Children’s Music Fund hosts ‘Laughter is Medicine’ 8: CMF in CHOC

Irvine, CA (January 19th, 201)–On Monday, January 25th, the Children’s Music Fund (http://thecmf.org/) (CMF) will hold its 8th annual Laughter is Medicine charity event at the Improv in the Irvine Spectrum Center in Irvine,  California. The event will feature comedians Eric Schwartz and Debi Gutierrez.

Eric Schwartz (also known as "Smooth-E") is an American comedian, musician, and actor from Thousand Oaks, California known for his energetic blend of stand-up comedy, music, and video. Eric's viral videos and parodies have earned him international media attention and he has been featured on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, Showtime, BET, TMZ, and The Huffington Post.

Besides her many television appearances, Debi Gutierrez is best known for being an explosively funny comedian who takes her audiences on a high-energy, heart-warming roller coaster ride through the perils and delights of life, relationships and marriage.

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 relieving pain and anxiety,” says Raffi Tachdjian, MD, MPH, President and Founder of CMF.”

Last year, CMF teamed up with Children’s Hospital Orange County (CHOC)  to bring a Board Certified Music Therapist into the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) to help these tiny babies leave the NICU faster.

"Premature babies respond amazingly well to positive stimuli. These include a parent's voice, rhythmic and soft melodic music, and human touch. These are all things that Music Therapy can provide", says Dr. Raffi Tachdjian.

The event is sponsored by Aire Medical, ACap Asset Management, Axelacare, and MedicoRX

Proceeds from Laughter is Medicine 8 will go to the continued support for Music Therapy in the NICU at CHOC. Tickets can be purchased here: http://bit.ly/1ZwYJwf

 

10 Incredible Things that You Made Happen!

Children's Hospital Orange County

As the Children's Music Fund kicks off 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 10:

One area that we have been able to make tremendous progress is in the Neo-Natal Intensive Care Unit at Children's Hospital Orange County (CHOC)

Here's what CHOC, has to say about CMF!

I would love to share why we are so grateful for the Children's Music Fund.
The impact of music therapy on our NICU has been immeasurable!  Thanks to this incredible gift we are able to create both stimulating and relaxing moments, both of which help our tiny babies heal.  This new intervention also educates our medical staff on the value and impacts of therapeutic supports for premature patients.  The staff also benefit from not only knowing their patients are being cared for in such a special manner, but also by feeling the difference music makes on their professional day.

Stephanie DeMello, MS, CCLS
Child Life Manager
CHOC Children's Hospital

Together we are doing great things!

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

Children's Music Fund Expands Services in Children's Hospital Orange County

Orange, CA (June 2015) – Children’s Music Fund (CMF) expanded music therapy services into another hospital this month (Children’s Hospital Orange County) in order to serve the tiniest of patients in need of the healing power of music.  For two hours a week, a CMF Board Certified Music Therapist with specialty certification in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU), will provide music therapy to infants to help with their healing needs.

Two of the instruments used in the NICU are the REMO Ocean Disc, meant to replicate the whooshing sounds of the uterus, and the Gato Box, which the therapist can play to provide rhythm to mimic and regulate the infants’ breathing or heart rate.  CMF Chairman of the Board, Ara Oghoorian, CFA, CFP® adds, “As these little warriors fight for their lives, music will give them a peaceful space to fight on.”

“Premature babies respond amazingly well to positive stimuli. These include a parent’s voice, rhythmic and soft melodic music, and human touch. These are all things music therapy can provide,” says CMF founder and President Dr. Raffi Tachdjian. “At CMF, we help bring music into the hospital.”

About Children’s Music Fund
CMF is a Los Angeles based 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization whose mission is to provide musical instruments and music therapy to infants, children, adolescents, and young adults with chronic conditions and life-altering illnesses and to support research on the medical benefits of music therapy. CMF was established in 2002 by Dr. Raffi Tachdjian, an allergist and former director of the pediatric pain clinic at David Geffen School of medicine at UCLA. Research shows that music therapy can help lesson the burden of pain, sadness, anxiety and loneliness, and create opportunities for self-expression and social communication. CMF currently provides music therapy in eight hospitals, and in 2015 has provided services and instruments to over 750 children.

Contact: Lesley Holmes, Executive Director

(310) 428-0589 www.thecmf.org Lesley@thecmf.org