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The Tacy Foundation empowers children and teens to share hope and joy with hospital patients, military veterans, senior citizens, and disadvantaged youth through performances, music recording projects, and music mentoring programs. |
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August is here! Thirty-six graduating seniors will be going off to the college of their choice! Many new Chief Interns are ramping up to take the lead for monthly live music events throughout Montgomery County, Frederick County, Washington, D.C., and Fairfax and Loudon Counties in Virginia.
Once the new school year starts, Piano Pals and Guitar Pals will resume with elementary school children who want to learn new, valuable skills. These children will stay after school one day per week to learn how to read music and play piano and guitar, while gaining a teenage friend who cares so much to be with them each week from October through March.
A new Tech Team will assemble video playlists for Children’s Hospital patients and for others in trying circumstances who need the encouragement and messages of hope. This is in addition to music, children’s stories read on YouTube playlists, art, and innovative ways to bring dance to seniors. The Team continues to search for more avenues of service to share and inspire us all, young and “older.”
The Foundation continues to find seniors who have a story to tell. Life Stories has taken root among the youth who prepare questions and interview a senior. We all want to learn lessons from past generations in order to improve our world of today.
With great excitement, we launch the new school year with hope for our many communities. We send our hearts and our music and art to you all who read our stories and send your best wishes our way. Thank you!
Charlotte Holliday, Founder & Executive Director
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In Memory of Lawrence Holmes |
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Dear Supporters,
We honor Mr. Lawrence Holmes, who passed away very suddenly on July 9. Mr. Holmes digitalized his wife’s beautiful paintings for CD inserts and public display of posters. From the beginning of the Tacy Foundation, Marielou Holmes created the graphics for the Foundation’s first CDs. The first ones were sent to Hopkins Cancer Center in Baltimore, then to Children’s National in DC, Cincinnati Children’s, and many other facilities far and wide.
In those early days, CDs were the carriers of our hopeful music messages. Mike Engel of Rolling Hills Recording Studio recorded 25 CD albums, Marielou and Lawrence prepared the graphics for each one, and the Bharmal and Edwards families printed every insert for each project. It is their company, FastSigns in Rockville, along with Mcpadnet in Gaithersburg, that that transmitted the hundreds of messages from our children. FastSigns continues to print more and more posters as new senior facilities ask for Tacy Foundation kids to share their music and stories. The poster below is in constant use now in every facility where the kids play on weekends and on special holidays.
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You will see Marielou’s name on each one. She and her husband will be with us for years to come!
Thank you to the Holmes family! Sending you all our love!
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I was playing the flute in the corner of the south lobby/waiting room. I had picked the Rondo in D Major, K184 as the piece because I thought it was calming and pleasant, but not too cheery. (Too cheery wouldn’t be very fit for a hospital). I could only play the first half then, which I repeated a few times. I also improvised a bit and swapped in some other pieces occasionally, but Rondo in D Major, K184 was the one I played the most.
When I was taking a break to make sure I didn’t get too lightheaded, an older man with a really bright smile and kind eyes (with accentuated crow’s feet at their corners) walked up to me. He introduced himself (we’ll call him Alan for the sake of anonymity here) and asked me if I knew how the play the rest of the Rondo. We got into a conversation about Mozart’s compositions on the flute, and I learned he used to be a really dedicated flutist. He was suffering from a chronic lung disease that caused painful inflammation upon exertion, so he couldn’t work out or play the flute anymore. Alan told me that it made his day when he got to hear the Rondo on the flute. It used to be his favorite piece to play when he still could, and he was happy to know that kids were still pursuing classical music.
When I finished the rest of my hour, I got to talk to Alan some more. He had sat and listened to my whole performance, except for a quick check in with his attending nurse, and clapped for me after each song. I still remember his smile. It was really moving and encouraging to know that just enjoying my flute playing could be such a wonderful experience for someone else. Alan’s enjoyment was the reason I continued playing the flute even when I quit band, because I would come around and play for him in the lobby when I could. I loved making his day.
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Finding Joy Through Kindness |
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I began volunteering with the Tacy Foundation in 2021 through the Cards Project, writing messages of encouragement for individuals facing hardship and sharing care and compassion with those in need. In 2024, I became a Cards Chief Intern, taking on a leadership role in many of the projects I had previously supported as a volunteer. In addition to contributing creatively, I used my organizational and leadership skills to coordinate volunteers and help manage card drives.
In this role, I supported initiatives benefiting hospital patients, veterans, seniors, and families affected by crises, ranging from local school emergencies to natural disasters such as the Los Angeles wildfires and Texas floods.
One of the most meaningful moments of my service came when my own high school, Thomas S. Wootton High School, experienced a tragic shooting. After years of creating cards to support others, I found myself organizing a card drive for my own community. Coordinating volunteers to provide encouragement and comfort to my peers was both surreal and deeply meaningful. This experience reinforced the importance of empathy, initiative, and service during times of crisis.
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Through my work with the Tacy Foundation, I have developed strong leadership, communication, and interpersonal skills. As a Chief Intern, I collaborated closely with fellow interns, volunteers, and instructors, learning that effective teamwork and clear communication are essential to ensuring our projects are completed successfully and delivered on time.
I am deeply grateful for the opportunities and experiences the Tacy Foundation has provided. Serving others through this organization has been incredibly rewarding, and I encourage others to join the team and make a positive difference in their communities.
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Reflecting on Volunteering |
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Mario Lara, Chief Intern of Cards Projects |
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Back in 2020, as a young middle schooler, I found the Tacy Foundation by searching on Montgomery County’s online volunteer center site. I could never have imagined how that discovery would shape who I am as a person and as a leader. |
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As I approach the start of my senior year at Our Lady of Good Counsel High School, I wanted to reflect on my journey with the Tacy Foundation. I owe a debt of gratitude to Mrs. Holliday, whose vision as founder and Executive Director have been truly inspiring. Through her guidance, I have had the privilege of building community partnerships and strengthening intergenerational bonds through service. Through being nominated by the Tacy Foundation and my service hours for the Foundation, I have earned three President's Volunteer Service Awards as well.
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One of the Foundation’s philanthropic missions is to empower youth to discover and use their gifts in service to others. As a volunteer, I’ve had the privilege of performing violin for residents at local senior living centers, a practice that fosters meaningful intergenerational bonds through music. I fondly recall watching the seniors’ faces light up during those performances. |
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Frequently, I remember seeing Mrs. Holliday stop by the performance location and engage with the senior residents. Seeing her kindness towards the seniors and dedication to the Foundation and those it helps inspires me to place an even greater emphasis on connecting with our senior community.
The Tacy Foundation also has a social mission to build community partnerships and create connections. Over the years, I have enjoyed bringing joy to underserved people through making handmade greeting cards, crossword puzzles, word searches and drawings, e.g. of vintage cars, animals, violins, flowers, and seasonal designs. Through the simple act of drawing and writing personalized messages, I have learned how to foster genuine human connections and prove that even small gestures can have a significant impact.
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As the “Chief Intern for Cards Project” for the Tacy Foundation, I feel I have made consistent and very impactful contributions. I have enjoyed collaborating on community project ideas for cards, communicating directly with volunteers through emails, and validating completion of service hours, along with proofreading, sorting, and delivering volunteer cards. Depending on the time of year and current events, we have had various annual, ongoing, and pop-up cards projects for such situations as natural disasters.
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One of my favorite projects has been the annual project of thank-you cards for veterans, which has been my avenue to volunteer and directly impact veterans, active-duty military members, and families at Fisher Houses and military hospitals around the country. I especially enjoyed sorting and reviewing hundreds of volunteers’ cards and really admiring all the inspirational words and artwork. In addition to my Chief Intern responsibilities, I also made handmade thank-you cards for the military to commemorate America’s 250th birthday.
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Guided by Ms. Holliday, The Tacy Foundation shows incredible heart through its proactive community service. Despite a packed academic and extracurricular calendar, the Foundation remains a top priority for me. If you are reading the article, I hope you find inspiration to start or continue volunteering with this amazing nonprofit organization.
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Cards Project for America 250 |
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Mario Lara, Chief Intern of Cards Projects |
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Beyond the music, fireworks, parades, cookouts and fanfare, Tacy Foundation volunteers rallied together for a personalized recognition of our brave men and women of the military. Volunteers created handmade thank-you cards to express gratitude for their miliary service and to celebrate the 250th birthday of the nation. Such extraordinary service, sacrifice, courage, and unwavering dedication are one of the foundations that have kept our country free and strong for 250 years.
Handmade cards were delivered to the American Red Cross and the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center. Through messages and creative designs, Tacy Foundation volunteers conveyed gratitude and encouragement to military members, military families, veterans, and wounded service members. A special thank you to our volunteers for taking the time to honor our nation’s heroes and, of course, to celebrate America’s 250th birthday!
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Card by Ruki Lara, volunteer
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Card by Jessie Zou, volunteer
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Cards by Katie Wang, volunteer
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A Bit of Tacy Foundation History |
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In 2012, trying to keep up with our dedicated teens, I became a Red Cross Volunteer at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda. One compassionate teen asked to play every Tuesday afternoon at the America Building just for the patients and staff. His school agreed that this project would be honored for community service. He saw that soldiers were returning from Iraq and Afghanistan with very severe injuries. He wanted to help them and show his appreciation for them. And so, he did this for the entire year.
That year, Tacy kids met the Chief Surgeon. He invited them into his busy, unbelievable life and opened doors for them to serve as teen Red Cross volunteers. His work centered on putting back together bodies that had lost arms, legs, and had suffered serious, life-altering brain injuries during battle.
During COVID, we recruited volunteers to send video playlists, and beautiful thank-you cards to military bases throughout the country.
This summer, with the warm welcome from the esteemed Arts In Health program at Walter Reed, our teens will play their hope-filled music in the large America Building on the Walter Reed campus.
To be honored to participate among the heroes among us fills me with renewed hope for our youth to continue building a better world for their generation and the next.
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Educational Mission: Foster youth development through music, story and mentoring
Philanthropic Mission: Empower youth to discover and use their gifts in service to others
Social Mission: Build community partnerships and create intergenerational connections
Whom We Serve
Seniors
Children
Teens
Service members
Veterans
Injured/sick
Economically disadvantaged
Individuals who want to serve
How We Serve (Programs)
Live music concerts
Reading Express®
Piano Pals®
Guitar Pals®
Composers’ Circle
Music USBs
Musical equipment
COVID projects through video, email, cards, puzzles for outreach to the community
Charlotte Holliday, Founder and Executive Director
Michael Tacy and Zoe Bell, Graphic Editors
Michael Favin, Chief Editor
Donations are appreciated. All adult and teen staff are volunteers. No salaries or benefits. Every dollar you donate goes to supplies for all projects offered to the community.
Thank you!
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