*IN CASE YOU MISSED IT*

Journal-News: Hearing impaired student gifted new piano after teaching herself to play during pandemic

Earlier this year, Journal-News Staff Writer Michael D. Clark wrote about a Middletown Middle School student--who is hearing impaired--and how she taught herself to play the piano during the pandemic (read that article here). A group of Middletown residents read his article and knew they had to do something about her lack of a real piano. The group is the Middletown RAK (Random Acts of Kindness) and they’re an anonymous organization that chooses one person or entity a month and bestows upon them a gift of kindness.

To read the full article, click here.

‘Oh my gosh!’: Butler County student gifted new piano after teaching herself to play during pandemic
March 5, 2021
By Michael D. Clark, Journal-News Staff Writer

“Arelis Betancourt Franquiz left for her usual school day Monday morning walking past the tiny, electronic piano on which the hearing-impaired student taught herself how to play during the coronavirus pandemic… 

“But when she returned home in the afternoon from her classes at Middletown Middle School, that was gone… 

“In its place...was a full-sized, traditional piano donated by a local group along with nearly a $1,000 for piano lessons… 

“Urged on by her smiling mother, Franquiz opened an envelope propped up on it from the Middletown RAK (Random Acts of Kindness) group and began to read their unsigned note… 

“‘Dear Arelis: It has come to our attention that even though you have experienced some extra challenges in life, you have met those challenges with strength, determination, creativity, and joy!”

“The recent article in the Journal-News about the way that you used free time during the pandemic to teach yourself how to play the piano was inspiring!... 

“‘In fact, so inspiring that we were moved to do something for you… 

“‘...We offer you the gift of this lovely piano which is graciously donated by Steve Hicks at A1 Piano & Organ Movers. We also offer $975 to be put towards your first several months of piano...This gift comes with no strings attached – it is given in the spirit of helping young women right here in our own community,’ said the RAK group, which requested anonymity… 

“‘We are a group of women from the Middletown community...we take the opportunity to share our blessings and each month we offer a gift that is given as a ‘random act of kindness’ to another person in the Middletown area who has a need… 

“Franquiz, who hears via a cochlear implant, had never played the piano before but used her extra time at home during the pandemic to teach herself… 

“Her mother, told Middletown school officials who helped in coordinating the secret piano delivery while Franquiz was at school, said she was overwhelmed with appreciation for this amazing gift and opportunity’...” 

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Related: Middletown hearing-impaired student teaches herself to play piano during pandemic