Guitars Not Guns Founder's Page

Founder's Corner

Kiwanis Breakfast, February 2012

Kiwanis breakfast photo

Jerry & Tara Bragg (left) and Ray and Louise Nelson (right) at the annual Kiwanis breakfast in Peachtree City, Georgia, February 2012. Jerry is the GNG president for Fayette County, GA. He has started a classroom at the PTC library with 11 students and four teachers.

Thanksgiving 2011 - a letter from Ray Nelson

We Give Thanks for all of the blessings we have received.

Thinking back on the ages and stages of Guitars not Guns always brings us back to the wonderful people who have consistently given up some of their own personal time, energy, and sometimes money, to bring this program to our special kids. Were it not for our volunteers we would still be at Stage One – teaching guitar in a room given to us by Santa Clara County Social Services.

Boom! Stage Two took us to starting classes in other cities and counties around the San Francisco Bay Area. Then came Stage Three - New Mexico! Wow! Introducing the program to other states was a major step towards our growth: Alabama, Mississippi, Florida, Georgia, Texas, Washington DC, Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, Tennessee, Oklahoma. Volunteers in every state have made a difference in the lives of children that we, personally, could not have touched. Never did we envision a Stage Four, but, the folks in Toronto made us an international organization – and we are working on some Central American countries as well as the United Kingdom. How cool is that!

The latest milestone for Guitars not Guns was to receive a Certificate of Congressional Recognition in June, 2011, in recognition of outstanding and invaluable service to the community.

We still have volunteer teachers who have been there from the very beginning and we are so grateful to them for believing in the program and giving of their hearts. As our special children go on to other stages in their lives, we are confident that they will keep warm memories of their experiences with us and show their gratitude by sharing their skills with others.

Thanks to everyone.

Ray Nelson

Article by Candice Dyer, September 2010 issue of Georgia Trend Magazine

For a quick answer call 770-861-2443 or send an e-mail to: ray@guitarsnotguns.org

You Can Help

If you are just learning about our organization and are looking for something to do that would make you proud, I would like to invite you to become a part of the "GNG Team". Just click on the Help menu button above.

We are NOT anti-guns, we are anti-gun violence. It's okay with me if you own a gun.

Best Wishes,
Ray Nelson

My guitar sculptures

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Very powerful imagery for a very powerful charity. To put a guitar in a kids hands is an amazing feeling. To do it for a kid that otherwise has limited options in life is just beyond words. GnG does just this - with the help of musicians, equipment manufacturers and other people in the entertainment industry, they are actually having a positive effect on young lives. I encourage anyone who can help, to do just that. A guitar can save lives."

- Billy Morrison
(Camp Freddy - Circus Diablo)