The KEYS Program

 
 

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Welcome to the KEYS Program!

Since 1993, the KEYS Program has been delivering music, hope and smiles to children impacted by cancer and serious illnesses through its award-winning music outreach, family respite day and sibling support programs.

  

After all...it's all about the smiles! 

Smile Experience Coming to a Track Near You! 

Our crew has been having a blast putting together our Smile Experience program 2019!   We should have our schedule together in the next few weeks, but in the meantime, swing by our Smile Experience Facebook page to see some photos... and smiles... like these from last year's events!   

We are always looking for awesome volunteers to help us create BIG smiles!  If you would like more information on how to join our volunteer Smile Crew, contact KEYS Executive Director, Colleen Bennett, at colleen@thekeysprogram.org or give us a call at 315-363-6446.  

 

Come See Our Smile Experience Crew at the Finger Lakes Speed World Motorsport Extravaganza!

The KEYS Program will be at the Finger Lakes Speed World Motorsports Extravaganza March 2 and 3 at the Finger Lakes Mall, 1579 Clark Street Road, Auburn. The event is FREE! There will be cool race cars, tracks and organizations along with lots of fun activities for the kids. 

Be sure to stop by the KEYS booth and say “hi” to our Smile Crew! Big thanks to Jim Olin for inviting us to be part of this awesome event!

 1,228 Hearts + 12 States = BIG Smiles!

BIG thanks to everyone who participated in our "Wear Your Heart on Your Sleeve Day" this year!  Check out this beautiful video of all of the hearts...and smiles...created!

 

Wear Your Heart on Your Sleeve Day is February 28th!

Our Wear Your Heart on Your Sleeve Day is a special day when you can create BIG smiles by wearing the KEYS heart on your sleeve in honor or memory of  our KEYS kids or someone you know who has been impacted by cancer. Get your workplace, classroom, friends and family involved to wear their hearts together to show their support on this special day!

 

Each sticker is just $2.50 and has room for you to write in the name of a friend or loved one that you want to honor.

 

Click on the heart donate button below to purchase your hearts on-line! (Shipping is free!)

Or contact us at 315-363-6446 or info@thekeysprogram.org to order your hearts today!

 

Purchase hearts now through February 22nd so you have them in time to "wear them on your sleeve" February 28th!  

 

Net proceeds enable us to deliver music, hope and smiles like THESE all year long & all at no cost to the families we serve! ♥

 

*******Are you selling hearts to your school, workplace, group or friends?   We have a flyer and order form here for you to upload and share for your convenience! *****

Upload the Flyer HERE! 

Upload Order Form HERE! 

 Meet our Awesome Cast of Interns at Russell Sage College!

These talented students at Russell Sage College in Troy have been writing songs, creating skits, and building a colorful, kid-friendly set to film episodes for our KEYS Kids Network.  They are filming this semester and we can’t wait for you to meet the awesome cast of characters...and puppets...they have added to the program to make the KEYS Kids Network even more fun and interactive for our KEYS kids.  Stop by our website and social media in the coming months for behind-the-scenes clips and photos of filming as the next season of the KEYS Kids Network comes together!  We are thrilled to partner with Sage College & these extraordinary students to create smiles!

 We are Accepting New Students and Sites!

 

 

 

 

 

The KEYS Program currently has opening for music therapy and adaptive music lessons for children and adults on the autism spectrum and those with various disabilities in Oneida and Madison Counties. In addition, we provide music therapy for special needs sites, oncology units, hospitals and nursing homes.  If you would like more information, contact us at info@thekeysprogram.org or 315-363-6446.

 25 Years of Smiles!

“We shall never know all the good that a simple smile can do.” Mother Teresa

 

In November and December, the KEYS Program celebrated its 25th anniversary with BIG smiles! Together, with the support of our amazing crew of volunteers and generous donors like you, we were able to share the biggest and best holiday smiles outreach for our KEYS kids yet! 

 

Here are some of the highlights of the smiles YOU helped to create…

On Dec. 2nd, we hosted a free Holiday Smiles concert for over 300 families at the CAC in  Sherrill! The concert was broadcast throughout the holiday season on our KEYS Kids Network bringing music, joy and smiles to the bedside of pediatric patients across the country.

 

 

Throughout the month of November and December, we received donations of over 300 board games for our holiday deliveries to our KEYS kids! (BIG thanks to everyone who donated!) Our Smile Crew volunteers came out to our Holiday Wrap party on a cold and blustery Sunday to lovingly wrap those games and put them into our Holiday Smiles Care Packages for our KEYS kiddos!

 

Our Elves delivered 183 Holiday Smiles Care Packages filled with holiday treats, Christmas music and board games to our KEYS kids in Central NY this holiday season. In addition, we delivered care packages to KEYS kids in Pennsylvania, Colorado, California and an extra special delivery by our Paulie’s Super Siblings Smile Crew in Virginia to a special military family.

 

Thank you all so very much for making so many smiles possible this holiday season! 

 Paulie's Super Siblings Bowling Tournament May 4th!

We have some awesome events for our Paulie’s Super Siblings program coming up this Spring!  Funds raised will help us to grant the wishes of siblings of kids battling cancer, in memory of Paulie.  Go to the Paulie's Super Siblings page to learn more!