Resounding Joy gets $8000 grant

Resounding Joy Inc., a nonprofit group that uses music to help adults and children with special needs, has been awarded an $8,002 grant, its director announced this week.
 
Barbara Reuer, a music therapist who heads the agency based in Carmel Valley, said the money from Las Patronas will help purchase musical instruments and a CD/DVD burner.  They will be used to support the Sound Minds program, an early intervention program for children up to 3 years old of teen parents.
 
Resounding Joy uses music to promote the emotional, mental, physical and spiritual well-being of people throughout the county, from nursing home residents, elder day-care clients and infants of teen parents to homeless people and AIDS and HIV patients.
 
It trains a network of volunteers in the principles of music therapy and helps out at many faith-based and community-based organizations, including the Encinitas Nursing & Rehabilitation Center, Redwood Elderlink in Escondido, and the Third Avenue Charitable Organization and Mark Twain High School in San Diego.

Volunteers use drumming, singing, percussion and rhythm to help reduce stress, improve physical fitness, encourage self-expression and foster camaraderie of those in need.

Las Patronas is an all-volunteer, philanthropic organization that gives financial assistance to nonprofit organizations that provide valuable services in health, education, social services and cultural arts. Since its inception in 1946, it has donated more than $12 million to more than a thousand charitable institutions in San Diego County.

For information about Resounding Joy, or to volunteer, go to http://www.resoundingjoyinc.org or contact Resounding Joy at (866) 800-0197. 

By: Ron Ham