Musicians On Call (MOC), a nonprofit organization that brings live and recorded music to the bedsides of patients in hospitals across the country, launched their expansion into The Brooklyn Hospital Center with the help of recording artist Gavin DeGraw. A longtime MOC supporter, DeGraw performed for patients, families and caregivers in the hospital’s pediatric unit. The program, brought to The Brooklyn Hospital Center with the help of The Jason Pollack Bedside Performance Program and The Francesco Loccisano Memorial Foundation, had Gavin performing some of his biggest hits including “She Set The City on Fire,” “Not Over You,” and “I Don’t Wanna Be.”
The day kicked off with Musicians On Call President Pete Griffin and Alissa Pollack, EVP, Global Music Marketing for iHeartMedia and MOC Board Member, and Gary Terrinoni, President and CEO of The Brooklyn Hospital Center all speaking to the healing power of music and why launching MOC in The Brooklyn Hospital Center was so important to all involved. Gavin then did the Bedside Performance Program bringing smiles to everyone’s faces.
“I’ve always cherished my relationship with Musicians On Call and the patients I get to meet each time I visit a hospital,” said Gavin DeGraw. “I look forward to doing many more of these visits and continue giving back any way I can. I truly believe music is medicine.”
“Gavin has been a friend and supporter of Musicians On Call for over a decade, so I'm grateful he was able to join us on this special day,” said Pete Griffin, Musicians On Call President. “Our launch at The Brooklyn Hospital Center is an important one as it establishes a regular program for MOC in Brooklyn. We’re grateful to the Alissa Pollack, The Jason Pollack Bedside Performance Program and The Francesco Loccisano Memorial Foundation for helping to bring us there.”
MOC recently launched their Chicago expansion as well, marking now 58 hospital partners that the organization currently brings the healing power of music to patients including New York, Miami, Nashville, Dallas, Philadelphia, Los Angeles, Denver, Washington D.C., Baltimore, Denver, San Francisco, Atlanta and more. To date, its volunteers have played for nearly 600,000 people across the country. By delivering live, in-room performances to patients undergoing treatment or unable to leave their beds, they add a dose of joy to life in a healthcare facility.
Musicians On Call (MOC) was founded in 1999 with the mission of bringing live and recorded music to the bedsides of patients in healthcare facilities ranging from children’s hospitals to adult facilities, VA hospitals and hospices. To date, its volunteers have played for half a million people across the country. By delivering live, in-room performances to patients undergoing treatment or unable to leave their beds, they add a dose of joy to life in a healthcare facility. MOC supporters over the years include Bruce Springsteen, Kelly Clarkson, Lady Antebellum, Justin Timberlake, Ed Sheeran, Reba, Gavin DeGraw, Darius Rucker, Pharrell, Amos Lee, Nick Jonas, Rachel Platten and many more. For more information, visit www.musiciansoncall.org.
