Eddie Van Halen donates 75 guitars to LA-area schools
Musician Eddie Van Halen donates 75 electric guitars from his personal collection to Felice Mancini, Executive Director The Mr. Holland's Opus Foundation, a non-profit organization that supports music education in public schools across the country.
Rocker Eddie Van Halen has donated 75 electric guitars to Los Angeles-area high schools as a way to inspire music in kids.
Tricia Steel of the Mr. Holland's Opus Foundation says the Van Halen lead guitarist came with the brand-new guitars this week, saying he wanted them used in schools and not sold.
Seven L.A.-area schools were chosen to be recipients, including East L.A.'s Garfield High School.
According to CBS-LA, Garfield received 15 of the guitars.
“I think its great,” student Michael Flores told CBS. “Compared to what I played in the beginning, this sounds amazing.”
The non-profit Los Angeles foundation has distributed the guitars to seven schools serving mostly low-income students that needed them to replace broken instruments or build music enrollment.
Garfield High School has two beginner's guitar classes, but students cannot afford enough amps and cables to play together.
Schools were not told where the guitars came from until they arrived, and then they were advised to keep them under tight lock and key.
Join our community: Like KPCC on Facebook and follow us on Twitter to get updates and talk about the day's news with other fans.
- Santa Ana extinguishes its fire department
- LA gets Lucky, luring the high-end jeans brand downtown
- LAFD: 7 people struck by vehicle at LA bus stop
- California prison realignment mostly going as planned, but more tracking needed » More CA/Local News
