Millburn Residents Bring Music and Memories to the Elderly in Need
December 5, 2014 – Emily Everson, Millburn-Short Hills Patch
The Good People Fund, a group of philanthropists based in Millburn, gathered to support a nonprofit helping elderly adults with dementia.
Nearly 70 guests gathered at a Short Hills home on Dec. 4 to hear Dan Cohen speak passionately about Music and Memory, an organization that brings personalized music via iPods to elderly individuals, most suffering from dementia or Alzheimer’s, living both at home or in institutional settings.
The event was organized by a The Good People Fund, a Millburn-based organization that supports charitable causes.
Cohen’s nonprofit organization believes that music taps deep memories and enables the listener to reconnect to the world, often with dramatic results. Neuroscience research corroborates Dan’s thesis and the benefits are enormous.
M&M is 1 of 69 grantees supported financially and professionally by The Good People Fund, based in Millburn. Their funds were directed to both administrative support as M&M expands to keep up with the enormous demand for its work, and a pilot research project to help nursing homes resolve any problems they encounter while instituting the program.
About the Good People Fund
Founded in 2008, The Good People Fund, inspired by the concept of repairing the world, responds to significant problems such as poverty, disability, trauma and social isolation, primarily in the United States and Israel.
The Good People Fund provides financial support and management guidance for small to medium grassroots efforts. The Fund’s grant recipients are leading their nonprofits with annual budgets of under $500,000 and no professional development staff, but are driven and determined to make a difference in their communities.
With its guiding philosophy that small actions can have huge impacts and its emphasis on the personal connection, the GPF has raised and granted more than $6 million dollars since its inception in 2008. Further information on Music and Memory and other grantees can be found here.
Pictured: Naomi Eisenberger, Founding Executive Director of the Good People Fund, Dan Cohen, Founder of Music and Memory, host Laurie Goldberg and Deborah Klein, Assistant Director.
Pictured in the second photo: Dan Cohen explains all about the organization and how it works in nursing homes and other settings. A Q&A followed his presentation.
