The Hearts and Eyes Choir Concert at Carnegie Hall was a huge, full-house success. (2,800 seats!)

 200 voices and performers (including 50 mentally an physically challenged people) came together to make a dream come true. 

During the concert, HappyDolls made by the members of the Hearts and Eyes Choir who could not make it to New York were presented on stage. (HappyDoll’s Carnegie Hall Debut!) The dolls were a reminder that the members were there in spirit. 

Our friend and supporter Susan, wrote a beautiful article on her JapanCulture•NYC website where you can read more about the concert. 

After the amazing performance, an explosion of applause filled the hall, followed by tears of joy. 

THANK YOU for coming and sharing this wonderful moment with us.  We were able to raise $2,200 through this event because of your kind support.

Finally, we would like to thank everyone who worked on this concert. HappyDoll.org is honored to have been a part of this meaningful event. 

Happy Memorial Day Weekend!

Special HappyDolls made by Yukiwariso

Stay tuned because we’ve got more exciting events coming your way…!

-Help lift the spirits of children in need by donating to happydoll.org-

Don’t miss this special evening!

THE HEARTS AND EYES CHOIR
Wednesday, May 22, 2013 Carnegie Hall New York City
Presented by YUKIWARISO CHOIR
Under the Auspices of: Consulate General of Japan in NeYork, Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group, Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi UFJ, HappyDoll.Inc, IACE Travel, City of Toshima, Tokyo

Website: www.theheartsandeyeschoir.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/NO9.May.22.2013*

Beethoven’s 9th Concert
Place: Stern Auditorium / Perelman Stage at Carnegie Hall
57th Street and Seventh Avenue, New York, NY 10019
Start: 8:00PM – Doors Open 7:30PM End: 10:30PM with one intermission 

Tickets: FREE but must be presented at the venue & Guests in wheelchairs are welcome (let us know in advance so we can save you a space)

You can get your free tickets by emailing info@happydoll.org or pick them up at the HappyDoll Office (2095 Broadway btw 72nd & 73rd)   OR at IACE. More info below**

On Wednesday, May 22nd, two hundred voices will come together to make a dream come true.  HappyDoll is proud to be a part of this performance by the The Hearts and Eyes Choir.  This chorus group was formed in 1989 by mentally and physically challenged individuals of Yukiwariso, a non-profit organization that supports individuals with disabilities and their families in Tokyo.

For many of the members, vocalizing, singing, and speaking is a challenge. Despite the difficulties, the choir continued to practice their favorite song–“Ode to Joy,” Beethoven’s Symphony Number Nine that enthusiastically celebrates the brotherhood and unity of all humanity–for 24 years. As a result, the chorus performed last fall at the renowned Suntory Hall in Japan.

Inspired by the story, friends and musicians in New York came together to join the chorus to realize the chorus’ dream to perform at Carnegie Hall.

For months, the members have been rehearsing the symphony’s added “Fifth Part,” which is specifically arranged for the mentally and physically challenged, and which adds uniqueness and tenderness to the music.

The Founder and Executive Director of HappyDoll.org had the opportunity to visit Yukiwariso in April for a HappyDoll session.  The chorus will sing on stage holding their one-and-only HappyDolls, which will continue to travel after the concert.

The chorus is hoping to share its dreams through their hearts and eyes with the people in New York City.

The program will include:

Rhapsody for Orchestra (Taiko performance by the physically challenged)
Four Seasons of Old Home ( A traditional Japanese song)
Ludwig van Beethoven – Symphony No. 9

**How to get Tickets:

-Email info@happydoll.org and pickup the tickets from the HappyDoll office (2095 Broadway & 72nd Street) OR request them to be mailed

-Tickets can be picked at IACE Travel.
IACE Travel: 18 East 41st ST., 3rd FL, New York, NY 10017
Tell: 212-972-3200

A gorgeous lineup of talented professional musicians and artists will also be performing to support the chorus:

JUICHI SATO – Conductor
URBAN-ATLANTIC CLASSICAL COLLECTIVE – Orchestra
ASAKO TAMURA – Soprano
NINA YOSHIDA NELSEN – Mezzo-Soprano
AKIRA YUKAWA – Tenor
KYU WON HAN – Baritone*

If you have any questions, feel free to email or call us at 212-769-8962. Come enjoy the performance and support the choir in fulfilling their dream.  We look forward to seeing you!

Spring Cleaning Party
Sunday, May 5th
2 – 5pm

What’s Mine Is Yours
RSVP by May 1st

1930 Broadway, 3rd Floor Party Room
(btw. 64th & 65th)
$25 tax-deductible donation per person
(cash, checks, and credit cards accepted)

Bring your things – take home their things
And make new friends, all for a good cause!
(Bring your clean unwanted clothes, accessories, kitchenware, toys and anything else,ONLY in good condition)
All items remaining after the event will be donated.

To RSVP click: I Will Attend or I Will Not Attend
Walk-ins are welcome!

In January, HappyDoll worked on a collaborative project with The Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi, UFJ by holding a special HappyDoll session in honor of the victims of the tragic Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting.  Children of employees decorated 17 beautiful HappyDolls in memory of the young children who had lost their lives.

The dolls sponsored by the employees were generously matched by the bank, enabling HappyDoll to double the number of dolls that will be donated around the world.

Our collaboration with The Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi, UFJ doesn’t end here.  Last summer, we met our volunteer, Kiran Borra, and her two daughters at at the Take Your Children to Work Day hosted by the bank.

 The Borra sisters, Kavya and Nithya, had such a great time stuffing the HappyDolls that they have volunteered to become HappyDoll Ambassadors  by delivering the dolls themselves to children facing hardships.  The sisters will travel to India this summer to visit their parents’ homeland and donate the dolls on behalf of the bank. We can’t wait to hear what kind of adventure they will have in India!

We are also excited to announce that HappyDoll has been invited by The Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi, UFJ to participate at their Take Your Children to Work Day again this year.

Stay tuned because we’ll follow these young ambassadors and update you on their journey!

-Help lift the spirits of children in need by donating to happydoll.org-

(from left: Volunteer, Andy An; Director of Development of the Boys & Girls Club, Wycliffe Daniels; Founder & Executive Director, Nozomi Terao; and our new volunteer, Travis Hill)

Last week, we had a very special HappyDoll event with the children affected by Hurricane Sandy.

Our new volunteer Travis, who is currently studying social entrepreneurship at NYU, was able to join us!

We asked him to share his experience with you:

“On Tuesday, March 26^th, I traveled to Hoboken, New Jersey to connect with the Boys and Girls Club of Hudson County and a non-profit called HappyDoll. During the visit, nearly 70 boys and girls decorated HappyDolls and then generously donated them to other children around the world. Early on in the event, however, it became clear that this was much more than just an exchange of dolls.

From the outset, the beauty of diversity was highlighted by the children’s interest in the different dolls from across the globe. The dolls from Uganda, Japan, and Honduras received particular attention with the children of the Boys and Girls Club wanting to learn more about the cultures of these newly discovered places.

Additionally, the children that had already been exposed to these cultures were able to offer their insights into these exciting locations. One boy in particular informed his peers that he used to live in France and wanted to write a message in French on the back of the doll. Several other children encouraged him and they each became excited to talk about and share the stories of their families.

It seemed that on a local level, the decoration process brought out a sense of both collaboration and diversity because the designs were a reflection of these unique and remarkable young people. When a child complimented a doll’s design, he or she was complimenting the child who made it. Considering that sharing and diversity played such an important role in thinking about the designs, everyone was proud to display these self-reflections.

Wycliffe Daniels, the Director of Development at the Boys and Girls Club commented that he saw kids within the Club making new interactions with each other as well. Youth of different ages and different schools worked together, inspiring one another’s designs and fostering curiosity.

As a college student, my peers and I are often guilty of closing our minds even in our pursuit of higher education. It is tempting to think that we know it all and that the world is a limited place. But being around these fresh and brilliant minds reminded me of what learning and experiencing is all about. I was astonished by how insightful and motivated these young people were. It was refreshing being around students that were so eager to learn and that were so confident in their questioning.

The most profound moment, however, was the final “Bon Voyage” ceremony. These young artists had put so much of themselves into their designs that giving the dolls up was a highly emotional moment. Even the older children, who had been more reserved at the beginning of the session, wanted to keep and show off their dolls. But in the end, they courageously decided to pass on their dolls to other children whom they had never met. This act of generosity demonstrated the children’s ability to think in the context of a global community. By giving up their dolls without expecting anything in return, they acknowledged the value in helping others prosper.

Selfless giving often creates moments of unexpected good. For the children at the Boys and Girls Club, this moment came thanks to the kindness of the first graders at the Girls Prep Lower East Side Elementary School.

In January, the girls themselves participated with HappyDoll in decorating 74 dolls with the intention of giving them to those affected by Hurricane Sandy. These dolls came as a welcomed surprise to the Boys and Girls Club, who were then given the opportunity to experience a fuller perspective of giving in the most genuine sense of the word.”

We hope Travis’ experience gave you an insight into what HappyDoll.org is about!

This event was covered by the local media, The Jersey Journal, took some wonderful photos.

Finally, we would like to send a BIG THANK YOU to the Boys & Girls Club of Hudson County, to the Double Tree Hotel and their volunteers for providing snacks to the children, to our volunteers (Andy and Travis), and last but not the least, to all the children for sharing their creativity and love.

Stay tuned because we’ve got more exciting events coming your way…

We sent our friend a HappyDoll called Sanyu made in UGANDA.  Inspired, she made a very special New Yorker doll. Meet Ilana, our new HappyDoll and travel buddy for Sanyu! The name means “beautiful” in Hebrew. Together, the two dolls are on their way back to the HappyDoll office now. Where will they go next? Who will they visit? Follow them by typing the HappyDoll ID # on our tracking page: 121728 & 121476.

Stay tuned for more updates!

Help lift the spirits of children in need by donating to happydoll.org

Mayor Miles, her beautiful daughter, and granddaughters from Chance Academy Washington DC

Do you remember the 100 HappyDolls  made last March in Washington DC? These dolls were decorated by 100 children at the National Cherry Blossom Festival. We are so proud to announce that the dolls have traveled over mountains, rivers, and the ocean,  and  arrived in the arms of the children at Muse-no-Yume, a non-profit organization providing art and music programs for special needs children in Sendai, Miyagi, where the tsunami hit in 2011. The dolls arrived just in time for the special music concert celebrating the organization’s 5th anniversary.

HappyDoll Session in Washington DC

In return, the Japanese children made 100 HappyDolls to send back to the other side of the globe… According to Muse-no-Yume, making and decorating dolls are therapeutic experiences for many children and families affected by the Tohoku Earthquake and Tsunami.

Founder and Director of Muse No Yume, Atsuko Yagi

A”Bon Voyage Ceremony” was held during the music concert to send off the newly decorated dolls. It was an emotionally moving ceremony, where 100 Japanese children held their one-of-a kind dolls as they sang together beautifully. What did they sing? A very special original happydoll song composed by New York Artist, Aya Nishina!

The HappyDoll journey doesn’t end here! On Martin Luther King Jr. Day,  these dolls traveled from Japan all the way to Washington D.C and visited the children at Chance Academy. On this day, local children gathered  at the performing arts center, Joe’s Movement Emporium, to decorate HappyDolls as part of community service in honor of Dr. King.

We had the honor of meeting the President, Ms. Anna Bernanke, and Mayor Miles, Mayor of Mount Rainier MD, and her granddaughters who attend the academy.  Once again, a total of 100 dolls were decorated by the children of Chance Academy and the mayor!

Here’s a lovely comment from Anna:

“Having Happy Doll at our event was truly amazing.  It was such a perfect combination of fun and community service.  I am so excited that your work continues to grow and to help children around the world.  Dr. King’s message was universal and having an international organization with which to share this dream was especially exciting.  Our MLK Day celebration is an annual event.  I am hopeful that we can have Happy Doll as part of our activities next year! “

HappyDoll Director, Nozomi, with President Anna Bernanke

The journey which began last March in DC seems to have made a full circle…But there’s always that same question: Where will these dolls go?

Anna and her friends have a special place in mind for these dolls…Stay tuned to find out!

With Valentine’s Day just around the corner, there’s no better way to show someone you care! Send a HappyDoll and spread the love. 

For all of February until March 31st, we’ll be celebrating this wonderful tradition with a Valentine’s Day Campaign! 

Use this promotion code “HAVEAHEART” on our Etsy page when you donate for a HappyDoll kit, and receive a $5 off per doll from normal sponsorship rate! That’s not all. Do you remember our HappyDoll postcards?  If you get a HappyDoll kit during this campaign, you will receive the HappyDoll postcard set AND a Special Valentine’s Day HappyDoll Postcard! (See below.)

Pretty cute, huh? Make a HappyDoll and spread the love this Valentine’s Day before the end of the campaign (March 31st) to receive this limited edition postcard!

The HappyDoll kits are not just perfect for community service programs and after school activities, but also for birthday parties, baby showers, and wedding showers.

We hope you have a very sweet Valentine’s Day!

We are excited to share the debut of our HappyDoll Postcards today.

The beautiful collection comes in a set of 5 for a $5 donation through our website, or 2 sets for a $9 donation.  (Just click the donation link and  we’ll send you a follow up email.)

It’s a new year. Why don’t you take this opportunity to write to your friends and say hello?

All the photos were taken in New York City! Scroll down to see the five different designs:

Title: IMAGINE Mosaic at Strawberry Fields in Central Park

Title: Spring Is Here

Title: Little Pumpkins at Union Square

Title: Adventure at Columbus Circle 

Title: Bathing in Sunflowers

-Get 5 postcards (1 set) for $5 donation OR 10 postcards (2 sets) for $9 donation