California Children’s Music Therapy Pioneer & Peterson Family Foundation Founder Receives 2017 Jefferson Award

Award from CBS-TV Affiliate KPIX Recognizes Quiet Heroes in the San Francisco Bay Area

SAN FRANCISCO, CA / ACCESSWIRE / April 14, 2017 / Jeff Peterson, Founder and President of the Peterson Family Foundation, a Santa Cruz, California-based charity that focuses on music therapy, has been awarded the Jefferson Award by San Francisco CBS-TV affiliate KPIX for his work establishing and promoting music therapy for children in Bay Area hospitals. The Jefferson Award is bestowed upon individuals making a difference in their neighborhood.

Peterson has been making a positive impact on children in Bay Area hospitals by establishing music therapy programs in local hospitals. “I am incredibly honored to be the recipient of the Jefferson Award,” said Peterson. “Having visited my own children in the hospital, I understand how scary a place it can be. I am happy that I am able to make a sick child’s stay a little brighter and give them something to look forward to through music therapy programs. The future looks bright for music therapy and I am excited to have a hand in the growth and development of our foundation’s programs.”

Peterson’s support of music therapy began in 2013 at UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospital in San Francisco, with an initial contribution of two iPads that were donated to the facility’s music therapy program. But that was just the beginning…as Peterson learned more about music therapy, he became increasingly involved and provided generous funding to sustain the program. The foundation now supports two full time music therapists at UCSF Benioff, and has started music therapy programs at UCLA Mattel Children’s Hospital and Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital Stanford.

Peterson’s efforts to promote and build music therapy programs, not only in the San Francisco Bay Area, but beyond, have directly affected mom Kristin Chaset, whose daughter received music therapy during her stay in the infant intensive care nursery.

As Kristin explains, “My daughter’s response to music is immediate. Her heart rate slows, she relaxes her body, and her breathing becomes less labored. One look at the guitar and her eyes light up. Use that guitar to play Twinkle Twinkle Little Star and the girl’s heart is yours. According to one of my daughter’s doctors, Twinkle Twinkle is more effective calming her than the strongest sedative! Music therapy is just as much for parents and caregivers. The hospital can be a scary, sterile, and unforgiving place. Music therapy softens the edges, calms the nerves, and refocuses.”

About the Peterson Family Foundation

The Peterson Family Foundation was founded in 2003 to enhance, restore and improve the quality of life for all human beings. They believe every child undergoing medical treatment has the right to receive music therapy as an integrated component to their medical care. Their primary mission is to fund, create, and establish pediatric music therapy programs in children’s hospitals across the globe. Learn more at www.PetersonFamilyFoundation.org.

SOURCE: Peterson Family Foundation

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