stockwell

"Thank You" Letters - February 1st, 2011

Some of you are dealing with yet another snowstorm today. To help you pass the time, we are bringing you a new thank you letter! Nothing helps warm the heart and soul in this cold, wintry weather better than knowing your support is bringing smiles to the thousands of children we have helped and whom we will reach in upcoming years. With that in mind, we need your support to continue to write these songs for many more years. This year, we'll celebrate our 15th anniversary, and we would never have reached this milestone without help from our car donation program, individual giving and grants. We've also never had to deal with an economic climate as harsh as the one we are currently in. We will make it through this situation and these programs will help us through. Take a look at today's thank you letter and let us know what you think. If you can offer any feedback or suggestions, we're all ears! Help us continue to make moments like this possible. We are bringing not just songs, but the Medicine of Music to these kids everyday!



I want to cry.  We received our song this past Saturday and listened to it on the way to church.  Laura looked very tickled sitting in the backseat as she listened to it.  Her sister was proud to hear here name mentioned in it too.
Of course we played it several times on the way.
 
We were scheduled for treatment yesterday so of course I popped it in and we listened to it several times again.
 
The voice is beautiful; the lyrics are beautiful, it’s just wonderful.  I can only begin to imagine the amount of work that must go into these songs.  We will be listening to it frequently and I know there will be times down the road
That it will be the pick me up she’ll need. 
 
She’s starting kindergarten in the fall.  I anticipate some hard times and it’s nice to know I have artillery to combat those hard feelings she may come upon and make her feel especially loved.    
 
Thank you so much.
 
Carmen Watkins

"Thank You" Letters - January 31st, 2011

As we close out the first month of the year, we are reminded once again just how quickly time goes by. We are starting the new year a bit slower than anticipated, so we really need your help to keep going and to keep bringing beautiful music to children suffering from life-threatening illness. A car donation, a cash donation, a donation by credit card through our secure website - whatever you can do and whatever you can afford will all go toward keeping the hope alive! We may work in a small office, but our organization is huge, because it includes people like you and all of the children we serve every day! Just read the thank you letter below and others on this blog and you'll see evidence of the joy and relief these songs bring to the young victims of illnesses such as cancer, cerebral palsy, autism, etc. We hope you are as touched by these letters as we are. To think, something as simple as a car donation can make a world of difference! To our supporters, we say, "Thank you!"




Dear Songs of Love~
 
We received Skylar's CD on her birthday. What a wonderful birthday present! We were able to share her song with our friends and family who were there to celebrate Skylar's birthday. As we played her song, everyone was smiling and crying tears of joy, and amazed at how Skylar's song captured her spirit.
 
We wanted to thank you so much for doing this for our family. We listen to the song all the time and Skylar just lights up and dances. You have brought a happiness into our lives at a time when we need all the happiness we can get.
 
I've attached pictures of our precious Skylar. You can see how happy her CD makes her feel.
 
A special thanks to Danny Obadia, who wrote the words, music and sang the vocals of this awesome song. We really enjoy the reggae rhythm and beats! It makes it fun for everyone to dance to. You are definitely blessed by a talent and we thank you for sharing your gift with our family.  
 
We appreciate every ounce of your support!
 
Love,
 
Julie, Dann, Skylar and Owen Hansen

"Thank You" Letters - January 28th, 2011

We would like to end the week the way we began it - on a bright note! We'd like to thank all of you who have made a cash or car donation or who have supported us by spreading the word about our mission of music. Our gratitude is profound. Today, we share yet another thank you letter from a family who received a song for their child. It shows how much comfort and peace the song brings into their child's life. We do what we do for this reason and with each letter, we have further conformation that we're having this positive affect on so many sick children. Donating a car does so much to help make these hopes and goals a reality - the more support we have and the more cars donated to our program, the more children we are able to provide personalized songs.

Please take time to read today's letter and let us know what you think about any of these letters. We hope they warm your heart during this cold and snowy winter. Enjoy!



Hi everyone at Songs of Love--
Our family just received our daughter, Isa's, song of love today in the mail and I must say there were lots of tears all around! We were so completely touched by the song! Please tell Eugene Ruffalo how very much we enjoyed his amazing song! We especially liked the way he correctly pronounced all of the kids names correctly, especially our last name, Mireles! Our daughter, Isa is two and a half, so she doesn't really know what's going on all around her, but receiving such a lovely gift as we did today makes our journey that much easier. Isa has leukemia (ALL) and her prognosis is really good (she is a rapid responder, low risk patient) so we know she will enjoy this song for many, many years to come. Thank you to all of you at Songs of Love. What a wonderful organization. Again, please tell Mr. Ruffalo how touched and honored that he wrote such a beautiful song (and we love that Latin flavor!) Sincerely, The Mireles Family, Rene, Jessica Nora, Leah, Nino and our little angel, Isa

"Thank You" Letters - January 27th, 2011

It's another snow day here in New York! If you feel like driving is a drag in this weather, maybe it's time to donate your car and head to public transportation. Or maybe you're old car just isn't up to the task of dealing with the the piles of snow and it's time for an upgrade? If that's the case, you can donate your old car when your ready. As you know, your car donation goes such a long way in helping us make a difference in the lives of the many children we reach with our songs. Every song takes about $250 to write, produce, package and send out. Please consider Songs of Love if you are considering getting rid of your automobile. If you have questions about how to go about donating your car, please contact us and we'll be absolutely happy to give you all of the information you need. Take a look at today's thank you letter and you'll see what your donation goes toward. The smiles are priceless and we still need your help, now more than ever, to make those smiles possible.

Today's letter comes from a family who saw the immediate positive impact the music had on their child, AJ. We hope this letter touches your heart the way it touched ours! Your car donation and continued support have made moments like this possible!




Songs of Love,
Thank You so much for the perfect song for AJ!!!!
When we recieved AJ's song in the mail, he was not wanting to do his typical activities and would not respond to us in his usual way. So when we asked if he wanted to listen to hid cd he had no response. In other words, "leave me alone right now, I don't want to do anything". Well, we played his song anyway (we were excited to hear it), and he started dancing and responding with a non-verbal "yes" when asked if he wanted to listen to his cd again (and again, and again....)!!!!
Stacy & Rick DeLima you are amazing!! I hope you continue to share your talents with others. Great Job!!
Know each of you are treasures!!!!! 
God Bless You!
 
Have an amazing day!
Mike, Loree, AJ, Elisabeth & Katharine Patnode

Car Donation!

Here at Songs of Love, we want to let you know that if you have a car donation, we can accept it from anywhere in the nation. That's right - anywhere! We want to make it easier for you to donate your car, as we're so happy and grateful to be able to receive such a gift from generous donors. If you have a car to donate, please contact us and we'll help you. Your donation goes a long way in helping us keep operating and continue getting healing music to children who are dealing with disease and chronic illness. If you would like more information on how your donation helps in so many ways, please take a look at our main website for further details or reach us at our offices.

Our car donation program was started as a way to support and underwrite the songs we create everyday to aide in the healing process for sick children. Since 1996, we have been able to reach almost 22,000 children and Songs of Love hopes to reach 22,000 more in the upcoming years. A car donation is more than simple giving a car - it's giving several songs to children who are coping with cancer, autism, etc. Please consider donating your car today!

Car Donation

We would like to give a shout out to the car donation program and other programs like it that legitimate non-profits around the nation are utilizing to keep making a difference in the lives of people in need. Nationwide, our program goes to underwrite costs. A car donation goes a long way, not only for the charity or non-profit, but also for you, as you can be eligible for a tax-deduction, so be sure to do your homework when deciding to donate a car so you make the most out of your donation.

In this space, we bring you news of the work being done and change being made thanks to your donation dollars. It doesn't matter where in the United States you are located - we can accept donations from anywhere and we can work with you to make it not only a charitable donation, but also a convenient one. We understand that your schedule and your location shouldn't be an impediment to making contributions to those in need nor to your tax-deductions. Contact us and we'll do what we can to make the process simple.

We also typically bring you thank you notes from the kids and families who have received songs from us. Donating a car is donating to the children. Please consider helping.

A big 'Thank You' from Songs of Love!!!

"Thank You" Letters - January 25th, 2011

Today, we'll take a look at a thank you letter that reminds us of why we do what we do every day!. Everyday, we're working hard to keep getting donations, whether they be car donation or donations of time or money, so we can continue to bring joy and smiles to these children who are bravely battling chronic or terminal illness. Together, we can make big changes in the lives of these kids. We hope these letters really illustrate why what we're doing is important and how much of a difference it truly makes. If you have the ability and opportunity to donate, please do. This is the only way we survive as an organization. Something as simple as donating a car - it can make a positive change in the life of a small patient!




To Whom It May Concern;

My name is Keri Messina I am the mother of Nicholas Messina whom you wrote such a beautiful song for. Nicholas was diagnosed with ALL Leukemia when he had just turned 2 and now is three almost four. Nick will complete his treatment in August of '07.

The way that CD makes my son feel when it is played for him cannot be expressed in words. It has put a smile on his face when he has felt miserable. I must also say it makes my two girls feel great also as they are included in the song. The siblings of a sick child are affected so much that it is so important that they feel a part of everything.

You put a smile on all of our faces and music in hearts and our minds at ease for minutes when we listen and dance to his song. You are amazing and that isn't saying enough. You have given a gift to us that I could never repay but I hope you feel the warmth in my heart and know you have made a difference in our lives.

Thank you ever so much.

Keri A. Messina

"Thank You" Letters - January 21st, 2011

We'd like to end the week with something special from the thank you letter vault! 2011 marks 15 years for Songs of Love - 15 years of bringing the Medicine of Music to so many children with the help of your car donations, cash donations and word of mouth. In just a few weeks, we'll also be reaching and celebrating our 22,000th song! Help us keep bringing joy and comfort into the lives of the many children out there who are dealing with chronic or terminal illness. If you can't make a donation today, but know someone else who might be able to (a car donation, cash donation, anything), please spread the word and let them know about our mission. As we've said countless times, we can't do it without you. People like you can make such a difference in these children's lives.






You recently fulfilled a request for a song for my son, Hunter Johnson.  He has received such a list of discouraging news lately (having to leave school which he loves, going for a bone marrow transplant soon, having surgery, etc).  When we received his song and put it on for him to listen to, he smiled for this first time in a long time.  He just couldn't help but smile.  He had me re-play it 4-5 times in that first sitting.  He has learned to love music and to hear his life in song was truely a gift.  I am attaching the photo I took of his uncontainable smile the first time he heard his song.  I think it says it all...pure joy.  Thank you again to everyone involved in producing this smile on his face.  We will take it to the hospital for his transplant and use it to cheer him up during the tough times.
Sincerely,
Heather Johnson, mom to Hunter (9)
Colorado Springs, CO

"Thank You" Letters - January 20th, 2011

Ready for another snowstorm? Here at the Songs of Love offices, we're preparing for yet another snow extravaganza! In the meantime, we have more letters for more children who have received their very own song from us. What we would like more than anything else in the new year is to receive more thank you letters, and there's really only way to do that - that is, we need to get more songs out to more sick children! You can help us in our mission in a few ways - you can participate in our car donation program and spread the word about our program to anyone you know who is looking to donate a car. You can also donate by cash or credit at our secure website. You can also start your own FirstGiving fundraising website by using the link on our page! As we've said before in this space, a car donation can go such a long way in getting songs to even more children out there who are dealing with chronic or life-threatening illnesses. Please take some time today to help us help them.

And on to today's letter of the day!





Hi John
 
Sophie will be sending a big thank you card and note for her wonderful song that you sent her a few weeks ago hopefully very soon.  Please see attached photo.  At the time she received this we were in and out of hospital and this really picked up her spirits she was over the moon with it and it was great to see such a huge smile on her face.  She has entertained many a friends and family with her song and shows.  She is a remarkable little girl never complaining whatever life throws at her and enjoys life to the full and being her mum (I know I am biased) she deserves this song it is so special to her and she loves it!!!!!  She even took it into school to do her show and tell with!!!!
 
A HUGE THANK YOU FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART
 
This is something that Sophie will always treasure.
 
 
Thanks
 
Debbie Ryan
SHOW PRESENTATION SERVICES

"Thank You" Letters - January 18th, 2011

Did you know that today is deemed "the most depressing day of the year" according to some studies? We hope that's not true, but if today is bringing you down, we might have a solution. Some studies also suggest that doing something good for someone else and brightening another person's day brings joy and a sense of well-being into your life. Why not donate a car or make a cash donation today so that we may continue to write personalized songs for sick children all over the world? Any amount will do - every bit goes towards the $250 cost per song. If you need evidence of the impact of the songs, you need look no further than the thank you letter below! We want to continue bringing smiles to these young, brave children. So get rid of the winter blahs and make a car donation or a monetary donation today!




Dear Will-
Just wanted to let you know that we received Evan's "Song of Love" today.  We LOVED it!!!  We played it several times and Evan cracked a little smile every time it got to the part about nitrous and turbo boost.  "Play it again, mom".  We even copied it to his little MP3 player for him.  He really did love it!  You nailed it with those lyrics.  It's almost as if you knew Evan personally.
 
Thank you so much for taking the time to do such a wonderful and meaningful thing for Evan.  You are so generous to have shared your time and talent with us.  It truly was a thoughtful thing you did and we will cherish it forever!  
 
If your band is ever in Ocean City again, I hope to look you up, see you play, and thank you personally.
 
 
Thanks again,
Kim Nickle  (Evan's Mom)

"Thank You" Letters - January 13th, 2011

As our regular readers know, every week, we get thank you letters in the mail and via email from families and the children who have been recipients of their very own song of love. As we are only able to continue doing this, bringing songs to kids through our car donation program and other donations, we continue to share with all of you some of the letters we have received as a note of gratitude to our donors and cheerleaders out there. You can get more information regarding donating your car or vehicle and assisting us in our mission to make a difference in the life of a sick young person by going to our website and clicking on the car donation link!

And now for today's letter!




Hi everyone at Songs of Love--
Our family just received our daughter, Isa's, song of love today in the mail and I must say there were lots of tears all around! We were so completely touched by the song! Please tell Eugene Ruffalo how very much we enjoyed his amazing song! We especially liked the way he correctly pronounced all of the kids names correctly, especially our last name, Mireles! Our daughter, Isa is two and a half, so she doesn't really know what's going on all around her, but receiving such a lovely gift as we did today makes our journey that much easier. Isa has leukemia (ALL) and her prognosis is really good (she is a rapid responder, low risk patient) so we know she will enjoy this song for many, many years to come. Thank you to all of you at Songs of Love. What a wonderful organization. Again, please tell Mr. Ruffalo how touched and honored that he wrote such a beautiful song (and we love that Latin flavor!) Sincerely, The Mireles Family, Rene, Jessica Nora, Leah, Nino and our little angel, Isa

"Thank You" Letters - January 12th, 2011

If you're in the United States, then there's a huge probability this week that your town is covered with snow! Are you tired of the hassle of digging your car out of piles of snow several times each year? Or do you perhaps have an older car and it's time to get something with more power to handle the yearly snow headache? Consider donating your car to Songs of Love! By doing so, you'll reap the tax rewards through a deduction when tax time comes around. By using our car donation program, you'll have a hand in helping us keep writing songs and bringing music to chronically and terminally ill children throughout the United States and throughout the world. Whether you live in Atlanta, Chicago, New York, Los Angeles, Detroit or anywhere else, you can donate! Take a look at what your donation makes possible with the thank you letter of the day!






Dear William Sherry and the Songs of Love Foundation,
My name is Dianna Minikus, the mother of six year old Jared.  Jared has AML Leukemia and has received a song of love from you.  I want to make sure that you realize what a wonderful job you did on it.  For only going by an information sheet you were able to target Jared's personality perfect.  Jared LOVES his song.  He has been so proud to share it with everyone that will listen.  His teachers, doctors, nurses, and his family.  The first time that his two grandpas heard it, it brought tears to both their eyes.  They were very proud that you included them in his song. Jared's favorite part is about his dog Charlie.  I can not express enough how wonderful it is.

Jared is currently in the hospital again with fever and illness.  He just finished his final round of treatment last week.  We are praying for remission at this time.  He doesn't feel the best so he just finished listening to his song again.  It brings a smile to his face  even now.  I would like to get a picture of Jared to you in the future. ( I am not very good on the computer yet )  I would be willing to send one if I could get the correct address.  We would also like to do some type of fundraising for your foundation in the future as well.  So, please don't think that we have forgotten what you have done for us and our son.  It is amazing!  Thank you so much for the time, effort, and sincerity that you put into it.  God bless you.
Sincerely,
Dianna :0)

"Thank You" Letters - January 10th, 2011

The new year is in full swing and we're excited about the prospects in the new year. We're still climbing back after taking a hit from the economy in 2009 and 2010, so we're asking for your donations, as well as your suggestions for new ways to raise funds. As you know from our site, we have a car donation program, as well as our "Raising Funds, Raising Voices" program. Our ultimate goal is to keep doing what we're doing - bringing the healing power of music to sick kids all over the world - for many years to come. We bring these thank you letters to you each week to remind you of the recipients of our songs and of your generous donations. It's really astounding that something as simple as donating a car could have such an impact on the lives of one or many sick children. Please take some time to read all of the letters we've posted to really see how much of a difference you are helping us make. And now, our letter of the day!



**********************************************************
Hi my name is Yolanda Chenier, back in 2006-7 not sure my daughter YELEA BUENO received a song. things in my life were, well, let's just say i never got to taking her picture with her CD and her thank you letter and, well, through the yrs somehow i can't find the mail that came when u first sent her the CD and well she has had a very hard life besides her illness or the fact that she beat the odds and is now a survivor 7 yrs in remissinon of a a vary rare and fatal disease (HLH) Hemophagocytic Lympho Histiocytosis. She is 10 now and when she got her CD she was 6-7 i believe probably heard it non-stop for the first yr and slowly it got put away to keep it safe and well i just reacently i found it and well this yr has been really hard on her emotionally lets just say her biological dad not there and only father she had from 3-9 is no longer in her life not as active and well i put her CD on and words cannot put enough appreaction gratitude or express how amazing it was to see how happyshe looked and so loved when she listened to her song as she sang the words its like all the hurt she feels was not there as she sang along even though it mentions both dads in it and other things that she use to like but its like it just brought her so much joy and well as a mother i ofcourse thougght my poor baby but like her song sa Y-E-L-E-A BUENO BRIGHTNESS UP OUR DAY WITH A TWINKLE IN HER EYE AND THAT SMILE ON HER FACE SHE MAKES THE WORLD A BETTER PLACE! and it is so true so thank you  to all at song of love her song is very very special to her and im so glad that this song will help know that she is just as special if i could still send the pic and a lette from her im sure sh can writte a great thank at 10 to what her song means to her then writtting it at 7 THANK YOU ALL AGAIN AT SONGS OF LOVE THANK YOU!!!!!
                                                                                                      GREATFUL MOTHER

"Thank You" Letters - January 5th, 2011

New year, new goals! Here at Songs of Love, we're hitting the ground running with new endeavors to keep our organization afloat and to keep achieving our constant, ultimate goal - getting songs to children who are chronically or terminally ill throughout the United States and the world. With projects like our car donation program, our "Raising Funds, Raising Voices" program and our regular fundraising efforts, we have been able to keep operating and funding the $250 cost of producing each song. Every song is personalized and unique to each child, bringing joy and comfort at one of the most difficult and trying times in their lives. The song also brings joy to the families of these brave young children. Who knew doing something as simple as donating a car or a few dollars could have such an impact? In order to make it through this year, we need your continued support. Please consider donating today. If you are still debating it, take a look at today's thank you letter to see the impact of these songs in the words of a family who have had their child receive a song.





WOW!  Andrew's song did arrive and it is wonderful.   Andrew lives with type 1 diabetes and has done so since he was 18 months old (he is now 10).  Regardless of our attempts to help him get through life as a typical child ~ it is always hanging over his head.  Through the course of this, even at his tender age, he is dealing with depression and some other mental health issues.  When he heard his song, he had the biggest smile that I've seen him have in a while. 
 
It is obvious that Drew does not live with the same devastating illnesses that so many of the children that you sing for do, but as his mom, I really must express my heartfelt gratitude for the time that you took to do this. 
 
I can't thank you enough for all you do for these children!  Your group of talented artists are amazing people. 
 
Sincerely,
Heather Hancock

Songs of Love" Plays in Puerto Rico!

Songs of Love founder John Beltzer leads some of the residents of St. Germain, Puerto Rico, as they sing on the "song of love" for Carolina Torres.

Britney Vargas, a "songs of love" recipient herself, was so moved after she received her "song of love" back in 2008, that she decided to bring Songs of Love into her home town of Puerto Rico. For the past year she got busy organizing an online fundraiser through the Firstgiving program and raised over $4,000 for the Songs of Love Foundation! Britney then proceeded to organize an event in her home town of St. Germain and raised an additional $3,000! Songs of Love founder, John Beltzer, was invited to join the event at the St. Germain convention center and engaged the guests in the live recording of a "song of love" for 5-year-old cerebral palsy patient Carolina Torres.
(Listen to the song below.)

"Carolina Torres"

Pictured left to right: Fundraiser organizer Britney Vargas, Carolina Torres and John Beltzer.

This is the first official "song of love" in Puerto Rico and will be the first of many as Britney and family will be instrumental in helping the Song of Love Foundation deliver many more "songs of Love" to the children of Puerto Rico. The Songs of Love Foundation thanks Britney and the entire Vargas family for their support and wonderful hospitality!

The stage at the St. Germain, Puerto Rico, convention center is set with signs welcoming Song of Love and Britney Vargas as the Sponsor of the first "song of love" in Puerto Rico!

"Thank You" Letters - January 4th, 2011

Have you made any New Year's resolutions for 2011? Here at Songs of Love, our resolution is to bring the Medicine of Music to even more children and to make it to 2012! Yes, times are still hard and we need your support, from your car donation to your volunteer time to keep doing what we're doing. As with any resolution, you have to make plans and take steps to reach your ultimate goal. What are your goals for 2011 and how will you get there? Ultimately, our goal is to keep the smiles on the many children we reach and to create more songs and wonderful moments for families. Who knew something as simple as donating a car could bring such happy memories and moments as the ones mentioned in the thank you letter we receive?! Take a look at the one below - let's keep bringing this kind of magic this year and in the years to come!







Hi John
 
Sophie will be sending a big thank you card and note for her wonderful song that you sent her a few weeks ago hopefully very soon.  Please see attached photo.  At the time she received this we were in and out of hospital and this really picked up her spirits she was over the moon with it and it was great to see such a huge smile on her face.  She has entertained many a friends and family with her song and shows.  She is a remarkable little girl never complaining whatever life throws at her and enjoys life to the full and being her mum (I know I am biased) she deserves this song it is so special to her and she loves it!!!!!  She even took it into school to do her show and tell with!!!!
 
A HUGE THANK YOU FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART
 
This is something that Sophie will always treasure.
 
 
Thanks
 
Debbie Ryan

"Thank You" Letters - January 3rd, 2011

Happy New Year! The Songs of Love family hopes 2011 is off to an auspicious start for everyone. We want to continue to make life a little brighter for sick children, but we need your help to make their year a great one! If you are interested in car donation, please contact us at our website. You can also give back by making a cash or credit donation at our website. Even a small donation helps us to continue doing positive work for children all over the world. A donated car, a few dollars or even starting a FirstGiving fundraising page goes such a long way in funding more songs. The proof of the impact is in the letters we receive every day saying thank you. As we've said before in this space, the thank you's belong as much to you as to us, because what we do would not be possible without your support.





Dear Steve Schuffert and the everyone at Songs of Love :
 
When we received Josephs Song he was sitting in his chair and had been quiet most of the day. when I put on his Special Song I have rarely seen Joes face light up in such a way. He started to clap his hands and  continually laugh through the entire song. When it ended his face became sad until I played it again and he was so happy
Joe is non verbal and cannot walk independently but this song has brought so much Joy and Happiness to Joe and all of us in his family .
thank you for your love
Chris , Diane and Joseph Pierce