Guitars not Guns East County
Cause Area
- Arts & Culture
- Children & Youth
- Community
- Media & Broadcasting
Location
Boys and Girls Club of East County1001 Stoneman AvePittsburg, CA 94565 United StatesOrganization Information
Mission Statement
Provide guitars and lessons to foster kids, at risk youth and other deserving children in a classroom setting with qualified teachers. No child is turned away for lack of funds. We are looking for all levels of guitar players.
Description
HOW IT STARTED:The founders of Guitars not Guns are Ray and Louise Nelson. They became foster parents in 1992 and it was through their experience with foster kids that Ray decided to provide foster kids with guitars and lessons.. He began asking friends and strangers for their used guitars to pass along to foster kids. This act of kindness became his passion and as a result there are classrooms across the USA and Canada.
Goal: Help stop violence in schools and on the streets by providing a music program for at risk teens and other deserving children. We want to divert as many children as possible from the self-destructive behaviors of drugs, alcohol, crime connected to gang activity. By providing children and teens with guitars and lessons. we hope to engage their creative potential. It's all about helping underpriveleged kids and teens.