Community Spotlight

Josh Rifkind is an Emory graduate who has loved music his entire life. He was the lead singer for a local band called Lithp and was a music manager who knew the ins and outs of the business. His rolodex is long including some pretty famous names but it just wasn’t enough, he needed more. If you know Josh, or even just met him once, you can’t help but see his giving nature and one in a million personality.

“I wanted to do something to honor my Dad. He was a surgeon and my idol. I was always into music and was a manager and wanted to combine those worlds. I selfishly wanted to pursue something for the greater good that I would enjoy”, recalled Josh.

And, alas, in 2007, The Songs for Kids Foundation, a 501(c)(3) non-profit was born.

It encompassed everything that Josh wanted, continue playing music but do it in a way that helped those in need or as he calls it, “the greater good”.

Songs for Kids provides music mentorship and interactive programs for kids and young adults up to the age of 39 who suffer from illnesses, injuries and disabilities. They focus on creative expression, encourage exploration in a safe space and most importantly of all, never lose sight of the fun.

The Center, which opened in late 2018, has a bunch of kids from our beloved Cobb County and, as Josh told me,”once they realize what this is, they are hooked.” It currently operates six days a week (all but Saturday) and pairs its “kids” with music mentors through a musical journey that can include singing, recording, writing and even playing the piano.

Before the Pandemic, Josh and his ten or so staff members visited 1,000 Children’s Hospitals a year and had over 17,000 friends and family. It is a National Foundation that started in Georgia but has branched out to hospitals in Los Angeles and New Orleans, among other places.

“This whole thing started out (in 2007) as just some friends and I. I was a music manager and this is a learn as you go project. This was just invented, so we didn’t have any road maps. It was literally out of my apartment. In the first year we did 18 Hospitals (and now it has grown to 1,000). The underlying goal is to be awesome for the kids and families”, said Rifkind.

The 50 year old added, “We have been on CBS This Morning, People Magazine, Headline News, CNN and almost every local channel but that isn’t what it is about to me. This is all about the kids. We are completely free. Parents don’t believe me when I say this. They always ask again, so how much do we have to pay? They just cannot believe when I tell them again It’s all free. We never charge a penny. And we’re not there to just play a couple of songs and provide a distraction. Our goal is to form the kinds of meaningful relationships that it takes to help kids deal with their illnesses through creativity.”

I asked Josh to give me a story, to share something as he is beyond humble and never wants to take any of the credit. He gave me a look of, I have a million stories, dude, I can’t just choose one. But he did share a couple.

“I was recently singing ‘Livin on a Prayer’ by Bon Jovi with a 16 year old. Suddenly I looked over and his caregivers were overwhelmed with emotion. Tears were wailing up. They said ‘we can’t believe it, this is the most vocal he has been in 9 months.’”

“A mom who brings her daughter in weekly emailed me that her daughter submitted a writing for the Girl Scouts about me. She wasn’t coerced. She just wrote it. These kids respond to how we see them, it’s amazing. People come in all the time and say I didn’t know this was here. Thank God I found you.”

Rifkind finished up his salad as we ate and summed it all up. “I’m grateful, I’m the one filled with gratitude that we get to do this. The gratitude is almost in reverse. They should be grateful but I am the one that feels grateful.”

Josh Rifkind, a true hero!

Check out the amazing Songsforkids.org

It’s nothing less than incredible.

Goodbye winter and HELLO SPRING!

With spring comes a new energy - the sun is shining, flowers are blooming, the warmth outside makes us feel reinvigorated and ready to move into the season ahead, with new beginnings and fresh ideas. It’s time to reevaluate, refocus and recommit our lives.

We all had goals for the year, some of us have kept them and some of us lost sight of them with the winter blues. Some of us have already said, “I’ll try again next year!”. Well, we still have plenty of time left in the year to reach those goals. Let’s reevaluate our goals now and see if they are realistic and attainable and if not, it’s okay to modify them so they are.

I work for and attend Burn Boot Camp in Smyrna. Many of the people that I see come into the gym with new goals on January 1st and by now are losing focus. It’s easy to do! Once you have reevaluated your goals, check in with your body and mind and use this spring energy to refocus.

This can be challenging with the many distractions in our lives, so finding a space where you can concentrate on yourself is key. There are a number of healthy ways to do this like meditation, Yoga, a walk in nature, and journaling. Once we have reevaluated where we are and refocused our energy, it’s time to recommit to ourselves. Living a healthy and well-balanced lifestyle can include many different things but diet, exercise and community are a few of the key ingredients.

After a winter filled with holidays and comfort foods, I see spring as a time to brighten up my food choices, not just in color but also flavor. Check what’s in season and try to add from these each week. Check out your local farmers market where you can often find great options. Spring is also time to get moving - exercising regularly can not only improve your physical health, it’s also great for your mental health. A community of family and friends that provide support and accountability can be huge in all of these areas. Thinking about where we can grow in this area might include spending time supporting your local community, visiting family or joining a gym. Find like-minded friends and hold each other accountable.

I’ll close with why I choose to spend my time at Burn Boot Camp. Burn is where I get all of these things. I go to Burn to exercise, both cardio and strength training. While I’m there, I have focus meetings with the trainers where we talk about nutrition and what I could change or add to feel better and be the best version of myself. We have Yoga Saturday’s where I can get a good stretch along with some time to restore physically and mentally. Lastly, and for me most important of all, is community. During my first month at Burn, I was lucky enough to find a group of friends that, to this day, encourage me, motivate me, and help me stay focused. This is what keeps me coming back, holds me accountable and helps me thrive each and every week!

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Mobile Dog Grooming

The waggin’ wagon provides professional mobile dog grooming services to the North Atlanta community. We are currently servicing Buckhead, Brookhaven, Smyrna, Vinings, East Cobb, West & South Marietta, Sandy Springs & Dunwoody extending 3 miles north of I-285.