30 • The Beacon July 29 , 2021
Choosing Joy is making a difference in lives
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Engaged couple , Noah Adelsberger and Katelyn Phillips decided in the middle of a global pandemic to pursue a passion of theirs by beginning a non profit dedicated to helping hospitalized children and teens in music therapy obtain their first guitars .
By Tara Gracyk
Engaged couple , Noah Adelsberger and Katelyn Phillips decided in the middle of a global pandemic to pursue a passion of theirs by beginning a non profit dedicated to helping hospitalized children and teens in music therapy obtain their first guitars .
Phillips , who was born with a genetic disease , grew up in and out of hospitals and knows first hand how important various forms of therapy are for young people . “ I ’ ve been there . It was really hard to choose joy in the roughest moments ,” Phillips said . The name of their non profit , Choose Joy Productions serves as an encouragement and reminder for children and families to remember to choose joy even in the most challenging and difficult times .
Adelsberger and Phillips believe that music is an outlet , therapeutic and an endless opportunity for those who hear it and / or have a passion for it . Therefore , they search for hospitals with a music therapy program in place who serve mostly children and they connect with the music therapy team . Their goal is to help children pursue their passion of music by obtaining , tuning , and getting guitars to children who have never owned one . “ We are both extremely passionate about music and guitars ; we both play ” said Adelsberger . “ We wanted to give back and help get kids started in pursuing music by getting the guitars set up for them so all they have to do is open the case and play the guitar ” he said .
In an effort to eliminate as many barriers as possible , Adelsberger and Phillips purchase the guitars , use their own tools to set up the instruments and get them ready to play , get cases and cables , etcetera so all the children have to do is play them and have a good sound . And , they give the guitars to the children for free . “ I remember the first guitar I got myself , taking it home , plugging it in and
getting music on You- Tube and playing . It is so fun to watch the kids get to experience that first moment too , and it motivates us to work harder to get more guitars and give them out ,” Adelsberger said .
Since starting their non profit they have been able to give away a total of 11 guitars . Most recently Adelsberger and Phillips returned at the end of June from Long Beach , California where they distributed four guitars to patients at Millers Children ’ s Hospital . They have also given away two guitars at Nationwide Children ’ s Hospital and five at Shriner ’ s . “ The kids have been excited to receive
the guitars . Some of them have sat right down and started playing . The therapeutic teams have been great at identifying which children have an interest in guitars and the families have been extremely supportive ” Adelsberger said .
“ We believe music therapy helps kids find some wholeness through music , and we want to support that endeavor . Instead of kids thinking about the pain , the next surgery or next appointment , they can play guitar instead ,” Phillips said .
How does this young couple afford these guitars they give away ? While they purchase some of the guitars with their own money , they rely largely on donations . This is done mostly through fundraising . There are no fundraisers planned at the present moment , but the couple is very open to fundraising ideas and opportunities . Adelsberger and Phillips are all about making connections through community and individuals , therefore Coshocton County community members and businesses are encouraged to reach out to the couple .
Once the guitars are obtained and the couple has reached out to the hospital music therapy team who identify children who want a guitar and have never had one , a giveaway is set up .
“ We wanted to give back and help get kids started in pursuing music by getting the guitars set up for them so all they have to do is open the case and play the guitar ”
— Choose Joy Productions , Noah Adelsberger
Adelsberger and Phillips book a band or artist to play live , the children and their families are invited for the concert , and then the children receive their free guitars . Choose Joy Productions often partners with the music artist they book to inspire the kids , and sometimes the artist or a band member gives one of the children their guitar .
For those interested in donating , assisting in some way , learning more about the organization , or for individuals with fundraising ideas , go to the Choose Joy Productions ’ website at www . choosejoyproductions . org . In addition , Choose Joy Productions can be followed and contacted through Facebook , Twitter and Instagram .