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This quote from a review about the film says it all: “In a culture of isolation where just about every soldier retreats to the sanctuary of their iPods to listen to music, the live shows provide a communal experience.” (Earl Brechlin, editor Mount Desert Islander, Maine). And it’s that sense of tribe, of group, of “family”, that allows the soldiers to survive each day of their deployment and of combat. This is exactly why We Are Family Foundation and director Susan Cohn Rockefeller teamed up to make this film–because they believe in how much music can unite individuals, and help them to communicate. One of the major goals of the film and this partnership is to make sure that support continues to be given to the organizations that make it possible for live performance to reach even the most remote regions where soldiers are deployed, organizations such as Armed Forces Entertainment and Stars for Stripes. We encourage viewers of Striking a Chord, if you’re moved by the story, to donate your time, your money and your talent to these organizations.

Our recent gala charity celebration, which included the participation of Grammy-award winning musician John Mayer, demonstrated very clearly how much music can unite individuals of all walks of life and give them a sense of community.

John Mayer headlined a benefit supporting Fisher House, NCIRE (Northern California Institute of Research and Education)/The Veterans Health Research Institute and the We Are Family Foundation in New York City on May 16, 2011. The event, which was packed upstairs and down by Mayer fans, big ticket funders and friends brought much needed attention and awareness to the effects of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) on soldiers and the power of music to start the healing process.

A screening of a shorter version of Striking a Chord was followed by a panel discussion on PTSD moderated by Gerry Byrne, media executive, entrepreneur and former Marine Corps officer and Vietnam Veteran. Panelists included Dr. Shira Maguen, Lt. Colonel Scott Rainey, who stars in the film, and Lt. Col. Scott Leonard. The highlight of the evening was a lively and surprising live auction spearheaded by Mayer himself for a signed guitar and a private lesson, followed by a performance by the musician.

Q&A Panel at SAC charity gala

John Mayer and his guitar