Roshan and Stephanie Epstein, Music Therapist at Holtz Children’s Hospital in MIami, FL
The Ukulele Kids Club
We seek to improve the well-being of medically fragile children. Through ukuleles and the support of music therapy, we give the gift of music for life.
Luthiers for a Cause chose The Ukulele Kids Club to be the recipient of all fundraising efforts after extensive research. The initial goal was to find a non-profit whose mission touched on music AND it had to be an organization that was making a measurable and meaningful difference. The UKC exceeded all of our expectations. Now, over five years later, we are even more dedicated to, and excited by, all of the great work The UKC is doing. The Ukulele Kids Club is a 501(c)3 non-profit whose mission is to harness the healing power of music by sending hospitalized children home with their very own ukulele and the gift of music for life. The work they do and the lives they touch are truly amazing. Luthiers for a Cause hopes to raise both dollars and awareness to help this organization reach more children and families in need.
“Ukuleles are small, but their impact is large. I’m so happy and grateful for my ukulele. I keep it near me at all times, and every time I improve I feel so accomplished. Thank you so much for this opportunity, I never thought I’d ever learn to play an instrument. It relieves my stress, makes me feel good, and makes me feel talented. Thank you for your generosity and for helping me get out of my funk. I am truly grateful.”
Is the UKC making a difference? You bet!
Over 267 sites now benefit from the UKC’s programs and the list of sites wanting to join keeps growing.
11,647 kids have been helped to date!
Jared Bergman Fellowships spotlight the need for more certified music therapists in pediatric hospital settings
The UKC at Home program offers FREE access to classes, tutorials and resources beyond the pediatric hospital setting.
Learn more about The Ukulele Kids Club
Visit The Ukulele Kids Club: How Can You Help?
How it all began …
In 2013, Corey Bergman, a life-long musician, began volunteering at local hospitals in Miami, Florida as a way of coping with the tragic loss of his son, Jared. As he played guitar for young patients and their families, he says, “I could plainly see that the act of listening to and playing music, and holding an instrument, has a deep positive effect on a child. All the anxiety and fear of the hospital just fades away and this kid becomes a kid again.
Then, two developments quickly brought the future UKC sharply into focus. First, Corey connected with music therapists at Miami Children’s Hospital, Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital and others, and gained exposure to the field of music therapy. Through music therapy, certified professionals help patients use music to achieve clinical goals, which in the case of young children might include lowering anxiety and stress, improving vital signs, and a multitude of other results. Second, the simplicity and small size of the ukulele made it seem like the ideal vehicle for music therapy with even the smallest patients.
In 2014, Corey and his wife Edda incorporated the UKC. Its mission was, and remains, to support music therapy for hospitalized children, by giving children a ukulele to use during their hospital stay, and to keep when they go home. Each year, the UKC delivers thousands of ukuleles, to a growing network of more than 200 hospitals in the U.S. and in North America, Europe and Asia.
“I feel relaxed when I play the ukulele, like nothing really matters. You just play and have fun and keep practicing and then as you get better, you feel more accomplished.”
