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.

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.

On June 27, 2000 "Guitars not Guns" became a federally exempt 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. All donations are tax deductible.

June 2002 Guitars not Guns started it's first guitar class with two volunteer teachers in San Jose, CA . Guitars and lessons are now available in several locations. (Locations)

Ray and Louise Nelson

ANNOUNCING GOOD NEWS

With your help GnG has served over 1000 kids and teens in the USA & Canada.

With your help we can double this amount in 2010