10 Incredible Things that YOU Made Happen: Number 9

Giving the "Gift of Music" 

As Children's Music Fund continues with its annual campaign, we want to reflect on the past year and say "Thank You!" Without your continued support of CMF, we wouldn't be able to serve chronically ill children in and out of the hospital. We will be sharing "10 incredible things..." with a new story each week throughout the campaign, please comment and share!

Number 9: Instrument Donation

This year you were able to bring the healing power of music to children by gifting musical instruments to children with life altering illnesses and chronic conditions. 

Below are some of the instruments that you have gifted to children in need: 

A keyboard went to a 6 year old boy with SMARD (Spinal Muscular Atrophy with Respiratory Distress)  and Charcot-Marie Tooth disease (a peripheral nervous system disorder affecting both his hands and his feet) in Los Angeles. He is using his keyboard to help regulate his breathing, and work on fine motor function in his hands. 

A violin went to a brain cancer survivor in Bakersfield. This 9 year old girl is using the violin to help connect the neurons in her brain to aide her recovery. She is excelling in school and making tremendous progress with music. Her mom writes,

"We are very thankful for Children's Music Fund, we are experiencing a wonderful journey. Esmerelda is greatly motivated and music is now a great part of her development. She is a straight A student and receiving school awards! Children's Music Fund, you guys are amazing!" 

Together we are doing great things!

Click HERE to participate in this year's Annual Fund!

Cancer Care Network Foundation Presents Grant Children's Music Fund

From left to right: Lesley Holmes, Executive Director at CMF
Karine Bagdasarian President and Co-Founder at CCNF, Hilda
Avanessianm, IrmaAcemian, Ari David, Host, and Dr Raffi
Tachdjian, President and Founder of CMF

Children's Music Fund receives Grant to help kids with Cancer

LOS ANGELES, CA (October 2nd, 2015)–On Thursday October 1, 2015, the Children’s Music Fund (http://thecmf.org/) (CMF) held its 7th annual Laughter is Medicine charity event at Improv in Los Angeles, California. The event featured a pre-show reception and included a line up with Sam Tripoli, Thai Rivera, Steve Byrne, and was hosted by Ari David.

The Laughter is Medicine event is one of the primary fundraisers for the CMF, which was established in 2002 by Dr. Raffi Tachdjian, an allergist and pediatric pain specialist. 

“Laughing, like music therapy, releases endorphins, which make us feel good, and relieves pain,” says Raffi Tachdjian, MD, MPH, President and Founder of CMF.  “

During the program, Cancer Care Network Foundation (CCNF) co founder Karine Bagdasarian presented Dr. Raffi Tachdjian,  with a grant for $5000 to provide music therapy to children suffering from various forms of cancer to ease their pain, anxiety and to offer distraction from something other than their illness. 

  

“Research shows that music therapy can have a big impact on children who are hospitalized or suffering from serious illnesses like cancer, Tachdijian added. “It helps them build the confidence and positive attitude they need to get them through their difficult struggle. If you were in the hospital and facing painful procedure, wouldn't it be nice to have a music therapist and your own musical instrument to help you overcome the fear, the pain and the anxiety?" 

About the Children’s Music Fund: 

The Children’s Music Fund (CMF) is a national charity with a mission to provide music therapy and musical instruments to children and young adults with chronic or life-altering illnesses, and to support research on the effects of music therapy.   

About Cancer Care Foundation: The Cancer Care Network Foundation's primary mission is to provide advocacy and resources to eliminate barriers to quality care for patients affected by cancer.  Funds raised will provide financial assistance, complementary support for patients and families currently fighting cancer, as well as support for projects and organizations that provide charitable services to our community in the field of cancer care, education and prevention.