Pinellas County Schools

Guitars 4 Gifts is proud to announce the donation of 50 guitars to Pinellas County Schools, helping to restore music programs where instruments were lost due to the recent hurricanes, leaving students without essential tools for music education.

Through the generosity of Kennedy Violins, Antonio Giuliani Guitars, the America Logistics Aid Network (ALAN), Southeastern Freight Lines, Kyser Capos, and the D’Addario Foundation—we were able to replace these lost instruments and ensure that students could continue their musical journeys.

Madeira Beach Fundamental will provide a rigorous student-centered learning environment to ensure 100% student success by working collaboratively with all faculty, staff, and community stakeholders, by preparing students for college and career readiness in a global society.

Gulf Beaches Elementary is an accredited, Pinellas County public school with the mission to educate and prepare each student for college, career, and life.

Both schools lost their guitars due to Hurricane Helene. We were able to organize partnerships through Kennedy Violins, The D’Adaddario Foundation, ALAN and Kyser Capos to replace their lost instruments so music classes could resume.

The Grief Center

“One in eleven Oklahoma youth will experience the death of a parent or sibling before age 18. Programs like Camp Erin Tulsa play a vital role in the lives of children experiencing loss, giving them a safe haven for healing, understanding, and support. Many children often feel isolated and misunderstood following the death of an important person in their lives. At Camp Erin Tulsa, youth are free to express their grief, empowering them to navigate their grief, build resilience, and find hope for the future.

Camp Erin Tulsa is a free, overnight bereavement camp for youth who are grieving the death of a significant person in their lives. Children and teens ages 6 to 17 attend a weekend camp experience that combines grief education and emotional support with fun, traditional camp activities. Led by bereavement professionals and caring volunteers, campers are provided a safe environment to explore their grief, learn essential coping skills, and make friends with peers who are also grieving.

Camp Erin is the largest national bereavement program for youth who are grieving the death of a significant person in their lives. Additional services are offered to support the whole family outside of the camp weekend. Through a network of partnerships with bereavement programs in local communities across the US and Canada, Camp Erin brings hope and healing to thousands of children and families annually and is o ered at no cost to families.”

We provided percussion supplies for 100 attendee’s at The Grief Center’s Camp Erin so each student had an instrument to participate in the program. Each attendee made a drum to use for music therapy classes during the camp.

Beyond the Bars

“Beyond the Bars began as volunteer music program for youth who were incarcerated at Philadelphia Industrial Correctional Facility. It started as one teacher being asked to provide lessons for students at PICC. After realizing the dearth of music programs for youth who were incarcerated they began teaching 10 students a week at the jail. This grew quickly to several musicians and educators throughout the Philadelphia community coming together and organizing to run a program that was focused on being student centric for youth who were incarcerated.

During this time we taught far too many talented young people who grew to be incredible musicians and showcased true leadership and compassion for one another. We saw students grow through music and worked with our teachers to build not just a program but a culture where people could be themselves and express how they were authentically feeling. Students described our program as “their therapy,” and families agreed that they saw their children grow and communicate in increasingly positive manners. Sadly our youth frequently stated how much that they had wished they had an accessible musical program where their voices were heard when they were younger. Many of our students frequently further used music as a means of opening up and discussing significant amounts of trauma that they had experienced in their adolescence as the result of violence and divestment from our communities.” We provided 20 guitars to aid in expanding their music facilities across Philadelphia .

In a note to G4G after the donation, Beyond the Bars said, “THANK YOU SO MUCH!!!!!! These are amazing guitars and our students will be thrilled!!! We are beyond grateful and couldn't be more thankful for the incredible generosity and impact of Guitars 4 Gifts!!! Y'all are amazing and make such an incredible impact for our young people! There are so many talented young people who are going to realize the talented artists that they because of y'all! THANK YOU!!!!”

Coastal High School

Coastal High School (CHS) is a tuition-free public charter school located in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. This school serves students in Horry and Georgetown counties. CHS has over 200 students and is home to the Coastal High School Hurricanes.

This year, music teacher Angel Thompson arrived to school to find her guitars had been damaged beyond repair due to issues with mold and mildew. She reached out to us to help find new instruments so her students could continue music classes.

We were able to send her guitars from Kennedy Violins in Vancouver, WA to use for her music programs. The students have started their own bands and have been using the guitars after school as well as during music classes. Mrs. Thompson wrote in her message to us “This class has inspired youth bands. The students have found their voices. Music is the ultimate language that brings them together.”