My Nonprofit Reviews

Randall D. - charity reviews, charity ratings, best charities, best nonprofits, search nonprofits

Randall D.

279 profile views
1 reviews

Review for Guitars not Guns, Peachtree City, GA, USA

Rating: 5 stars  

I'm the lead instructor for the Contra Costa County, California Chapter of GnG and its California Vice President, but titles hardly matter. This organization can change lives.

We focus on foster kids, at-risk youth and other special children. You won't hear a lot about us even though we never turn down and opportunity toi promote the organization. We provide guitars and beginning guitar lessons and no kid is turned away due to lack of funds. Why? Because we provide opportunity to the child victims of our society - children of women in a domestic violence safehouse; kids at a church or Boys & Girls Club in a gang-riddled area; youth in a homeless. mentally or physically disabled housing shelter, a group foster home. We do not seek publicity - we only ask the you help in what has been an incredibly rewarding altruistic endeavor. What we provide is solace through music and music instruction. In California none of our volunteers are paid and it is much the same with chapters in the United States and in Canada.

This organization is about heart with the hope that a better, engaged populace will deter individuals from destructive behaviors endemic to their environs and situation. The kids are taught responsibility for their instruments which are loaned to them. If they successfully complete the two month course they get to keep the guitars that are loaned to them. The kids are eight to eighteen years old and taught by volunteers of up to 12 students at a time. Most continue to play and there is evidence that many improve in school and has redirected at-risk youth.

I've personally experienced the results of this organization in...

For about 5 years I have helped teach in the organization and have helped the organization access it target students. I have also recruited the volunteers who provide the lessons, seek grants, fundraise or otherwise volunteer to help us. The positive impact is not just upon the kids it is also upon the volunteers.

If I had to make changes to this organization, I would...

Obttain sufficient funding to ensure every foster child, at-risk or special needs kid could have the opportunity to learn to play the guitar.

Role:  Volunteer & I help teach the kids, fund raise and organize classes. We are all unpaid volunteers.
 
Donate