National Suicide Prevention Lifeline

1-800-273-8255

National Suicide Prevention Lifeline

1-800-273-8255

About The Foundation

Our Foundation Donates Musical Instruments To Kids & Youth Programs Across America. Donate Your New or Used Musical Instrument Today (Sorry No Pianos) & Change A Child's Life Forever. We Are A Certified 501 (c) (3) Charity With The IRS. Contact us at wafflesfoundation@gmail.com or (321) 246 - 0335.

This foundation has been created in loving memory of my son Matthew "Waffles" Bahna who left this world on 8/12/19 at the age of 27. The nickname "Waffles" was bestowed on "Matt" in Celebration High School in Florida because he always ate waffles for breakfast. "Waffles was a kind soul who had an affinity for music of all genres. He was a highly skilled musician who could play piano and any stringed instrument as well as read music. "Waffles" was a charming person who mixed a rock star cool with a kind and tender heart. He reveled in playing music and carried his guitar wherever he went. Teaching kids how to play music was something he excelled in because he knew how to make it fun and was able to explain intricate concepts in ways a kid could understand. The world and all of us who loved him lost a special soul when he left the earth; but I as his dad know that he would want us to go on; and the music to never stop.

Our mission statement is to serenade the world with healing music. To inspire optimism, happiness, and hope; to create opportunity and make a difference for kids of all races, colors, genders and creeds. Help us to "Help Tomorrow's Musicians Today" by donating a new, slightly used, or somehow workable musical instrument. We will see it to a deserving child or youth program wherever it is needed in the United States. We are a certified 501 (c) (3) charity and we believe that the healing gift of music should be heard and played by any and all children who wish to do so.

Thank you from "Al;" "Waffles" Dad.

Our 3rd Annual Games For Guitars Fundraiser is booked for May 17th 2024 at AMF Lanes in Kissimmee right near Disney. Spare some time and join us between 7 and 9pm.

Photos

Videos

Friends Of Waffles

We are so grateful to the following business partners, individuals, and organizations who make what we do possible and who help us to "Help Tomorrow's Musicians Today." 

Gulf Coast Banjo Society - Special thanks to David and all the players for hitting the high notes with our young musicians because of your generosity.

Brain Scan Media - Tom thank you for this amazing and professional website and for being our very first sponsor.

Kiwanis of Canarsie and Ben Bay
- Veronica your devotion to education and our foundation have made such a difference in the lives of so many young musicians.

Monorail Tales Podcast Team - Thank you to everyone on the team for your support and for giving us a platform to highlight the foundations current events and spread the word and excitement of the foundation.

Publix Supermarket -  Thank you for helping to make kids dreams come true & for giving back to the community. Your event sponsorship was a key to our first event's success

I Like It Designs - Thank you to Tracy and Jack for being our "Gold" Sponsor for our first event at Arcade Monsters and for your generosity and love for your support of our vision of bringing music to kids everywhere.

Fogt's Music Store of Sarasota
- Thank you to "Bill" and "JT" for your kindness, generosity, and for prepping our instruemnts before they are donated.

The Herald Tribune & Reporter Earle Kimmel - Thank you Earle for writing such a thoughtful and informative article about our foundation, "Waffles," and our first event. The article continues to spread our mission to the world and has gathered countless musical instruments and equipment that we have donated to children and youth music programs around the United States of America.

Arcade Monsters of Lido Beach - Thank you for your hospitality, friendship, and generosity in allowing us to celebrate our first event at your spectacular arcade. We are so happy with its success that we have decided to make this an annual event. Your ownership, staff, and facility are stellar and all of our guests felt at home and can't wait for next year.

Anna Marie Island Women of the Moose Chapter 1601 - Our foundation is grateful to all of the members of the lodge for their generous donation and for their dedication to the students we sponsor.

Post Net of Sarasota on 5342 Clark Road. Thank you to Brenda for being such a friend and professional resource for our foundation. You take care of all of our shipping & printing; and we are so grateful.

Walmart - Thank you for having the "Round Up" program which allows customers to round up their purhases online or in store and donate to our foundation and also for having an online registry potential donors can visit and purchase items our foundation needs for the kids we sponsor and for our outreach programs.

Printoga Digital Printing Service - Special thanks to our friend from the "Great White North" "Dave Flook" for all of his help with formatting our logo for our tee shirt and for always being there for us to solve any tech problem that we may have. Dave has a shop where you can make the very best tee shirts, buttons, magnets, or almost anything. Please visit Dave's website at https://printoga.com or phone him at (519) 222 - 9099. Tell him "Waffles" sent you.

It is our extreme privilige to help youth music anywhere and that is needed in the United States. Please contact our foundation at: (321) 246 - 0335 or via email at wafflesfoundation@gmail.com


Our foundation also gives inspirational talks on the topics of music therapy, suicide prevention, and the arts. Please call or email for further information.


We are proud to be partnering with the following schools, institutions, and music programs on a regular basis.




Operation Music Project / New York, N.Y.                                                                                  Suzuki Music Institute / Sarasota FL

The Nubian Conservatory / Brooklyn, N.Y.                                                                                        180 House / Sarasota FL


                                                                                                                                                      

                                                                                                                                         

Our Ambassadors

Elisa Donahue and Lauren McAlister Yonkers, New York

Samuel Zarbailov(Sam Zee) Brooklyn, New York

Diane Larkin Brooklyn, New York

Sheila Sanders Rock Hill, South Carolina

Brandie Flee Sarasota, Florida

Veronica Duchene Daniele Thomas Marine Park and Canarsie Brooklyn, New York

Bill Mitchell Tom's River, New Jersey

"Eddie" Patella (Service Dog / Therapy Dog) Astoria, Queens.


Become an Ambassador today for your local comunity and help us to bring music to kids in all corners of the earth.
Ambassadors spread the good will of our foundation, collect musical instruments, and help raise funds.


If you have a skill or talent that you believe can be used to help our foundation please contact us. Together we can help children in need and inspire them to be the world's next musicians.






We are excited to be a part of Walmart & Sam's Club "Round Up" Program. Please follow this link to sign up and don't forget to choose "Waffles Foundation INC. as your preferred charity. Visit Walmart.com/SparkGood to learn more

Two exciting programs, Round Up and an enhanced registry make it easier to tailor giving. Spark Good Round Up allows customers to round up their purchase total and donate their change at checkout on Walmart.com and in the Walmart app to a public charity of their choice. It’s easy to use and customizable. Whereas most round up programs enable customers to give to a pre-determined charitable partner, Spark Good Round Up puts the community at its center, and the customer in the driver seat. Spark Good Registry works just like a baby or wedding registry, where public charities can create and manage registries for products they want and need, making it easier for customers to ensure their giving supports areas that will make the greatest impact. What was previously Registry for Good, Spark Good Registry is now more customizable for charities enabling them to send charitable receipts and thank their donors.

Contact Us

Alfred Bahna - Director / President
Lorraine Knepple - Director / Secretary
Luis Quevedo - Director
Kerry Bahna - Treasurer

3994 Mediterranea Circle
Sarasota, FL 34233

Email: wafflesfoundation@gmail.com

We are a certified 501 (c) (3) with the United States Internal Revenue Service and we are registered by the State of Florida. This information can be verified via public record or upon request.

All donations are tax deductible and we will provide you with a receipt.