Today we’d like to introduce you to Julie Guy and Angela Neve.
So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
Banding Together was founded in 2009 as a result of seeing a need in the community for funding for music therapy programs. Families would come to us saying that music was really effective for their child but they were unable to afford services because they are burdened by the costs required to care for individuals with special needs. After years of trying to help families find alternate funding sources (e.g. insurance or state funding), we decided to start a nonprofit to meet this need. Banding Together is a grassroots organization that wouldn’t be where it is today without supporters who believe in our mission: to bring unique music opportunities to individuals with special needs in our community. This is accomplished through key objectives that include providing music therapy scholarships and free programs such as Jam Sessions.
Our organization is unique in that it was founded by music therapists to make music therapy services more accessible to the greater San Diego community. Families that we worked with were frustrated that even while they knew music was motivating, successful and rewarding for their loved ones, they were unable to pay for music therapy services out of pocket due to being financially overburdened with the health care and therapy costs of raising a child with special needs. We tried to helping families access state funding and insurance coverage without success. To provide more access to music therapy services, we knew that founding a nonprofit was essential to make this a reality for the families in our community.
The number of teens and young adults with special needs is on the rise increasing by 28,000 in the last 10 years in California alone.
Funding for students with special needs has been cut and there are limited opportunities for meaningful recreational programs. This is an underserved population in our community. Jam Sessions was created out of the need to bridge this gap. Grant funding, community support and full Jam Session locations are what have led to the expansion of this program from one site to three.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
The road has been an exciting one with many twists and turns. As with most small grassroots nonprofits, funding is always a challenge.
There is the constant push and pull of securing or raising funds to get to the next level (paid staff position, space, etc.). However, seeing the results and the smiles and joy that our programs bring to individuals with special needs fuels our passion.
Alright – so let’s talk business. Tell us about Banding Together – what should we know?
Banding Together is a 501c3 that provides music opportunities to individuals with special needs. We accomplish this through providing free music therapy programs and scholarships to the special needs community.
Banding Together provides 6-month scholarships for music therapy or adapted lessons and camp scholarships for individuals with special needs. To date we have awarded 134 scholarships totaling $72,453. Scholarships are awarded twice a year (February and August). Families can contact us for application information.
One of our most popular programs is the Jam Session program. Several characteristics make this program an innovative, unique and effective program having multiple tangible benefits for the community. The use of a “rock band” format to target social skills, a standardized approach, mentors, and the motivation level of participants are some of the things that make it distinctive.
This program is the first of its kind to provide group music-making experiences with mentors who can help individuals with special needs improve their social skills. Youth with special grow up in settings that limit their social interactions, promote dependency, and have few opportunities to interact with “typically-developing” peers. Social skills are critical for all individuals to develop successful emotional, cognitive, and vocational development. The tangible benefit of this program is to help individuals with special needs develop life-long social skills and friendships. The use of music in this program is significant because it provides a “normalized” social experience for individuals who have been in therapy for most of their life. While structured and systematic, many participants have reported that Jam Sessions are one of their favorite groups to come to each week. The intrinsic motivation of being a part of a group “rock band” is another key element that makes this program unique.
Another program that we offer is SoundCheck Jams. This unique program, provided in partnership with Surfdog Records, gives individuals with special needs the opportunity to shine onstage during a nationally touring band’s sound check at a local music venue.
We are most proud of the impact that we have made on our local community. To date we have awarded 134 scholarships totaling $72,453.
Additionally, we have hosted 154 Jam Sessions across 3 San Diego locations (north, central and east county). Jam Sessions have served over 400 individuals with special needs and trained over 250 volunteers since 2012. A significant highlight was that in 2016, in collaboration with community partner Surfdog Records, Grammy Award winning musician Jason Mraz came as a guest musician for one of our Jam Sessions. He surprised all of our Jam Session mentors and volunteers and it was definitely a magical night for all who were there. Another highlight has been the eight SoundCheck Jams we have done in partnership with Surfdog Records, serving approximately 24 touring musicians and 50 individuals with special needs. Past participants have included Dan Hicks & The Hot Licks, The English Beat, Elvin Bishop, Michael Franti and Shaun White (Olympic gold medalist and guitarist) and Grammy award winner Ziggy Marley. More than 150 professional musicians have participated in our programs and fundraisers.
Any shoutouts? Who else deserves credit in this story – who has played a meaningful role?
We have had so many champions along the way. One of the most influential supporters we have had from the very beginning is Andrea Moriarty. As a parent of a young adult with autism, she saw first hand the benefit that music therapy had on her son. As a founding board member, she was instrumental in helping us get our nonprofit up and running and has been an advocate for music therapy. Dave Kaplan, founder of the SoundCheck Jam program, has also been a long-time supporter of Banding Together. He and his team at Surfdog records have supported our cause through volunteering and sponsorship and have been awarded a Community Partner Award. Christ Presbyterian Church, Fletcher Hills Presbyterian Church, Point Loma Nazarene University School of Education, and Teri, Inc. have partnered with us to provide space for our Jam Session program. San Diego Association of Health Underwriters, recipient of a 2017 Community Partner award, who has provided significant support for Banding Together since 2014. Volunteers who have significantly contributed to our mission include, and recipients of a volunteer award, Lisa Hightower-Kibbe, Molly White and Darryn Kelly. Steph Johnson, Veronica May and Tolan Shaw have all received Artist Ambassador Awards for their support of our programs.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.bandingtogethersd.org
- Phone: 6192991411
- Email: bandingtogethersd@gmail.com
- Instagram: @banding_together
- Facebook: @bandingtogethersd
- Twitter: @bandingtogethe2
Image Credit:
Chuck Lapinsky
Katie Gardner Photography
Molly White
Evoke Emotion Photography
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