Best to you, my friend…Kerri Painter

I have been blessed to know Jen for about 12 years now. I met her while working at Community Medical Center in the Activities department. Jen played music for the patients and inspired me to start playing piano for them. I remember her wearing a clown outfit at 8-9 months pregnant and playing an accordian. The patients and staff really appreciated all of her hard work to keep spirits up in a stressful environment. She also played many other instruments including guitar, harmonica and cello. Jen’s music helped patients in so many different ways. She helped them relax and get their mind off their pain and diagnosis, have fun, laugh and sing along to old time tunes, and helped them find their own love for music, when it seemed to be lost by their illness. Some patients did not want to leave their rooms but would come out to listen to Jen or she would bring the music to them. We have had patients return after being discharged just to hear her play again.

I have also had the honor of assisting Jen and Mohan with Spontaneous Music for Children for the last 10 years. While raising three children of her own, she has shared her time and talents with many other children in the community by inspiring them to play music in a variety of creative ways. My son has known Jen all his life and is now a second grader who is taking cello lessons from her. She has truly inspired him to play. He was very little when he told me that he wanted to play the cello and be like Jen and now she is helping to make that dream come true.

I appreciate all that Jennifer Slayden has done and continues to do for our community. She deserves to win this contest. Thank you for providing this opportunity. I believe all of the contestants should win.