[Harp-L] Gary Allegretto & Harmonikids - Katrina Children's Benefit

[BassHarp <bassharp@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Gary Allegretto, a former Los Angeles firefighter, has long been a 
champion to the children, especially those
in need.

Harmonikids Press Release -

Harmonikids to Provide Music Therapy to Children Evacuated from New 
Orleans in Katrina Aftermath

November 15, 2005 Los Angeles, CA - On December 10 and 11 musician Gary 
Allegretto will be providing
music therapy to hundreds of children of families evacuated from the 
disaster areas of Hurricane Katrina.
The unique sessions will take place at Renaissance Village, the largest 
of the group-style trailer villages
created for evacuees by FEMA in Baker, Louisiana. Allegretto, an award 
winning and internationally
acclaimed Blues harmonica player, will begin the sessions by first 
entertaining the children with a
captivating and fun performance. New harmonicas will then be distributed 
and the children will learn to
play positive and uplifting songs, including the Louisiana State Song, 
"You Are My Sunshine".

Allegretto is the founding director of Harmonikids, a 501(c)3 non-profit 
organization that provides the
therapeutic and healing power of music to special-needs children 
worldwide. In unique and entertaining
programs, Harmonikids gives children new harmonicas and teaches them to 
play simple songs through fun
and gentle instruction. Through the portable and child-friendly 
harmonica, kids are given the lasting gift of
music, which provides self-confidence, achievement, creativity, and 
self-expression. For over 10 years
Harmonikids has reached out to children with incredible physical and 
emotional challenges from conditions
including but not limited to post traumatic stress, cerebral palsy, and 
terminal cancer. Harmonikids regularly
visits facilities ranging from children’s hospitals, Ronald McDonald 
Houses, burn recovery centers, and
orphanages. Earlier this year, Allegretto took 1000 harmonicas to the 
refugee camps and orphanages of
North Sumatra where he effectively raised the spirits of children 
severely traumatized by the Tsunami.

In Allegretto’s words, “Children respond immediately and joyously to the 
gift of creating music on a
harmonica. Beyond the therapeutic stress relieving benefits, I have seen 
music replenish self-esteem,
confidence, hope and joy into children’s lives. I look forward to this 
unique opportunity to assist these
children who have had to endure so much through this terrible disaster.”

Website: http://www.harmonikids.com

--
BassHarp
PO Box 5061
Hudson, FL 34674-5061
http://www.bassharp.com/bh_itin.htm