I really thought I might write about our new Conversation Corps-Nepal program in this post. But something happened on the way to the computer.
My 10 year old son is playing the sax in the school band. We went to the Madison Music Center, very near where we live, and I was surprised by what I found there. It's where Operation:Music Aid was founded…and the current headquarters.
George Hauer is the owner of the Madison Music Center. He's 71 years old and works 7 days a week. The company is set back in an industrial park, actually, and while not hard to find…you have to be looking. George is an amazing character and he not only supplies musical instruments along the Shoreline of CT but he's the co-founder of Operation: Music Aid.
Operation: Music Aid was founded to supply guitars and keyboards to wounded military service personnel now in military hospitals for extended care. They supply the instruments to the hospitals and they are distributed as needed to assist in physical and psychological rehabilitation, as well as for morale. Their goal is to get an instrument to every one of our service men and women who have been injured while on assignment. All the instruments received at the hospitals become the property of the individual patients.
Walking around George's music store is like walking around the Hard Rock Cafe without the loud music and videos. Signed photos and musical instruments adorn the walls from supporters like David Crosby, Graham Nash, Jane Fonda, Petula Clark, American Idol's Katharine McPhee and others.
If you're in the area, stop by and meet George. Or check out Operation: Music Aid's website or simply email them for more information. The first person who donates $100 to Operation Music Aid will receive a FREE Operation Music Aid T-Shirt. On top of that, GeoVisions will match your gift up to $100 and we'll toss in a FREE
Conversation Corps or Conversation Partner T-Shirt.
Simply leave a comment below and let us know your name. When we hear from Operation: Music Aid that they have received your donation, we'll send out both shirts to you. Be sure you email us at programs@geovisions.org so we can get your shipping address.
We also hope you will use the comment box below to tell us about volunteer organizations you know of locally, who are making a huge difference in people's lives.