The Cure 4 The Kids Foundation shines as a source of hope, supporting families grappling with the unimaginable. This 501(c)3 tax-exempt organization provides care and comfort and engages in groundbreaking research and treatment for childhood cancer and other childhood diseases. At the helm of their digital presence is Mitch Koulouris, Director of Social Media and Digital Content Strategy, whose dedication to the Cure 4 The Kids Foundation helped him concoct a new holiday fundraiser – 'Christmas 4 The Kids.'
"This special holiday project is a holiday music compilation and accompanying music video that will benefit our organization," said Koulouris. "One hundred percent of the proceeds from streaming on music services such as Apple Music, Spotify, and Amazon Prime Unlimited will go directly to helping kids battling cancer and rare diseases right here in Southern Nevada."
'Christmas 4 The Kids' is a musical treasure trove featuring 22 tracks contributed by artists from around the world. Among the selection is a heartfelt rendition of John Lennon's classic, 'Happy Xmas.'
"We made some small lyrical changes to the original, such as one in the chorus. Instead of 'War is over if you want it,' the lyric was changed to 'Cancer's over if you want it,'" revealed Kouloris.
This recording holds a special place in the hearts of many because it features the very children that Cure 4 The Kids Foundation supports daily.
"The track was recorded in Las Vegas at Electric Shop Recording and features American Idol Casting Producer Kyle Khou and Nick Carter of Backstreet Boys, along with musicians from shows on the Las Vegas Strip as well as our young cancer patients," said Koulouris. "Christmas 4 The Kids is available on all digital music streaming services now."
In addition to the heartwarming songs, the foundation also had the opportunity to create a music video to accompany their new version of 'Happy Xmas.'
"The music video was filmed at Vū Studios in Las Vegas, a state-of-the-art virtual production studio, and features many of our childhood cancer patients, Cure 4 The Kids providers, Blue Man Group, Murray Sawchuck, and more," Koulouris shared.
Before joining Cure 4 The Kids Foundation, Mitch Koulouris had a background in the music industry, which played a pivotal role in conceiving this philanthropic Christmas compilation.
"Since my background is in the music industry and I'm familiar with distribution and monetization, I came up with the idea of a Christmas compilation album that would benefit the charity," explained Koulouris. "It's a very simple way to show support for Nevada's only outpatient clinic for kids with cancer and rare diseases."
The music video and the album project brought together more than 100 people, including volunteers, artists, Cure 4 The Kids Foundation kids, and more. This collaborative effort vividly conveys the message of hope and the belief that childhood cancer can be defeated with adequate funding.
Having some of their kids participate in the recording process was a touching experience for the entire charity team.
"One little girl who did a background vocal is a current cancer patient. She wasn't feeling well that day from chemotherapy, but you wouldn't know it by watching her in the studio," Koulouris shared. "It's hard not to get emotional when you see the look on her face of true joy and wonder. And the musicians on the record, all of whom donated their time, couldn't have been more eager to be involved in the project."
But how exactly do these musical records translate into funding for Cure 4 The Kids? If you are a subscriber to Spotify, Apple Music, or any other music streaming service, you pay a monthly subscription fee.
"A portion of that money is distributed to artists and songwriters when a track is played. This ends up being a fraction of a penny per play, but these add up," Koulouris explained. "To create interest and promote the project, we also created a GoFundMe campaign where people can go directly to GoFundMe and make a donation to the Cure 4 The Kids Foundation."
For parents who have had to face the harrowing diagnosis of a catastrophic disease in their child, the world turns upside down. The resilience displayed by the children in the Cure 4 The Kids clinic is nothing short of remarkable.
Families facing these trials often find themselves grappling with financial hardship in addition to the emotional burden. This is where Cure 4 the Kids steps in. No child is turned away due to an inability to pay for treatment, and funds raised through initiatives like the holiday project play a crucial role in ensuring access to care.
Cure 4 The Kids Foundation's Christmas album is now available on all streaming platforms. With the simple act of hitting 'play,' you, too, can make a meaningful contribution towards the noble endeavor of curing childhood diseases. This holiday season, let the power of music resonate with the spirit of giving.
"I've never seen more courage and intestinal fortitude from anyone as I have seen in our clinic daily. These kids are fighters and some of the most inspirational people I've ever met," said Koulouris.