Reach Out Arts, based in New York City, was developed in 2015 as the public arm of the Life Energy Foundation (LEF), a 501(c)3 organization founded to promote wellbeing and the helping of others through the arts.
Our approach is based on the lifework of our founder John Diamond, MD (1934-2021). Diamond was a holistic medical doctor who, among many other achievements, championed the use of the arts for well-being. At the core of his approach was the notion of altruism. Put simply: when an artistic endeavor of any kind is done with the explicit intention of helping other people, its therapeutic power is greatly raised. As Diamond wrote in his book The Veneration of Life: “Altruism is health, True Health. And the Arts can be a wonderful vehicle for Altruism.”
Mission
Reach Out Arts teaches people to use their creativity to help others and enhance communities through educational and performance-based outreach programs.
Vision
Reach Out Arts envisions a world where the arts lead us to rediscover our humanity, meaningfully communicate with one another, and embrace the immeasurable value of enhancing lives.