Legends of the Ukulele World Join Ukulele Kids Club Board of Advisors

Ukulele Kids Club, the international nonprofit dedicated to the well-being of children with life-threatening medical conditions, has added three new members to its Board of Advisors. The new advisors, bringing deep experience, skills and knowledge in the world of music and ukulele in particular, include Kimo Hussey, a world-renowned ukulele performer and instructor; Jay Lichty, a custom luthier whose instruments are collected by amateur and professional musicians; and Corrie Woods, Lichty Guitar's communications director. The announcement was made today by Corey Bergman, founder of UKC.

"Since diving into the ukulele world head-first several years ago, we have come across Kimo, Jay and Corrie many times - first by reputation, and then through personal connection," said Bergman. "These people are not only living legends in the music world, but also incredibly giving and devoted to public service. It's a tremendous honor to have each of them join our advisory board as we continue to grow and expand our services into the future."

Founded in 2013, the UKC has donated more than 6,000 ukuleles to music therapy programs at children's hospitals in the U.S. and internationally. Children use the ukuleles as part of their therapy during their hospitalizations, and may keep the instruments after their release. Once back home, children can use the ukulele to pursue a love of music as well as long-term therapy goals. The UKC has expanded its support of hospital-based music therapy programs through a growing network of more than 200 hospitals, and with recent endowments to fund music therapists. The Board of Advisors of UKC help the organization continue its mission while adopting sound, ethical, and legal governance and financial management policies.

Kimo Hussey began playing ukulele at age of 5, learning from his uncle - the one and only ukulele instructor he ever had. During the course of his 30-year career as a U.S. Air Force pilot, he traveled around the world and discovered that the ukulele and its music are enjoyed everywhere he went. Upon retiring from the Air Force, he dedicated himself to teaching others to play and master the instrument, leading workshops on five continents and giving video instructions on YouTube, gaining millions of followers and views. A native of Hawaii, Hussey is president of the Ukulele Guild of Hawaii, and founder of the Pacific Music Foundation, a non-profit organization that promotes Hawaiian music and culture and the healing and soothing aspects of music.

Jay Lichty and Corrie Woods are the husband-and-wife team behind Lichty Guitars, a custom acoustic guitar and ukulele builder based in North Carolina. With a lifelong love of instruments and playing music, Jay Lichty began making ukuleles as a sideline to his career as a custom home builder and fine carpenter. Since opening his workshop in the Blue Ridge mountains, he has hand-crafted more than 250 guitars and ukuleles that are played and enjoyed by amateur musicians, collectors and professional musicians around the world. Corrie Woods supports Lichty Guitars with professional and consumer communications, resulting in media coverage in mainstream outlets like CNBC to industry journals including Fretboard Journal and Ukulele Magazine.

As part of Lichty Guitars' mission to give back to the community, Lichty Guitars built and donated a one-of-a-kind ukulele for the Luthiers for a Cause project in 2017. In all, six luthiers donated hand-crafted instruments which were sold as a collection, raising more than $130,000 for the UKC.

Music therapy is the clinical and evidence-based use of music interventions. Board-certified music therapists create therapy plans designed for each patient, based on individualized needs and goals. Among the goals of music therapy interventions are: well-being, stress management, pain reduction, physical rehabilitation, enhanced memory, and many other therapeutic goals.

About the Ukulele Kids Club, Inc.
The UKC was founded in 2013 by Corey and Edda Bergman. Corey is a musician with a lifelong love of stringed instruments. The organization was founded as a tribute to their son Jared, who passed away from a viral infection at the age of 20 in 2010. Since its founding, the UKC has donated more than 6,000 ukuleles to hospital-based music therapy programs and other organizations serving children with health needs. The UKC operates in more than 200 hospitals in the U.S. and internationally, including Canada, Mexico, Puerto Rico, and the United Kingdom. UKC is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. The UKC website is http://www.theukc.org.

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