Award winning song-writing program for female veterans

Voices of Valor, an award-winning, innovative, song-writing initiative for veterans, was founded eight years ago by Music For All Seasons co-directors Brian Dallow and Rena Fruchter. The organization is based in Scotch Plains, NJ.The program hosts veterans in a small group setting, as they collaborate with a healing process that includeswriting a song that reflects on their military experiences. Since 2012, Voices of Valor has had a profound life-affirming and healing impact on the lives of hundreds of veterans in the tri-state area.

Now, for the first time, Voices of Valor is hosting sessions specifically for all female veterans groups. Supported by the Jewish Women’s Foundation of New Jersey, the program is open toall female veterans, regardless of time of service, or of religious background.

Participants do not need to have any previous musical experience. The group meets weekly for approximately ten sessions guided by professional musicians and mental health professionals.The sessions culminate in a finished song, a recording session in a professional studio, and a CD release party attended by all the participants, friends and families.

The first of three sessions, held at Lyons VA Medical Center in Somerset County, New Jersey, has produced the song “Women of Valor,” composed by the women with coaching providedby professional musicians Jennifer Lampert and Ron Haney. According to Lampert, an Asbury Park resident: “Women make up a small percentage of our military; however, their voices arestrong, proud, and focused. This was a very special session for all of us!”

“The Jewish Women’s Foundation of New Jersey (JWFNJ) has a long history of supporting female veterans. The Voices of Valor program continues our very important work in this space of providing females an opportunity to heal and reflect on their military experiences,” saidLaura Alpert, co-chair of JWFNJ.

In 2020 Voices of Valor will present two more all-female sessions, to be held at Lyons VA Medical Center and another location to be announced. Veterans interested in participating areencouraged to contact the program at 908 322-6300, or info@voicesofvalor.org

A selection of songs composed by Voices of Valor participants is available at www.voicesofvalor.org and atwww.amazon.com/s?k=Voices+of+Valor+COming+Home&ref=nb_sb_noss

Music For All Seasons (MFAS) was founded in 1991 by Rena Fruchter and Brian Dallow and has impacted the lives of thousands of citizens in New Jersey, New York, Connecticut, Pennsylvania and California.With performances of live musical events in a wide range of institutions - including children's hospitals, retirement facilities, juvenile detention centers, nursing homes, medical centers, halfway houses andprisons, and veteran’s facilities -- MFAS helps aid the physical, mental, and spiritual healing processes. MFAS programs are supported with funds from the National Endowment for the Arts, New Jersey StateCouncil on the Arts, and a host of foundation, corporate and individual donors. For more information please visit www.musicforallseasons.org and www.voicesofvalor.org

The mission of the Jewish Women’s Foundation of New Jersey (JWFNJ), based in Whippany NJ, is to transform the lives of individual women and girls through collective grantmaking while improving thequality of life for the entire community. The JWFNJ is a donor advised fund of the Jewish Community Foundation of Greater MetroWest . The Jewish Women’s Foundation of New Jersey is committed toinvesting in projects that protect and sustain women and girls and help them reach their fullest potential. The foundation’s goal is to maximize JWF’s impact through grantmaking, education, and advocacy.