| This highly competetive Quality of Life Award through the Christopher & Dana Reeve foundation enhances the lives of people living with paralysis and now supports Arts Horizons successful Music in Healthcare Program: ArtBeat!! 
ArtBeat, is a unique partnership between Arts Horizons, NYC Hospitals, and the NYC Department of Education. Through music education workshops, ArtBeat brings arts-rich, safe, creative educational and emotionally uplifting environments to young students who are hospitalized for extended periods of time. ArtBeat has been adopted by two hospital locations as part of the Comprehensive Evaluation Plan, which establishes and assesses specific goals and indicators of progress to support student rehabilitation and learning. Support from the Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation represents a significant milestone of success for ArtBeat!!! Foundation involvement ensures support necessary to hold the music programs for the hospitilized students and allows for continued tracking and investigation on the goals achieved by the children in the hospital schools program. The Quality of Life Grants through the Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation, conceived by the late Dana Reeve, are awarded to programs that improve the daily lives of people with paralysis. ArtBeat, is funded through a cooperative agreement with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Award #1U59DD000338). These grants are awarded to nonprofit organizations that address the need of people living with paralysis caused by spinal cord and other injuries, diseases and birth conditions, including (but not limited to) stroke, spina bifida, multiple sclerosis, cerebral palsy and amyotophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Lead teaching Artist, Tira Blueston, tailors her programs for each student individually, creating original songs, books, music videos and computer games. "She is a lightening rod and totally engages the students in her music," commented one teacher. "We have witnessed from our students a noticeable reaction to Tira's music and persona. She has become a great asset in helping us to reach our Special Needs Students." In a fluid collaboration between artists, teachers, support team and hospital personnel, student reactions and responses are observed and documented to track specific progress. Arts Horizons and Hospital Schools are honored, gracious and excited to have the support of the Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation to continue our very necessary work for the hospitalized children to live and learn through the arts. 
For more information please contact : - Dena Malarek, Senior Program Manager Special Populations
- dena@artshorizons.org
- NJ Phone: 201-567-1766 *108
- NY Phone: 212-268-7219 * 108
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