Legends of the Ukulele World Join Ukulele Kids Club Board of Advisors
Summer 2018 Press Release via Ukulele Kids Club
Ukulele Kids Club, the international nonprofit dedicated to the well-being of children with life-threatening medical conditions, has added three new members to its Board of Advisors. The new advisors, bringing deep experience, skills and knowledge in the world of music and ukulele . Jay Lichty, a custom luthier and accomplished musician whose instruments are collected by amateur and professional musicians; and Corrie Woods, Lichty Guitar’s communication’s director. The announcement was made today by Corey Bergman, founder of UKC.
“Since diving into the ukulele world head-first several years ago, we have come across Jay and Corrie many times – first by reputation, and then through personal connection,” said Bergman. “These people are not only living legends in the luthier world, but also incredibly giving and devoted to public service. It’s a tremendous honor to have each of them join our advisory board as we continue to grow and expand our services into the future.”
Founded in 2013, the UKC has donated more than 6,000 ukuleles to music therapy programs at children’s hospitals in the U.S. and internationally. Children use the ukuleles as part of their therapy during their hospitalizations, and may keep the instruments after their release. Once back home, children can use the ukulele to pursue a love of music as well as long-term therapy goals. The UKC has expanded its support of hospital-based music therapy programs through a growing network of more than 200 hospitals, and with recent endowments to fund music therapists. The Board of Advisors of UKC help the organization continue its mission while adopting sound, ethical, and legal governance and financial management policies.
Jay Lichty and Corrie Woods are the husband-and-wife team behind Lichty Guitars, a custom acoustic guitar and ukulele builder based in North Carolina. With a lifelong love of instruments and playing music, Jay Lichty began making ukuleles as a sideline to his career as a custom home builder and fine carpenter. Since opening his workshop in the Blue Ridge mountains, he has hand-crafted more than 250 guitars and ukuleles that are played and enjoyed by amateur musicians, collectors and professional musicians around the world. Corrie Woods supports Lichty Guitars with professional and consumer communications, resulting in media coverage in mainstream outlets like CNBC to industry journals including Fretboard Journal and Ukulele Magazine.
As part of Lichty Guitars’ mission to give back to the community, Lichty Guitars built and donated a one-of-a-kind ukulele for the Luthiers for a Cause project in 2017. In all, six luthiers donated hand-crafted instruments which were sold as a collection, raising more than $130,000 for the UKC.
Music therapy is the clinical and evidence-based use of music interventions. Board-certified music therapists create therapy plans designed for each patient, based on individualized needs and goals. Among the goals of music therapy interventions are: well-being, stress management, pain reduction, physical rehabilitation, enhanced memory, and many other therapeutic goals.
Learn more:
- Become a UKC Rock Star!
- The Ukulele Kids Club website
- Ukulele Kids Club Facebook