Holtz Children’s Patients to Perform with the Shakey-T Band

Who:

Corey Bergman, founder of the Ukulele Kids Club; Stephanie Epstein, music therapist at Holtz Children’s Hospital; patients from Holtz Children’s Hospital; Carlos A. Migoya, president and CEO of Jackson Health System; Steven Burghart, CEO of Holtz Children’s Hospital; Keith Tribble, CEO of the Jackson Health Foundation; the Shakey-T Band

What:

Corey Bergman’s first introduction to music was at age 10 when he began playing guitar. Soon after, he joined a band and never stopped playing.

As an adult, after suffering a personal tragedy when his son died, Corey decided he wanted to give back to the community – and the best way for him to do that was through music. In January 2014, Corey Bergman and his wife, Edda, founded the Ukelele Kids Club Inc. (UKC), which donates ukuleles to children’s hospitals nationwide for music therapy programs.

In its first year, UKC donated about 500 ukuleles to patients in more than 70 hospitals nationwide – and Corey is on a mission to expand his reach even farther as he continues to receive more donations of the instruments.

The ukuleles are given to sick kids to use in the hospital – and they get to keep them when they leave the hospital. The instruments become a great distraction for kids of all ages as they cope with serious medical conditions like cancer, sickle cell disease, organ failure, etc.

Part of the appeal of the ukulele is that it is small and easy to learn to play, making it a perfect instrument for kids of all ages.

A music therapy program recently began at Holtz Children’s Hospital at the University of Miami/Jackson Memorial Medical Center – and UKC donations have already been a huge hit with pediatric patients and their families. In the last eight months, UKC has donated nearly 40 ukuleles to the Holtz Children’s music therapy program.

On Saturday night, UKC will host a benefit concert to raise money to support the music therapy program at Holtz Children’s and buy additional ukuleles for the hospital. Patients from Holtz will perform on their ukuleles, alongside the Shakey-T Band, a local classic rock band.

The Jackson Health Foundation, the fundraising arm of Jackson Health System, will also be at the event, where they will make a donation of 50 ukuleles to the Holtz Children’s music therapy program.
For more information on the Ukulele Kids Club, visit www.theukc.org.

When:

June 20, 2015, 6:30 p.m.

Where:

Open Stage Club
2325 Galiano Street
Coral Gables, FL 33134

Editor’s Note:

Patients, Holtz Children’s Hospital staff, and UKC founder, Corey Bergman, will be available for interviews.

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Jackson Health System
1611 N.W. 12th Avenue Miami, FL 33136