About

How it started:

Guitars not Guns was founded by Ray and Louise Nelson. The Nelsons became foster parents in 1992 and quickly came to realize the children's need for positive opportunities to help them grow into productive citizens. Ray, a life long musician, knew the benefits musical education could provide to young people; he also noticed that there were few musical opportunities available to these children. He decided to start a music program for foster kids; any child that had the desire would be provided a guitar and lessons at no cost to them. He began by asking people for their unused guitars to pass along to any foster child that requested one.

On June 27, 2000 Guitars not Guns became a federally exempt 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. By June 2002 Guitars not Guns had begun its first guitar class with two volunteer teachers in San Jose, CA . Over the next three years classes expanded to neighboring counties in California and the program expanded to include at-risk and underprivileged youth as well as foster children.

In 2006 the program began spreading to other States. Today Guitars not Guns is operating in Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, New Mexico, Ohio, Oklahoma, Texas, Virginia, Vermont, Washington, Washington D.C., parts of Canada and now, here in Tennessee.

Goal:

Help as many interested underprivileged children as we can by providing them with a positive and constructive activity that has lasting benefits.  We provide these children with guitars, instructors and the setting to engage and give them the opportunity to learn a life long skill and creative outlet.