Gibson and Guitars for Vets team to support military Veterans
Gibson Gives — the charitable arm of Gibson guitars, the iconic American instrument brand — and Guitars For Vets have announced the second annual Rock to Remember virtual concert that will stream live today (Thurs, Nov 11th) at 8 pm ET/5 pm PT in honor of Veteran’s Day..
The event will be hosted by blues firebrand Jared James Nichols and feature performances from a diverse group of artists including Tommy Emmanuel, Lzzy Hale and Joe, Joey Belladonna, Frank Hannon of Tesla, Jimmy Vivino and Kat Dyson, Meghan Lindsey and Tyler Cain, Cassadee Pope, Daughtry, Nelson, Tyler Connolly, Hannah Dasher, Clayton Anderson, Laine Hardy, Eric Paslay, Kapali Long, Francisco Martin, and host Jared James Nichols. Additionally, US military veterans David Cox, Jesse Tyler Frewerd, and Scotty Hastings who are graduates of the Guitars For Vets program will perform their original songs. These musicians join Gibson Gives and Guitars For Vets to raise funds to provide music programs for returning US military veterans afflicted with PTSD.
As a proud son of a proud veteran, Guitars for Vets means everything to me,” says Jared James Nichols. “Guitars For Vets and Rock To Remember are life changing for so many. The sheer amount of talent and heart that each artist performing is giving, alongside the respect not only for our veterans, but for our country is astounding. I’m grateful for the opportunity to be included in such an amazing event. Let’s ROCK!”
“From my personal experience, playing guitar has saved my life and offered me peace of mind through many hard times,” shares Frank Hannon of Tesla. “To give this gift to our most deserving veterans is the least I can do, so I’m grateful to team up with Guitars For Vets and Gibson guitars for this special event.”
“Learning guitar presents healing against the everyday challenges of PTSD and allows for a creative ‘escape’ outlet for all players,” states Dendy Jarrett, Executive Director, Gibson Gives. “Guitars For Vets also encourages our Veterans to gather and share their stories, providing a source of community and hope.”
“The partnership between Guitars for Vets (G4V) and Gibson/Gibson Gives is the perfect match as we both believe a strong community of supporters who share a love of music can help people, and enrich humanity,” adds Patrick Nettesheim, Guitars for Vets co-founder. “Rock to Remember celebrates our Veterans that are finding healing by way of a musician’s path, and it encourages Vets and civilians alike to seek help when dealing with the challenges of mental and emotional distress. We are deeply grateful to all who’ve given of their time and talent for this wonderful event!”
Guitars For Vets (G4V) is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization that supports US military veterans struggling with the challenges of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) by providing them with free guitars and both one on one and group lessons. To date, Guitars for Vets and its nearly 500 volunteers have gifted more than 5,000 new guitars and 50,000 music lessons to those that have endured the wounds of war. All of the instruments and accessories are provided free of charge to the Veterans in the program, but the cost must be met through donations. Guitars for Vets intends to raise $100,000 through the Rock To Remember event.
Founded in 2002, the Gibson Foundation, now Gibson Gives, is committed to making the world a better place through music by creating, developing, and supporting programs, and other non-profit organizations, in their efforts to advance music education and music wellness initiatives by growing the ‘share of sound’ for everyone. 100% of all donations to and from Gibson Gives–a 501(c)(3) organization — go towards giving the gift of music. Since re-launching in 2019, Gibson Gives has raised over $3 million dollars worldwide. Gibson Gives is making music matter to more people in more ways one guitar at a time!
