2026 Children Helping Children Performathon

Benefit for Ronald McDonald House Charities (RMHC®)

COORDINATORS: RENAE BLOCK, SUZANNE LEHRER & BETTY STOLOFF (njmtaperformathon@gmail.com)

Thank you to everyone who contributed to the success of the NJMTA 2026 Children Helping Children Performathon!

Together, we raised a grand total of $15,378.19 for the Ronald McDonald Houses in Central, Northern and Southern New Jersey.

17 recitals took place on the weekends of February 28th and March 7th in three different locations: Steinway & Sons in Princeton, The Arts Council of Princeton, and Cunningham Piano in Cherry Hill.

The NJMTA Performathon is a wonderful experience for our students and teachers. It is an opportunity for performers of all levels and abilities to share their music in community service. 

Sincerely,

Renae Block, Suzanne Lehrer, & Betty Stoloff

This year we celebrated the 20th year of the NJMTA Performathon!

To date, the NJMTA Children Helping Children Performathon has raised over $200,000! Recitals are free and open to the public. Benefit for Ronald McDonald House Charities (RMHC®) The NJMTA Children Helping Children Performathon (CHCP) is an opportunity for students of all levels and ages to perform for both artistic enrichment and community service.

This year, we are raising funds for the three Ronald McDonald Houses in New Jersey. For those of you who may not be familiar with Ronald McDonald Houses, they are houses that are attached to a local children’s hospital. They provide a “home away from home” for countless families in need of a place to eat and sleep while a child is undergoing intensive treatment at the local hospital.

TO DONATE: please select “NJMTA Performathon” on the drop down menu

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Ronald McDonald House Charities (RMHC®), a non-profit, 501 ©(3), creates, finds and supports programs that directly improve the health and well being of children. RMHC fulfills its mission by creating programs that address targeted needs, and by supporting these programs through its global network of local Chapters in 51 countries and regions. RMHC Chapters are run by boards comprised of members of the local medical community, business and civic leaders, parents/volunteers, and McDonald’s representatives.

We want to thank all the student musicians, artists and their parents whose time and efforts made the 2024 NJMTA Children Helping Children Performathon (CHCP) a huge success again this year!

For six years in a row, the New Jersey Music Teachers Association has sponsored this event — raising money for HomeFront's children's program, “Joy, Hopes & Dreams,” which provides after-school, weekend and summer activities and experiences for low-income and homeless children, from tutoring for school work to experiences with music, art, theater and sports.

Read the thank you letter from HomeFront

“Thank you for helping local children in need!

Your amazing work with the students who performed in the NJMTA “Performathon” recital resulted in many wonderful donations that will go directly to HomeFront’s Joy, Hopes and Dreams program.

These thoughtful donations will help fund programming that provides over 400 kids with weekly tutoring, field trips, sports, fitness programs, art classes, life skills training and leadership coaching. As you know, great futures become possible when our youth are allowed to thrive in a supportive situation.

Our congratulations to you for what I am sure was a difficult task teaching the students in such a difficult environment. We know your efforts not only enriched your students’ lives, but will also help so many of the children we serve every day.

With my sincere gratitude,

Connie, HomeFront

(At least 90% of every donated dollar goes directly to client services.)

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