Mission Statement:

We provide guitars and lessons to foster kids, at risk youth and other deserving children in a classroom setting with qualified teachers.

Our History: The idea started when Ray and Louise Nelson became foster parents. It was through this experience with their foster kids in 1992 that Ray decided to help by providing guitars and lessons to foster kids. He began asking friends to donate their unused guitars to foster kids and other deserving children.

GnG's Goal: Help stop violence in schools and on the streets by providing a music program for at risk teens .. 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.

On July 24, 2000 "Guitars not Guns" became a federally exempt 501(c)(3) non-profit organization.

June 2002 Guitars not Guns started it's first guitar class with two volunteer teachers in San Jose, CA .

What We Do. 1- EMPOWER CHILDREN - - - 5- BUILD SELF ESTEEM 2 - PROVIDE GUITARS - - - - 6- PROVIDE LESSONS 3 - PROVIDE TEACHERS - - - - 7 - PROVIDE CLASSROOM 4 - PROVIDE BOOKS - - - - - - 8 - TEACH CONFIDENCE