Welcome to Allegro

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Dear Friends, 

Allegro is so proud to announce that because of our wonderful supporters we have been able to offer more programs than ever before in our 32-year history. The need for Allegro’s programs has become even greater as a result of the pandemic. Most children, especially children with disabilities, were impacted academically and socially by the pandemic. The children with disabilities that Allegro teaches felt this impact even more. Now that daily life is basically back to normal, Allegro desperately needs your support to be able to keep building upon the momentum that we have made with our students over the last year of programs. 

Allegro Foundation’s driving passion is to show Children Living with Disabilities what they CAN do. This is what the staff of the Allegro Foundation pour their heart and souls into every day. Helping children living with disabilities feel successful is so important! Success provides confidence and the ability to contribute at a greater level-which are Allegro’s goals for each student that we teach.

A new friend recently mentioned a new way of thinking about Allegro students that resonated with me, and I wanted to share it with you… 

Imagine being in a classroom where the instruction is given in a completely different language than the one you regularly speak. How frustrating would that be? How lonely? How difficult to stay on task? This is how it can feel for students with disabilities in a traditional classroom setting. Enter Allegro Foundation. Allegro developed a unique curriculum based on years of research that uses movement to reinforce learning concepts, allowing students to feel what is being learned and commit it to muscle memory. 

How does this look in a classroom? If, for example, students are learning to count, a traditional approach would be to count 1, 2, 3, 4 and then have the students mirror that back. The concept of numbers may not be readily grasped by students of differing abilities, and they may be hearing or interpreting something like 2, 5, 6, 10. An Allegro lesson might have the students march in place, use their bodies, and the to the beat of the music drum out the numbers. 

Allegro Foundation is committed to helping preschool and elementary age children, regardless of their disability, learn in an often very new way. The results we are seeing are extraordinary. What seemed like a “radical” idea for teaching thirty-one years ago has been tested over time and has become a highly accepted modality. 

Allegro runs FREE Movement Education programs in numerous Charlotte Schools, including Huntersville and the University areas, as well as Fort Mill and Rock Hill Schools, working with students during the school day on a weekly basis. We also run community outreach programs at Sardis Presbyterian Church. We are eager for more parents to know about Allegro’s entirely FREE programming and would like to teach as many children as possible. 

If you know of a student who could benefit from an Allegro after school program, please reach out to us. In the summertime, Allegro also facilitates programming through numerous summer camps.

How Can You Help? Allegro most definitely needs your financial support! As you may know we do not receive any government support or help from the United Way. Allegro exists on private donations and grants to help over 800 children living with disabilities each week. There are more than 18,000 children living in Charlotte, including Huntersville and the University areas, and in Fort Mill and Rock Hill who would benefit from Allegro programs. We want to reach as many children as we can. We do not discriminate against any type of disability - we are open to all! Your donations can help us reach these families! 

If you or someone you know is interested in volunteering, we have a large demand for volunteers needed to help with the Free Movement Education Classes, as well as in the Allegro Office and with our special events. 

Sincerely,

Pat Farmer

Founder & President