Programs

Music Therapy

Years and years of research have been conducted proving the benefits playing an instrument can have on your mental and physical health. Music soothes the savage beast…. A study by the Cleveland Clinic details the measurable, positive changes in patients who have been diagnosed with anxiety, depression, and personality disorders when they devote a certain amount of personal time a week to listening and playing music. The Foundation understands the deep benefits and helps our participants learn to read music and provides all instruments to practice and play with on a daily basis. Music – listening to it, playing it, or sharing it – is healing. 

Dog-Training Therapy

The Foundation conducts a program that specifically targets our black youth through dog training therapy. By partnering with local animal shelters, our participants help to train the sheltered dogs, which allows for a mutually beneficial relationship between the participants and the puppies they train. Therapy animals – or even just adopting a pet – can lead to extreme improvements in mood and help people struggling with anxiety or depression learn to control daily anxieties and their overall mood. Dogs have been known to save the lives of their masters by alerting their masters when they are sick or about to black out or faint. Dogs could not survive without humans and Humans need dogs for their unconditional love and devotion. While our youth are training dogs they will also be learning how to train and control themselves, while experiencing unconditional love from Man’s Best Friend.

Wellness and Awareness Education

Our main programmatic effort is the general spreading of information and awareness of mental health wellness for black youth in the United States. We have materials and spread information about how to best navigate systemic racism and how to navigate systems in order to receive quality treatment in a respectful way. The foundation also wishes to address the inhumane way that Black children with mental health issues are mis-treated, criminalized and made to feel less than in our educational school systems and in mental health facilities and hospitals. In addition there will be workshops for parents to help guide them effectively through these systems while simultaneously juggling home life and other children in the household.  We will provide a outlet for communities to come and let off some steam in our group dance and yoga classes that will free to the communities. The Von Dahne Foundation understands that you cannot heal the body without healing the head too !

Diet and Nutrition Education

The relationship between what we eat and how we feel is an undervalued tool when it comes to mental health. Proper diet and nutrition, while not the “save all” for mental and mood disorders, healthy foods can greatly boost moods and decrease risk of depression and anxiety. The American Psychological Association has made a direct connection between gut health and serotonin levels – the chemical in your body that is used to stabilize mood. More than 95% of the average human’s serotonin comes from your gut – which is why your stomach hurts when you are nervous or why you can lose your appetite when you are sad. Our diet and nutrition awareness will focus on the positive benefits of healthy eating – such as increasing your fruit and vegetable intake, as well as a heavy increase of foods with high percentages of omega-3 fatty acid, which is good for brain health. This program also includes fun exercise programs for both children and adults. Children will be able to participate in team sports activities such as basketball and football while adults can enjoy relaxing yoga and dance classes and music lessons and taught to read music giving them a lifetime of good paying jobs. Music enhances learning and also smoothes the savage beast.

The VonDahne Foundations First Community Event... August 27th 2022
Heavenly Vision Ministries @ 9601 Frankstown Ave Penn Hills PA. 15235

Introducing the Foundation to the Community! Lots of fun and very informative, lots of give aways. Great turn out!
Special thanks to The Brothers and Sisters of Zeta Phi Beta Sigma Sorority and Fraternity for their endless Service To Humanity