In July-2019, Gibson re-launched its philanthropic arm Gibson Gives--and upon its two-year anniversary, Gibson Gives is proud to announce it has raised over $2.5 million dollars worldwide through its mission of creating, developing, and supporting non-profit organizations in their efforts to advance musicians, as well as youth-focused education and wellness initiatives. Leveraging the success of Gibson Gives, the brand followed with KRK Kares, and has announced today the launch of Epiphone Empowered, Kramer Kares, and Mesa Mission. Under the umbrella of Gibson Gives--a 501(c)(3) organization--the above programs will follow the same success path and bring awareness to the charitable spirit of all the brands of Gibson. 100% of all donations to and from Gibson Gives go towards giving the gift of music.
Gibson Gives has created two new groups which include an Influencers and an Artist Advisory Council to help drive the culture of giving back across Gibson’s brands, employees, artists, partners, events, and communities worldwide. The Gibson Gives Influencers and Artist Advisory Council will provide thought leadership, foundation, and funding strategy, as well as present philanthropic opportunities they are passionate about that fulfill the foundation’s mission to amplify the reach, message, and awareness of all program initiatives and non-profit partners. The Gibson Gives Artist Advisory Council members include Lzzy Hale, Celisse, Alex Lifeson, Matt Heafy, Joe Bonamassa, Billy F. Gibbons, Slash, Captain Kirk Douglas, and more.
The Gibson Gives Influencers group is comprised of a community of leaders across the Music and Entertainment Business, Sports, Youth, Education, Legacy, International, the Nashville “Music City” Community and our partner advisors. Gibson Gives Influencers include the following appointments: Music Education: Jeff Smith/Music Makes Us (Director of Arts, Metro Nashville Public Schools), Sports: Ken Adams (Co-Owner, Tennessee Titans), Matt Crews (CEO, Music City Grand Prix), Ian Ayers (CEO, Nashville Soccer Club), Music City Community: Ben Hall (Senior Director of Development, Country Music Hall of Fame), International: Lee Bartram, (Head of Marketing and Cultural Influence, Gibson Brands Europe), Youth: Toby Lee (musician), Legacy: Nina Miller (Executive Director of Miranda Lambert’s Mutt Nation/Former Executive Director, Gibson Foundation), Music Industry: Reid Shippen (Song Farm/GRAMMY® award-winning producer/engineer/mixer), Music Industry (Non-Profit): Melinda Colaizzi (Founder, Women Who Rock), Partner Influencer: Erica Krusen (Managing Director of Mental Health, MusiCares).
Gibson Gives recently announced the launch of TEMPO, Training and Empowering Musicians to Prevent Overdose--a collaborative program with MusiCares, Harbor Path and 7 non-profits--to save musicians lives in response to continued and elevated opioid overdoses from over a year of confinement and Covid 19 closures. TEMPO empowers participating non-profits and venues by providing the life-saving training necessary for using the drug naloxone (Narcan, Naloxone Auto-Injector) to prevent opioid overdose.
Watch the new TEMPO PSA with Forest Blakk to raise awareness in the musician community, HERE and learn more about TEMPO, HERE.
During the July-2019 re-launch of Gibson Gives, the foundation immediately committed to donating 1,000 guitars in 1000 days to non-profits including music education, music wellness programs and musicians in need worldwide and has climbed above and beyond that initial milestone by donating over 2800+ guitars in 700 days.
“When we announced we would donate 1000 guitars in 1000 days, I thought it was a lofty goal,” explains Dendy Jarrett, Executive Director of Gibson Gives. “We could have never predicted all the hurdles this past year presented in the music community and beyond. It’s been a humbling experience and an honor to work with so many worthy music and health programs in need, directly supporting and impacting individual people, as well as non-profits.”
Gibson Gives is committed to making the world a better place and helping those in need in the following ways:
Introduce, inspire, and amplify the power of music by working with major musician-oriented charities such as MusiCares, Keeping the Blues Alive, NIVA, NITO, Apollo Theater, the Save the Music Foundation, and more to help struggling musicians worldwide.
The Play It Forward program, established to move quickly and offer fast support to individual musicians, groups, as well as charitable organizations with immediate needs including the recent Nashville Tornado, Nashville bombing that displaced many creators.
Amplify programs for music students that have been disrupted by budget cuts in local community schools, music programs, and educational foundations worldwide, including Playing for Change, Manos Escuela de Guitarra in Aguascalientes, Mexico, Maplewood High School in Nashville, TN, Gallatin High School in Bozeman, MT, as well as schools across Europe, Africa, Spain, South America, Canada, and more.
Develop offerings with established programs focused on physical wellness and mental health including Teenage Cancer Trust (U.K.), Guitars For Vets, Ryan Seacrest Foundation, JoyRXMusic, Notes for Notes, Women Who Rock, Keep-A-Breast, Give a Note, and more.
