"Thank You" Letters - October 28th, 2010

Thanks to programs like FirstGiving and our car donation program, Songs of Love is reaching children worldwide! Today's letter is from Romania. We're so happy to continue to being music to children all over the United States and all over the world and we need your support to keep writing song, so donate your car (http://www.songsoflove.org/cardonation/), start your own fundraising page here, or donate at our site (https://songsoflove.org/store/donation/)!


Dear John,
 
I thought you might like to have some feedback from the family we worked with in Romania!  They loved the Song!  Great Job!
 
Please share this with Sarah – she is always so wonderful to me when I submit requests for our families!
 
Thank you again!
 
 
Jada Wilson
Child Life Specialist
Cook Children's Medical Center
NICU
682-885-6243

 
Hi Jada,
I got your email off of your facebook page - wanted to send you some pictures of Alexandra receiving her Songs of Love CD but didn't want to post it on facebook.  Her mom was okay with you putting them on the blog if you wanted to.

We went with Lidia (the pediatric nurse) today to deliver her CD.  Alexandra was so excited and wanted to hear it before Lidia put in her I.V. line for some medication she needed.  I asked her if she wanted to open her package of if her mom should do it or Lidia and she said she wanted her mom to open it.  They (her mom and Lidia) loved the packaging with Alexandra's name on it.  Her mom described everything to her and let her touch the outside of the cover, guiding her hand to trace the heart with her name in it.  It was such a gift for all of them, not just Alexandra.  The words were typed on the inside of the jacket cover and as the song played her mother read them with tears in her eyes.  The beautiful part was that it was all in Romanian for Alexandra to understand.  The song caught the essence of Alexandra - it truly is HER song.  The chorus was based around Alexandra's smile (which she is well known for), mentioning her love of pears, her brother Silviu, and her much loved hospice nurse, Lidia.  There was not a dry eye in the house.  I know that even when Alexandra passes away, this song will be a great comfort and memory for her family. Alexandra's mom, Rodica, was really touched by this gesture and mere words cannot describe how she felt.  Her father (Rodica, so it is Alexandra's grandfather - only 50+ years old) was recently diagnosed with cancer.  His was caught too late and the doctors have told him he does not have long to live.  Rodica said he is in his final stages of life now too.  She will not only lose her daughter soon from cancer, but her father as well.  He does not live in or near Oradea so he does not have any hospice care.  Rodica has been so thankful for Emanuel Hospice, especially Lidia's (the pediatric nurse) friendship, guidance, and care for Alexandra.  On behalf of her family and everyone at Emanuel Hospice & Palliative Care, thank you for bringing this special gift in Alexandra's life.  You are a wonderful Child Life specialist and person!  Thanks Jada for making a difference!
Blessings,
Raelene

"Thank You" Letters - October 25th, 2010

This week, we begin a new feature on our blog - the Songs of Love Letter of the Week! Every week, we receive thank you letters from children and families who have received their very own song of love. Since we are able to continue bringing excellent songs to children through our car donation program and other donations, we wanted to share some of the letters we receive as our very own thank you to our supporters. You can find out more about donating your car and making a difference in a sick child's life by checking out our car donation website here!

Here's a thank you letter from Stephanie Hartman for the song we did for both of her children, Caleb and Autumn Hartman!

Thank you so much for the time that you and your songwriters put into creating two unique songs just for my children. They love having a song that is about them and has their name in it. My daughter's face just lit up the moment she heard her name on the cd. She is only 3, but she can read her name and she saw it on the CD case and it is something that is personal and dear to her. I am so thankful for Songs of Love. It truly will make a difference in the lives of many children, as it has already to 20,000 children. Thank you for your thoughtfulness. Every child does matter, even the sick ones.
 
Thanks,
Stephanie Hartman

Mickey James Raises Money and Voices for Songs of Love!

(Pictured left to right): Geoff Smith, Sarah Givens, Mickey James
The Big Bang Bar Corporation collectively raised $10,000 for the Songs of Love Foundation, and celebrated the culmination of three months of fundraising on July 1st, 2010. World Champion Wrestling Star and Country Artist Mickie James, Songs of Love Founder John Beltzer, and Big Bang performer, Geoff Smith led the crowds of all four clubs to sing along to the song that Geoff wrote for 11 year-old cancer patient Sarah Givens.



Mickey James, Geoff Smith and John Beltzer hold up
the Big Bang check presented to the Songs of Love Foundation.


Each club had their own creative ways of raising money and it became a friendly competition to see which Big Bang location would earn the most money for Songs of Love. A special music video of the song with footage from the event is now available here.

Featured Child - Kylie Becker

Ten-year-old cancer patient Kylie Becker received a Song of Love from country artist Nathan Osmond. Kylie’s song was recorded in Santa Monica, CA on May 22nd and delivered to her home in Moreno Valley, CA. You can hear part of Kylie’s song here. Kylie loves country music, scary movies, WWE Wrestling and most of all, her stuffed penguin, Waddles. She has an older brother, Corey, and an older sister, Sarah. She also loves her 2 cats and 2 dogs. She is, as her Mom call her “tiny, but tough!”

Moshe Beltzer, the father of Songs of Love Founder John Beltzer, has recently been diagnosed with stage 4 kidney cancer. He is 84 years old and doing the best he can under the circumstances.

In 1997, Moshe recorded 8 songs in the basement of his house where John had a studio set up. Most of the songs were made famous by Frank Sinatra and a handful by Nat King Cole. Moshe performed the songs in his inimitable style, identified by his charming Romanian accent. Moshe was born in Bucharest, Romania, on November 1, 1925. John and Songs of Love writer Carl Allocco worked out a deal to release the songs on Big Blue Sky Records, Carl's record label. The CD is called "Moshe Beltzer Sings!" and is now available on iTunes - all proceeds will go to the Songs of Love Foundation.

Carl, of course, has waived any royalties that he would normally receive so 100% of the sale of the CD will go to Songs of Love. Moshe loves music and helping children and this collection of songs will be his lasting gift to the world. To purchase the CD please visit www.moshebeltzer.com
Nancy Sinatra says . . . . "Nothing like a belting Beltzer to keep these great songs going. Moshe swings!"

2010 'Swing & Sing' Golf Outing

Join us on September 27th, 2010 for our Annual "Swing and Sing" Charity Golf Outing at the Fox Hollow Golf Club in Branchburg, NJ. The event begins at noon. As always, after the golfers come off the tee, they are invited to become recording artists for a day and sing along on a Song of Love for a sick child! Click here for the registration form.

Featured Songwriter - Will Williams

Since 2007, Will Williams has been using his musical versatility and eclectic style to write fun, uplifting songs for ailing children. Based in Maryland, Will creates music with the principal of keeping the “peace of the earth with the magic of integration that music brings.”

In Will’s words, “It's the only language I feel I can pour my whole heart out with. I appreciate all genres of music and consider that to be an essential recipe for depth in any one genre. With this concept, I share my life's interpretation of all good things in the form of music for my heart that translates into my gift for others.” Indeed, Will has shared that gift with over 150 children and continues to do so in many different genres. We’d like to thank Will for bringing the musical magic to Songs of Love!