Its hard being a child. However, its harder to live in underprivilaged circumstances and remain a child. Underprivilaged children dont have the same oppertunities as families who are well off. Strings With Wings, Inc. wants to give underprivilaged children or at risk youth an oppertunity to learn music. By allowing at risk youth to learn music, we give them a chance to transcend their circumstances and open a door to a brighter future. In Saltillo, Mexico -- I saw poverty, like I've never seen before. I saw how these children didnt have proper clothing, hygene and often didnt get a meal everyday. I was overwhelmed with compassion -- no one should have to live like that. So I wanted to do -anything- that could help. So I decided I would bring the power of music. You see in Mexico the government doesnt have programs for the underprivilaged. There are no Salvation Army Centers, Good Will, or food shelters. Seeing this I wanted to give some children a good outlet that could help them in the future, if they continued to work hard at it. So I was set on bring the gift of music, I wanted them to learn how to play. So, Violin was the instrument I chose. I chose it because I play the violin and I would be able to teach them.

Music is a very important part of my life. It has personally helped me cope with Hurricane Katrina, my aboulitas death and many other obstacles that have come into my life. I have seen the power of music and how it can change an individual's life. It has also helped me academically. I have never been good at math and having dyslexia doesnt help. Amazing enough, music actually helps children academically. "Experimental research performed with 8- to 11-year-old children with reading problems found that the reading skills of children who received music instruction (n = 6) were significantly higher than those of children who did not receive the instruction (n = 6) (Douglas & Willatts, 1994)." Music is such a positive outlit for children and adults. It has an amazing power to make an individual feel self-worth while also learning values like intergety, perseverance, determination etc. I want to share the power of music with at risk children and youth.

To accomplish my project I set many goals. My first goal was to find ten violins and other necessary musical equipment. My second goal was to organize a group and plan for the three week music camp. My third goal was to raise enough money to fund all equipment needed to run the music camp, puppet workshop; as well as transportation, food, and lodging for the group. Once in Mexico my final goal was to locate and hire a violin instructor for the children upon my departure. It took a full year of fundraising, advertising, grant writing and public speaking to meet those goals. I spoke at many events such as Dreams Show; a benefit performance for Lynn Meadows Discovery Center and Symphony Rocks; an educational performance presented by Gulf Coast Symphony Youth Orchestra. In Addition, I volunteered to perform at many community functions such as Negrotto’s Art Gallery where I was given the opportunity to network and educate others about my mission. I wrote to Shar Music requesting a donation of 10 retired violins. These violins were donated then painted by local artists, many of who are nationally recognized and auctioned at events such as Dreams Show and the Wine Pairing Benefit Dinner. My main fundraiser was a wine pairing dinner with silent auction, featuring young musicians as well as a stringed quartet from a local middle school. This event was advertised on a local news station WLOX. The dinner featured the Gulf Coast Symphony Executive Director, as master of ceremonies for the evening. The benefit dinner raised $6,000.00. My original fundraising goal was $12,000.00; however, we raised a total of $18,000.00 by the end of June. One thing that played a big role in spreading the name of Strings With Wings, Inc. was the fact that I won a national grant. Strings With Wings was awarded the DoSomething: Take Action Grant – A national grant of which 10 recipients were given funding for their project. Afterward, Strings With Wings appeared in many publications such as the Sunherald News Paper, Wonka Vision magazine, RedeFine magazine, Beach Blvd magazine and South Mississippi Living magazine educating readers about this project. Upon my return, I work with a local attorney to make Strings With Wings an incorporated business. I have also identified and recruited a 13 member teen board, 12 member Advisory board and a 8 member Executive board. I sit as the president of the Strings With Wings Executive Board. Once a month I create an agenda, lead a meeting, set new goals and plan future events. Strings With Wings Teen board members are young men and women thirteen years of age and older from across the Mississippi Gulf Coast who show extraordinary leadership skills and are devoted to helping children. Advisory and Executive board members include local business leaders and community leaders who have agreed to volunteer his/her time over the next year to help Strings With Wings reach its full potential.

Please consider helping me provide a once in a lifetime experience to underprivilaged children. You can help by informing other people on our mission. Another way you can help is by running an instrument drive at your school or college. If you are interested in helping us please leave a comment and feel free to contact me at cuukiesncream@gmail.com or facebook.