Meet Henry
Henry is a 1943 D pure copper penny who has had quite a life. Although if perfect, he could be worth over a million dollars, he discovers that love is what truly makes him rich.
Meet Allister
Allister is a 1943 D pure copper penny who is worth over a million dollars. He believes that he is better than any other penny because he’s in perfect condition - never been touched. Yet, he has never had any adventures or experienced life.
Meet Tommy
Tommy is a little boy who has always wanted a 1943 D pure copper penny. He knows that it is worth over a million dollars. When his grandpa buys Henry for him, he is overjoyed. . .but not for the reason that you would think! He teaches us the most valuable lesson of all!
It All Started With The Luckiest Penny Book!
The Luckiest Penny book was born in 2009. From there it became a raved about interactive musical that was preformed in Miami and New York for thousands of kids and their families.
The Luckiest Penny
"One of the most prolific events of the Ability Explosion was the exuberant performance of The Luckiest Penny Musical, by Deborah Weed. The story which examines individual self-worth affects the sensibilities of everyone who sees and hears it. The uplifting musical is a testament to the efforts and goals of the author and creator and will benefit humanity with its inspiration and message."
~ David New, Ability Explosion's, President and Founder
"Deborah Weed is a rare professional - with creative talents that are under-girded with an understanding of community building and messaging. She understands the links between audiences and art, and how each is enhanced by the other. Choosing children and families as her audience - with Paisley and several other projects over the past few years - she’s identified confidence-building as one of the most needed spaces to be addressed and filled that space with materials that are both enriching and empowering. I saw The Luckiest Penny and was transformed by it!”
~ Deborah Briggs, Vice President for Arts, Culture and Community, The Betsy - South Beach
Did You Know
Research by self-esteem expert Jack Canfield reveals a startling drop in children's self-esteem: 80% of first graders score high on self-esteem inventories, but by fifth grade, this number falls to just 20%. This decline indicates a pressing need for initiatives that help children maintain their belief in themselves.
Deborah Weed, the Self-Worth Ambassador and founder of the Self-Worth Initiative, is committed to reversing this trend. “Imagine a world where every child understands their true worth,” says Weed. “Our mission is to help kids build lasting self-confidence and self-respect through engaging and meaningful content.”
The Story of The Luckiest Penny
The Luckiest Penny tells the tale of two rare 1943 D pure copper pennies at a coin auction. Allister, untouched and pristine, believes he is more valuable. Henry, who has experienced numerous adventures, learns that his journey makes him unique and special. This heartwarming story, with its unexpected twist, delivers a powerful message about recognizing one's inherent worth.
Deborah Weed’s Personal Inspiration
The inspiration for The Luckiest Penny came during a challenging time in Weed’s life, when she felt a deep connection to Henry’s experiences. “Learning that a seemingly worthless penny could be worth a million dollars made me reflect on my own value,” Weed explains. “This realization fueled the creation of The Luckiest Penny, with the story’s music and lyrics coming to me as if by divine inspiration.”
The Vision for The Luckiest Penny
The Luckiest Penny is now being turned into an app that will have the animated musical, sing-a-longs, an innovative virtual game and a way to spotlight kids who are holding penny drives around the globe. In addition, there will be a global movement to make all children self-worth HEROES!
Insights from Live Performances
The live performances of The Luckiest Penny have featured interactive talk-back sessions, where children answer questions that reveal their values and emotions. These sessions provide parents and teachers with invaluable insights into children’s inner worlds, which started the conversation about self-worth. We will replicate this through our innovative entertainment programs.
Ernest Socolov created the illustrations for The Luckiest Penny. He has been a professional illustrator for all of his 70+ years. He was a designer and artist at: ABC; Esquire Magazine; Columbia Records and on and on... He is an ardent professional who captures emotions with his paint brush and uses bursts of color to evoke the passion of the heart-warming story. Now, he is my artistic angel. . .RIP.
The Luckiest Penny book, musical and curriculum, makes self-worth FUN! It's the simplest way to encourage kids from 3-103, to know what they're worth. The production has rave reviews and continues to be a favorite of children and adults alike! Take a peek below ... be sure to listen to the songs.
Deborah Weed, artist, visionary storyteller and creative lyricist has brought the world an incredibly inspirational, uplifting and effectively educational story and musical, The Luckiest Penny. Deborah's delightful musical adaptation of her beautifully written book gives life, drama, comedy and unique personas to two 1943 rare copper pennies, who take us on a memorable, rollicking, hand slapping, singing and heartwarming journey of positive self-esteem. I, and my Occupational Therapy Assistant students, have had the awesome experience of working with Deborah to bring her musical to children and adults in the Hudson Valley region of New York.
~ Flo Hannes, MS, OTR/L, FAOTA, Chairperson, SUNY Orange Occupational Therapy Assistant Program
"At Zylofone, our mission is to offer music, theater and art to the special needs population. When I came across the story of the "Luckiest Penny", was drawn in by the "self-worth" component. All of us have the need for support, understanding and a true feeling of self worth. This tale of two pennies is light, funny and easy to connect to. I adore the idea of bringing the audience in as a part of the auction. A connection that elicits joy and start the communication ball rolling. Bravo, Deborah Weed!" ~ Debbie Major, Founder/CEO of Zylofone.
Zylofone will be bringing The Luckiest Penny Program to school children in Orange County, New York.
Listen to the upbeat music!
More Testimonials.
~ Shauna Smith
“IIt was such a pleasure to have met you. You are such a sweet person. I had been looking so forward to the performance of The Luckiest Penny! I was also happy to be able to share it with my children and my husband. We had read the book prior to the performance and we were so happy to see it done live. The kids were even singing the song PEHEW! PEHEW! Whatta ya gonna do? On Monday after the show. I love the message of The Luckiest Penny and think that having it done live is a wonderful way to relay that message.”
~ Melissa M. Caputo
‘‘It was a joy hearing the words and music of The Luckiest Penny come to life at the New York Occupational Therapy Association Conference. The dialog between the two pennies was impeccable, and I did indeed have tears in my eyes by the end. The story line can speak to, and is inspiring for all ages. Now is a wonderful time to spread the joy of this play.’’
~ Patsy Doris
‘‘I took my two daughters to see The Luckiest Penny musical, and they both enjoyed it immensely. The story taught them that it is okay to be different, and that being different is not necessarily a bad thing. My younger daughter stutters and sometimes she is teased at school. This story has made her open up about the self-esteem issues she has been experiencing. Once again, thank you for this experience.’’
~ David Hering
‘‘After seeing The Luckiest Penny, I realized how simple , yet, how creative it was. Both the story and musical hold such a strong moral concept that should be instilled in all of us.’’
~ Caitlin Cardone
‘‘One word, INSPIRATIONAL! When I first met you, it felt like I had known you for a few years. You brought me in like I was your best friend. The Luckiest Penny taught me that self-worth comes from the inside, that the adventures that you take is what creates your self-worth. The play was just as inspirational as you. I believe that this play needs to be shown everywhere possible, to every one of all backgrounds and ages. Everyone is worth something, and everyone is capable of believing that they are indeed a lucky penny!’’
~ L. E.
‘‘I have two boys, one 22 and one 19 and although they are brothers, they are nothing alike. The older one likes to "experience life rather than "live" it like the younger one does. As the oldest child myself, I can totally relate to my older son, and of course, as a mother, I have wanted to make his journey a little bit smoother. He has chosen the rockier route! Lately, I have wanted to communicate to him, in a non-threatening way, how much I love and appreciate him, and let him know how special I think he is. During the book signing, I could feel all the love and compassion you have for life and others, and I could feel all the love well up in me that I have for my son. Hence, the inability to speak, the tears... so, thanks for sharing that moment with me and thank you for the beautiful message you wrote to my son.’’
~ Bari Goroway
‘‘Seeing the play, The Luckiest Penny musical, made me feel warm inside. I was touched by Henry, who knew who he was and what he was "worth." What a positive message that was sent about the power of unconditional love. As a penny, he was so valued for his true self. I had tears in my eyes when Henry was embraced by someone who saw his inner beauty.’’
~Julie Chevola