For the past couple of months we have formed an amazing connection with Teddy Bear Cancer Foundation. They advocate for families living in Santa Barbara, Ventura, and San Luis Obispo counties that have a child with cancer by providing financial, educational, and emotional support. One of Teddy Bear’s values is the commitment to cultivating an institutional culture based on health and wellness, which really inspired our partnership in healing through music. We have donated six ukuleles to three families with children battling cancer along with providing free, weekly Zoom ukulele lessons. They ukuleles range in colors depending on personal preference - blue, purple, pink, etc. It has been such an honor getting to meet and bond with the children and their siblings as well as teaching them the invaluable skill and joy of learning a musical instrument! It has been the brightest way to enter winter by learning holiday songs and theme songs from their favorite TV shows and movies (like Spongebob and Spiderman). Everyone at Teddy Bear has been so loving and generous with their time and loving attention to us at Hearstringz and the children they work with. Thank you Teddy Bear!

You can learn more about them at their website here: https://www.teddybearcancerfoundation.org/