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SAI PHILANTHROPIES, INC. People-to-People Prepared for Next Triennium By Dr. Liana Valente, Director I t has been an honor and pleasure serving as the Director of the People-to-People Project for the past three years. During my time in this position, I have had the opportunity to meet and work with many passionate and dedicated collegiate and alumnae members who have committed time and resources to furthering the goals and initiatives of this very special project. I have also met representatives from other non-profit charities and non-governmental organizations dedicated to assisting people around the globe who are in need. Thanks to the generosity of these CEOs and administrators, the People-toPeople Project has not only been able to continue to assist our colleagues but also to expand the project's abilities to offer material assistance to many additional organizations. The People-to-People Project continues to assist music teachers, schools, and music organizations in underdeveloped and developing parts of the world where a "little help goes a long way." We provide instruments, music scores, and accessories such as rosin, strings, metronomes, and folding music stands to established and emerging programs. When requested we also supply cleaning and repair equipment and even assist programs by sending music education materials, methods books and instructional CDs and DVDs. In many cases, the SAI People-toPeople Project is the only organization providing this type of assistance. The Project has been assisting colleagues in such diverse locations as Nigeria, India, Cuba, Ecuador, Haiti, Zambia, the Turks and Caicos Islands, Belize, and Tanzania. The project also assists our colleagues in the United States when the need is great, especially following natural disasters; in Ringgold, GA Tracy Wright and his Ringgold Middle School students received a new Yamaha electric keyboard to replace the keyboard that was destroyed when a tornado tore through the city in April, 2011. The school district received an additional gift of a set of beautiful hand-bell chimes donated to the P2P project. In Joplin, MO, a vanload of music and instruments was delivered to Rick Castor, band director at the Joplin High School. Through the referral of SAI National President Leslie Odom Miller, the People-toPeople Project is assisting Alee Karpf, Recreation Therapist for The Honor Residence at The Honor Center, a VA rehab facility for homeless Dr. Liana Valente with donated guitars at National Convention. CURRENT NEEDS OF p2P • Complete violin outfits (sizes full, ¾, ½ and ¼) • Complete viola outfit (sizes full, ¾ and ½) • Trumpets Assorted percussion • World percussion: Small, Medium, Large Hand Drums (used for Elementary Music) • Maracas (10) • Rain Stick (1) • Tambourines • Shakers (20) • Claves • Rhythm Sticks/drum sticks • Triangles w/beaters • Sand blocks • Jingle Bells • Castanets • Guiro • Cowbell • Woodblock • Snare drum • Bongos and medically involved veterans. Three new guitars were delivered to the Center for use in the Center's new therapy program called Guitar Dreams, headed by Deaconess Nan Gordon, where veterans can earn a guitar to take with them when they successfully transition from the Center. How Can You Help? If you or your chapter would like to make a monetary donation, there are two easy methods from which to choose: 1. You can make an on-line donation at the SAI Store by visiting the SAI web site: www.sai-national.org/Shop/. Click on the SAI Philanthropies, Inc. link and choose your donation category. 2. You or your chapter may also send a check to National Headquarters. The check must be made out to SAI Philanthropies, Inc. and in the memo line a note should be made that you wish this donation to go towards the People-toPeople Project. If you or your chapter are interested in hosting an event such as an instrument drive, sheet music drive, or fundraiser to support the Project, you are asked to please contact me (see the current online directory) prior to making any final decisions. This will give us an opportunity to discuss the current needs of the project and allow us time to explore the best methods for completing an event. Likewise, if you or your chapter have an instrument or music scores you would like to donate to the Project, please contact me. We are grateful for your thoughtful donations but please note that materials donated to the project are no longer stored at National Headquarters; please do not send boxes of materials to Asheville, PREPARED continued on page 49 sai-national.org FALL 2012 PAN PIPES 5

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