I have been a performing artist with TAFFY for over a dozen years and have had some of the most satisfying experiences of my career working with the organization. They do so much good in the World by providing musical and artistic outreach to children and those families that truly need support. TAFFY is professional, committed and, most of all, compassionate. Singcerely, Dan Crow.
Taffy Presents has been an invaluable resource to our school over the years and we are so grateful for them! They make it possible for our students to receive high quality art enrichment that would not otherwise be available to us. Our students have unique needs and Taffy does an excellent job of finding programming for them that is of high interest and meets them at their level. Taffy works hard to find programs that are just right for us and works even harder to secure the funding for these programs! The programs they have brought in over the years have excited and inspired our students, not to mention created beautiful murals throughout the building! Without their assistance we would not have been able to offer so much to our students- Thank you TAFFY PRESENTS for all of your hard work and dedication to our students' needs!
Wow, TAFFY PRESENTS- DELIVERS! We've had the most fantastic experiences with the variety of performances over the last few years. From storytelling, to drumming events, to a talented ventriloquist to various vocalists- our in person or virtual experiences have all been outstanding! Thank you TAFFY PRESENTS for helping our students (and staff) enjoy so many musical experiences.
TAFFY does such great work, bringing wonderful music & art programs to underserved children! It has been my pleasure to perform for TAFFY at children's hospitals, at schools for children with special needs, at a homeless shelter (for children and caregivers), and at schools who otherwise would not have the budget for outside performers.
Seeing the smiles on children's faces, and bringing joy to educators and caregivers is such a gift! There is nothing like being able to help a sick child and their family members have joyful moments during such a highly stressful time. In fact, scientific studies have shown that music has real, measurable, physical benefits, including reduction of stress and pain. Plus, playing for an audience of students who are clapping or singing along as they learn about science, infusing more fun into their experience with science and perhaps inspiring a student to learn something new, is an honor. It's a treat to be able to create these happy moments, bringing positive energy to all of these TAFFY clients, and to know that we are doing important work with every TAFFY visit.
When you support TAFFY, it means you are providing very deserving clients with quality artistic programming that creates lifelong memories! At the same time you are supporting the artists whose creativity and talent makes this work so special.
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Marsha Goodman-Wood leads Marsha and the Positrons, award-winning Washington, DC-based kindie (kids +indie) band that specializes in fun, clever songs about science and how the world works with positive social messages! (www.marshaandthepositrons.com)
Theater Arts Festival for Youth (TAFFY Presents) is an amazing organization. They have made it possible for the young resident at Shelter House to explore a variety of art mediums during the height of the pandemic. We have had a long-standing relationship with TAFFY and they have continued to impress and deliver the most amazing art related activities and workshops. During the Pandemic they were able to continue providing the highest quality of programming through online activities.
Irene is an outstanding standing partner to have. She is dedicated and committed to introducing youth to the world of art. Shelter House is proud to be a partner to such an amazing person and organization. Thank you, TAFFY!
TAFFY provided funds for students at the Maryland School for the Blind, as well as blind students from other area high schools to take part in a workshop designed to encourage self-advocacy - to help them express their needs to the sighted world. The art of songwriting was selected because music frees the mind to speak the truth. The results were stunning and a CD was produced that the Maryland School for the Blind (or any other school for the blind) can use for fundraising. TAFFY brought musicians, engineers, artists, and performers across the country together to take part in the composition of melodies and arrangements for the songs on a volunteer basis. TAFFY also gave these students the opportunity to enter a recording studio to work on the CD. It seems to me that every $1 donated to TAFFY ends up providinf $10 worth of musical or other arts enrichment to children in need.
TAFFY has sent this writer (Val Smalkin - ventriloquist/composer/educator) into hospitals to cheer children, parents, as well as staff, and into underserved schools to augment lessons in kindness, sharing, and community. The office of TAFFY runs at a very low and efficient cost. No one is getting rich from this non-profit! It is a work of love.
This small but mighty organization puts music and live performance into the lives of children. Their artists serve kids in hospitals, schools and community groups, providing education and entertainment -- and in many cases helping children discover their own creative potential. TAFFY serves an important role in proving arts experiences to children at a time when funding for the arts is so limited. It's a joy to see the smiles and engagement of the children served by these programs.
I'm proud to be a TAFFY Board member, and I hope their work continues to grow.
Theatre Arts Festival for Youth aka Taffy Presents is nothing short of a God-send. This is an organization that is run by a non-stop band of angels and I was corralled into the fold as a willing recruit who innocently asked ‘what can I do to help?’ I had barely finished the sentence when I was asked to have my children’s choir supply the voices for a song written by The Maryland School for the Blind’s group of student songwriters!
This was a tough assignment – especially because we were 3000 miles away and in need of a studio. In no time, we were set up with another Taffy volunteer who not only got us a makeshift place to record (not so easy with 25 kids!) but also an engineer to work the controls.
In record time, the song was heard by the blind students who had written it, and a bond was formed that will never be broken. And all of this was through the efforts of one of my best pals, Irene Light, who I still have never met in person!
SO! The advice from this side of the country is: HELP TAFFY DO WHAT THEY DO BEST – and that is the constant work they do in order to bring creative arts into the lives of well-deserved and often under-served kids.
Barbara Silberg, Director
The West Los Angeles Children’s Choir
I work at one of the hospitals that TAFFY presents serves and the kids absolutely LOVE the artists and performers that that come by to see them through this wonderful organization. Irene is incredibly responsive via email and all visits are well coordinated and run smoothly. The artists themselves are all very sensitive to the hospital environment and respectfully defer to the nurses and child life staff about what kinds of limitations (including infection control measures) the children need and are able to work within those boundaries to create a meaningful experience for each child, regardless of their illness. It is so wonderful to see the smiles on the faces of our patients whenever someone from TAFFY presents comes through the pediatric unit. Even though the Pandemic (and associated hospital visitor restrictions) has put our visits with TAFFY on hold, Irene continues to check in with us via email for updates about when they can return and is always looking for ways they can do virtual visits or otherwise continue to bring joy to our youngest patients during this very challenging time. Thank you TAFFY for all you do!
TAFFY Presents has been making it possible for me to bring art projects to schools and shelters for the last 5 years. The students and staff at these facilities are most appreciative of the art sessions that I lead, and the good folks at TAFFY are so supportive as well. I am so grateful for this opportunity to share what I love with those who may sometimes be overlooked.
We cannot say enough great things about Taffy Presents! We are a small school always in need of funding and Taffy has worked tirelessly to help us to bring so many amazing opportunities to our students!! Thanks to them we have had assemblies, drum circles, dance classes, music writing workshops, visiting artists and an artist who came and did gorgeous murals with our students! We would never have been able to give our students these experiences without them and we are so grateful!