Resounding Joy enhances the human experience through the therapeutic use of music.
ANNUAL
REPORT
2020
Leadership Message
This past year, as people around the country know so well, has been a very difficult year for everyone. Hundreds of thousands of people lost their lives to COVID-19, millions lost their jobs, multitudes of small businesses and non-profits closed their doors for good or had major disruptions in business. Resounding Joy not only weathered the storm, but also came out stronger as an organization. Our staff and Board of Directors quickly pooled our resources and pivoted to provide our services online as much as possible.
Also, the Board of Directors sought additional funding from the government for a loan through the Payroll Protection Program, which helped us end the year with only a small financial loss. This is substantially less than many non-profit organizations. The loan has been forgiven and we are working on a new, similar loan that is forgiven if used for the appropriate purposes. We had a successful virtual campaign at the end of the year and we thank our supporters so much for their donations to our mission and services.
The Board of Directors has been making substantial changes to our documents (with the help of a great consultant), which will bring us in line with major non-profits and make us more transparent to our supporters.
“I congratulate our board and our staff for their hard work to make us sustainable and ready to focus on 2021!”
Mychelle M. Mowry, DNP
BOARD CHAIR
Centering Racial Equity
Standing Against Injustice
Resounding Joy is devastated by the violence perpetuated by systemic racism against Black Americans. We stand against racism and injustice, and acknowledge the trauma inflicted on people of color, such as the recent attacks on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders.
We have pledged to examine our own biases individually, in our work and in our organizational structure. We pledge to hold a safe space for BIPOC individuals and communities, listen with open hearts, and support however we can. We endeavor to make music therapy sessions a place that validates your voice and rejuvenates your strength. For the times we fall short, we apologize and always strive to do better.
We believe that music connects, uplifts, and heals. We are entrusted with the hearts and minds of our community, and have a responsibility to use this powerful tool for positive change for social good.
Black Lives Matter at Resounding Joy.
After music therapy he slept for 8 hours! He never sleeps for very long. That was amazing!
-RN
About Resounding Joy
Music therapy is often an inaccessible treatment, despite its many proven benefits. Insurance coverage – for those that have it – is spotty at best. Since its inception in 2004, Resounding Joy has metamorphosed into a nonprofit with a full staff of Board Certified music therapists, been featured in national publications, and continues to grow to meet the community’s needs.
2,823
People reached in 2020
TERMS TO KNOW
Music Therapy
Music therapy is a non-invasive treatment that specifically addresses non-musical goals, like reducing depression, improving quality of life, and developing motor skills.
7,665
Contacts
Supportive Music
Supportive music is an interactive music experience with non-clinical goals, such as peer engagement and creative expression. Participating caregivers/family members are included here.
5,734
Contacts
Recreational Music
Recreational music opportunities offer music listening, such as performances or suggested playlists.
1,904
Contacts
Most of Resounding Joy’s clients will feel the effects of their diagnoses throughout their lives, whether it is depression, PTSD, a brain injury, Down’s Syndrome, congenital heart disease, or a rare disease. The team of music therapists strive to transform the health of San Diego County by using music as a therapeutic medium to effectively address physical, emotional, social, and cognitive goals. Music’s unique ability to navigate damaged areas of the brain and transcend verbal communication makes it a powerful tool in the hands of a qualified professional.
Meet our Team
Administration
Semper Sound
Military Music Therapy Program
“I struggle to do what makes me happy, but playing with that song makes me feel pure joy and makes me want to live.”
– Participant, 2/12/20
Pre vs post-session, average client-reported improvement/decrease in:
Semper Sound provided individual and group music therapy to service members and veterans, through both virtual telehealth sessions and in-person (as appropriate) at Naval Medical Center San Diego, the VA Aspire Center, and the San Diego VA Medical Center in La Jolla.
Adaptations & New Programming
01
Healing Notes Changes
Support by The Music Man Foundation
Healing Notes switched to an all-virtual format. Shine & Sing found a national audience through a partnership with GiGi’s Playhouse and also expanded to serve an orphanage in Mexico. Also, the team has changed its terminology to ‘medically resilient’ over ‘medically fragile’ to reflect the remarkable endurance of these children.
02
Semper Sound Reimagined
Support by the California Arts Council
With the temporary restrictions on gatherings, Resounding Joy has switched from a collaborative Semper Sound Band to small group sessions specializing in songwriting, ukulele, freestyle jams, and drum circle-inspired wellness, available virtually to all service members and veterans.
04
Online Fundraising
Supporters like you!
Resounding Joy switched its 9th Annual Heart of a Child Benefit Concert online and, thanks to the support of the community, met its goal to continue to provide music therapy for hospitalized children. The Now More Than Ever campaign this winter also saw great success with almost $60,000 raised!
05
Shine & Sing: Ukulele
Funded by The Music Man Foundation
Resounding Joy expanded its Healing Notes program to serve parents of medically resilient children. Caregivers from across San Diego County learned ukulele for stress relief and developed tools to enrich their child’s life.
“Because of the stress, I pulled my ukulele out more this week. I used it on Zoom breaks with my son, and he even sang with me.” – Parent
Ariana Miller Healing Notes
Pediatric Music Therapy Program
The Ariana Miller Healing Notes Program offers sliding-scale or free music therapy to medically resilient children and their families. Music therapists provide bedside visits to hospitalized children, group music therapy sessions at partner nonprofits, and in-home sessions for those in need.
“Thank you, this was the most amazing. Thank you for giving us a few moments of escaping this place and just being ourselves as a family. That means the world.”
-Parents
After music therapy he slept for 8 hours! He never sleeps for very long. That was amazing!
-RN
Hospital Services
174 Clients | 1,290 Contacts
Clients Reached
Quantity of Services
Music therapists served children and their families in the Cardiovascular Intensive Care Unity (CVICU), Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU), hematology/oncology, and neurology units at Rady Children’s Hospital-San Diego. At the onset of COVID, on-site music therapist access was eliminated, but with the support of an incredible team of nurses, child-life specialists, and other hospital support staff, our music therapist continued to support children through telehealth.
Audio telehealth services not included in services at right due to challenges collecting data.
“You always make sure each patient is calm and that line removals are fast and easy for patients. It makes a world of a difference.”
-Nurse Practitioner
Thanks to all our Heart of a Child Concert donors, event chair Jeff Miller, and the Heart of a Child event committee for making this program possible by raising $68,000 last year!
HomeCare Services
64 Clients | 974 Contacts
Music therapists provided “legacy projects” to five families with children with a terminal diagnosis.
Skills Development: Parent Survey
% that responded ‘Strongly Agree’ or ‘Agree’ that music therapy helped goals
Shine & Sing Group Music Therapy
510 Clients | 4,079 Contacts
With the support of organizations like the Music Man Foundation, we offered these interactive sessions for young children at GiGi’s Playhouse, Epilepsy Foundation, Alcott Elementary, Momentum Tutoring, Spina Bifida San Diego, and in small groups hosted in homes.
- “We absolutely LOVE our Shine and Sing teachers and friends! Keep up the GREAT work!”
“You guys are great! We are very thankful!”
“I love how my son gets excited with this therapy.”
“Being a teacher at Alcott and having the ability to participate has been so wonderful for me and my family. My children really enjoy music class and ask daily if there is class today! Thank you so much for providing this class for everyone to enjoy and learn from!”
“Even though my daughter is on the young side (1-year old) and not able to participate in the entire program, it has still been valuable for her to be exposed to the music, stories, and sounds. Because my daughter has a trach and will be delayed in speaking, particular exercises to make sounds is especially helpful. We are thankful that everyone on the program is so cheerful!”
“Have always loved this class. Love the new songs to integrate current happenings and making it fun.”
“I really like the choice of songs, having repetition and some new songs is great.”
“We love music therapy! Great work by everyone involved and we are so thankful you guys continue to provide these sessions during the pandemic. It has provided us structure and stability in these difficult times.”
“I love all the regular instructors. They’ve become familiar faces in our family.”
“Shine and Sing has been great with getting grandma involved , creating a daily schedule, an opportunity to see other children that are similar.”
“IT HAS BEEN AMAZING! THANK YOU!”
Participation in Shine & Sing increased my child’s overall health and well-being.
Participation in Shine & Sing-Along increased MY overall health and well-being.
Participation in Shine & Sing-Along helped my family to bond.
Overall, I feel that participation in Shine & Sing-Along has helped my child work towards their goals.
I would recommend Shine & Sing-Along to other families.
I use songs and activities from Shine & Sing-Along with my child outside of class times.
Meet Our Donors
SUPERSTARS $10,000+
The Music Man Foundation
Clare Rose Foundation & the Fieldstone Leadership Network San Diego
The Horst Family Foundation
Jeff and Anita Miller
Ami Belli MD/CEO Remo, Inc
$5,000+
$2,500+
SUPPORTING PARTNERS
$1,000+
$500+
$250+
Mark Branning
Ron and Marie Durie
Steven and Amy Epner
Kenneth Fitzgerald
Kerrie Foss
Amoreth Gozo
Darlene Hare
Rob Jacobs and Darlene Katz
Debra Jorgensen
Forsyth Leonard Fund at the Rancho Santa Fe Foundation
Abigail Lower
Donald and Lois Lutz
Delaney Miller
Jonathan Molnar
Robert and Kathy Motschall
Virginia Nelson
Noelle Pederson
Jack and Lori Pivo
Leslie Robb
Royer Corporation
Dan and Jamie Rosenfeld
Sheri and Steven Spector
Rich and Sharon Sylvester
Ed & Kathy Thomas
Woody and Veronica Woodrow