The Healing Notes Foundation is a nonprofit organization based in Livonia. Its mission is to support the arts in clinical settings to benefit children and families who are affected by hospitalization or chronic illness. The organization’s creation was inspired by Ali McManus. In 2010, 13-year-old McManus underwent a spinal fusion to correct the 145-degree curvature in her spine, which was crushing her internal organs and limiting her oxygen intake. McManus underwent 10 additional surgeries and coped with it by writing and playing music. Through the healing powers of music, she became “Unbreakable,” the title of one of her songs. Healing Notes continues to use the arts to help children throughout the metro Detroit area. It has partnered with C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital in Ann Arbor and Beaumont Children’s Hospital, Royal Oak to create atmospheres for children to experience the arts. A partnership with North Star Reach, a camp for children with chronic illness, led to the development of “The Healing Notes Foundation Music and Drama Program,” which will be offered at the camp in 2021.
