Today is the Day Changemakers

Zzak G. Applaud Our Kids Foundation Five Years of Creativity, Kindness & Connection

May 19, 2022 Jodi Season 2 Episode 22
Today is the Day Changemakers
Zzak G. Applaud Our Kids Foundation Five Years of Creativity, Kindness & Connection
Show Notes

Welcome to season 2, episode 22. 

This is a special episode of the Today is the Day Changemakers Podcast. 

In this episode I wear a few hats - podcast host and co-founder and CEO of the Zzak G. Applaud Our Kids Foundation. The foundation is celebrating five years of creativity, kindness and connection. I am excited to be joined by my sister and President and Co-founder of the Zzak G. Applaud Our Kids Foundation, Melissa. I am also joined by my mother, Patti also known as Hot Gramms, my daughters Gabriella and Sienna and my niece Isabella. Zzak G.’s granddaughters. Their Pop Pop had a lasting effect on them, and he is the inspiration behind starting the foundation. 

We are also joined by two AOK Students that are funded through the foundation and their mom’s. They share how the performing arts positively impacts their children. Lastly, I am joined by AOK Performance Group Members and a few of their mom’s. The AOK Performance group is our audition only 'kids helping kids' community service group. 

Zzak G. was unable to take his first vocal lesson until his mid-thirties because of financial constraints.  During his first lesson he learned he was an operatic tenor. At that point he had a family and ongoing lessons in the way he wanted to take them was not in the cards, yet being on stage was where he truly felt at home. 

Zzak was diagnosed with ALS in October of 2014 and passed away May 24, 2015. His biggest regret was not being able to connect to what he enjoyed, an ongoing creative outlet. In 2017 Melissa and I decided we needed to do something to help ensure that no other child grew up with that being their biggest regret in life. So, we started the Zzak G. Applaud Our Kids Foundation a 501 c3 not-for-profit or as I say for-impact organization that funds children living with financial barriers to take ongoing lessons in dance, acting, instrumental music, or vocal instruction. The children can be funded for up to 15 years through various programs. Students take their lessons at approved studio partner locations that are close to their home. That means we support local businesses as well. We also fund teachers to go into existing community programs when transportation is an issue for the family. We provide all the necessary resources needed to ensure students success including instruments and dancewear.  

Our Dad told us that we would know he is watching over us in all the smiles we would see, but back in 2015 we had no idea what that meant. Now, through the foundation we see what the performing arts brings to these children - smiles. From calling their instrument their best friend or being told by them that their dance lessons is all they have. We have seen firsthand how the performing arts is a lifeline. It is not an extra.

We work with community organizations to find the children who need our programming the most. Some of the organizations include Big Brothers Big Sisters, Boys & Girls Clubs, The Salvation Army, CCYC, DCP&P, and so many more.

Please follow us on Facebook and Instagram @applaudourkids and to learn how you can help connect a child to a creative outlet go to applaudourkids.org. Listen in to hear more of our story.