Santa Fe College’s Adults with Disabilities Program is using the grant to fund materials and instructors for the Rock and Rollers Music Club, a year-long music education and performance club for a group of music-loving adults with developmental disabilities which include physical disabilities with varying degrees of paralysis. Interactive musical demonstrations include hand drumming, “virtual music”, recorders, rock and roll drum sets, and steel pan drumming. Participants also attend SF College concerts and rehearsals, karaoke events, and they receive an education in the history of Rock and Roll. Classes and activities take place both on and off the Santa Fe College campus with participation of the SF Fine Arts Department and various community partners such as Studio Percussion Music and Dance Center. All interactive musical experiences are fully adapted for students.
The Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation Quality of Life grants program was conceived by the late Dana Reeve to address the myriad needs of children and adults with paralysis and other mobility impairments and their families. Grant funding supports critical life-enhancing and life-changing initiatives that improve physical and emotional health and increase independence.
The award to Santa Fe College was one of 76 grants totaling almost $427,000 awarded by the Reeve Foundation to nonprofit organizations nationwide that provide more opportunities, access, and daily quality of life for individuals living with paralysis, their families, and caregivers. the program has awarded 2,131 grants totaling over $16 million since 1999.
“The Reeve Foundation’s Quality of Life Grants Program supports organizations that align with the same beliefs as ours, so we are better able to help our community members live more independently,” said Peter T. Wilderotter, president and CEO of the Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation. “We are pleased to reward a number of tremendous organizations for their efforts.”
Santa Fe College is very grateful to the Reeve Foundation for its recognition and support of this valuable programming that adds value to the lives of our students.