13th Annual Songs of Love 'Swing and Sing' Golf Outing Makes a Little Girl Smile!
On tuesday October 11, 2011, Songs of Love held its 13th Annual 'Swing and Sing' golf outing at the Preakness Hills Country Club in Wayne, NJ. Special guests included iconic Rock and Roll DJ Ken Dashow of NY's Q104.3 and actor Jack Mulcahy featured in The Brothers McMullen and Sex in the City. Over 100 golfers sang on a "song of love" for 7-year-old Jada Carter who is battling a brain tumor. This was one of over 22,000 "songs of love" delivered for as many children across American and the world. Special thanks to Gary Rosen and Bruce Rothbard for organizing an outstanding event. Click here to see the golf outing video with Jada's "song of love".
(Pictured from left to right) - Jack Mulcahy, Ken Dashow, Gary Rosen, Bruce Rothbard, John Beltzer.

Featured Child - Jada Carter
Jada is as brave as any little girl can be. She is 7-years-old who is battling a brain tumor. We were able to present her Song of Love at our 13th Annual 'Swing and Sing' Golf Outing. Here she is as happy as can be with her "song of love" and proud dad.

Featured Songwriter - Ayla Brown
After covering a story on Songs of Love for the CBS Early Show as their part-time corespondent, Ayla Brown agreed to be a spokesperson for the Songs of Love Foundation to help bring more awareness and funding. During the segment, Ayla also recorded a "song of love" for 6 year old Hannah Lowe. She recently recorded another "song of love" for Collin Lecey. As our spokesperson, Ayla Brown has joined forces with WS Development and The Shoppes at Blackstone Valley in Millbury, MA to help raise funds and voices for The Songs of Love Foundation through the shopping center's Teen Correspondent program, an online silent auction slated for Feb 2012, and a very special event to celebrate Songs of Love on April 29,2012 at The Shoppes at Blackstone Valley's Cinema de Lux Theatre. The silent auction will offer rare autographed memorabilia interesting items and unique experiences and will be accessible to all across the country. The April event will be hosted by Ayla Brown and feature an opportunity to record a Song of Love with both Ayla Brown and Bob McGrath of Sesame Street, live music and so much more!


Featured New Songwriter - Eric Diton
Eric is our newest Songs of Love songwriter who wrote and recorded a "song of love" for 6-year-old Wilms tumor patient Cannon McKee. Eric was born on September 30, 1963 in Huntington, NY. Played keyboards and sang in a band in High School. Also played in a band called Six Degrees North who were creating classic rock. Eric is famous for his rendition of Disco Inferno. He has sang this at many Bar Mitzvahs and Weddings. He is married to Lori Diton for 23 years. He refers to her as "The most beautiful woman I ever met". Eric has two children Alyssa and Adam. Eric has a BS in Economics from The Wharton School of Business and an MBA from Columbia University. Currently Eric is Senior Vice President and Financial Advisor at Morgan Stanley Smith Barney in Melville, NY. His credo in life is "It's All Good." as he hangs this on top of his front door. Combining his love for music and his love for children in Songs of Love he feels " is a phenomenal opportunity. I believe in the healing power of music". Songs of Love welcomes Eric to our symphony of love! Click here to hear his song!

Car Donation - Have an old car you don't need?
Donate it to Songs of Love and receive a tax deduction for your donation! The proceeds from the donated car will help us to continue bringing smiles to the faces of sick children by providing them with their own "song of love". You can donate online at www.songsoflove.org/cardonation or call 888-909-SONG. Do it before the year is up! Donate now!

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.