Notes for Hope

A touching press release:

For several years, 17-year-old Tyler Sanchez had been composing original songs on the piano and performing for nursing home residents in his hometown of Racine, Wis. He was looking for a way to bring hope to even more people.

He hit upon the idea of composing and professionally recording a CD of his original compositions and donating all of the proceeds to charity. He called his project "Notes for Hope" and titled his CD "A New Beginning."

Born with only one kidney, Sanchez chose to donate 50 percent of the proceeds to the American Kidney Fund, the nation's leading source of direct financial aid to patients with chronic kidney disease.

"I wanted to feel a connection to the organization to which I would be making a contribution," Sanchez said recently. "I also know that kidney disease is often linked to diabetes, which runs in my family. I am Hispanic and we are 2 to 3 times more likely to develop diabetes than Caucasians and tend to suffer more severe side effects. So while I have been healthy to date, kidney disease nonetheless felt close to home."

"Kidney disease can be so devastating and so I wanted to make a donation to aid research and help patients who cannot afford dialysis. I researched the Fund and was impressed with its rating as a charity," Sanchez added, citing the Fund's top rating by Forbes, Charity Navigator, Readers' Digest and other watchdog groups.

Sanchez, a junior at The Prairie School in Racine, is donating the other 50 percent of the proceeds to the United Way of Racine County, Inc., which funds programs for low-income families.

"A New Beginning" contains seven songs composed and performed by Sanchez.

"I think people find the music soothing and maybe even inspirational," he said. "I like to think the music captures the emotions that people who are enduring hardships, such as an illness, may experience. The final song on the CD is 'Signs of Courage' which is about hope and courage in the face of adversity."

Sanchez began playing piano seven years ago, but disliked it at first. Then he found a new teacher "who was elderly but had the heart of a teenager" and who taught him to play tunes such as "The Pink Panther" and "Mission: Impossible." It was then that he developed a real interest in piano and began to write his own songs. When he was in the eighth grade, his song "In My Hands I Hold" won a statewide competition. That song appears on the CD.

When Sanchez composes music, he is inspired by his emotions. "I just start to play. If I'm happy and optimistic, I'll play something with a brighter sound, but if I'm stressed, or there's just a lot on my mind, I may play something more inspirational and relaxing." His musical influences include John Tesh, Coldplay, Billy Joel, Elton John, and others.

Samples of each track from "A New Beginning" can be found [here]. "A New Beginning" sells for $6.99 plus $3.00 shipping, and the CD can be shipped anywhere in the United States. To order, e-mail .

Sounds like a great story about a great kid...