events

Houston Charity, Guitars for Vets Collaborate to Offer Celeb-Autographed Instruments for a Cause

Houston Charity, Guitars for Vets Collaborate to Offer Celeb-Autographed Instruments for a Cause

Dennis Quaid-autographed 'Gordo' guitar by Tra' Slaughter

SEPTEMBER IS SUICIDE Prevention Month, and U.S. military veterans are a population that continues to bear disproportionately higher rates of suicide. Nearly one million veterans are afflicted with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), and more soldiers have committed suicide since 9/11 than have died in actual battle.

These alarming statistics compelled the Houston nonprofit StellaNova Foundation, whose mission is to provide funding for local organizations that support mental health care, to partner with Guitars for Vets (G4V) as the beneficiary of the charity fundraising event “Operation: Stars, Stripes, and Strings.” The Foundation aims to raise $50,000 during “Operation: Stars, Stripes, and Strings” in support of activating G4V’s Houston chapter.

On Sept. 20, a collection of celebrity-autographed and artist-adorned guitars will be available online to purchase at three different donation levels. The donated instruments include autographed guitars from Alan Jackson, Paul Rodgers, Night Ranger, and The Fabulous Thunderbirds; a BuzzFest guitar signed by Bush, Godsmack, Live, Our Lady Peace and others; six guitars hand-painted with Houston artist Tra’ Slaughter’s interpretations of movie roles played by Houston Dennis Quaid, who autographed all of the guitars; and an acoustic guitar autographed by Latin Grammy winners Banda Los Recoditos.

Donors at other various levels can also purchase works by Houston artists Taft McWhorter, Joni Zavitsanos, and Deasa Turner. You can check out the guitars in person on Sept. 22 from 11-5pm at Christian’s Tailgate, and Sept. 28 at 1pm at Hardy & Nance Studios.

Founded in 2007, G4V provides veterans free in-person and online guitar instruction and a new acoustic guitar and guitar accessory kit through programs run by volunteers in collaboration with the Department of Veterans Affairs health care systems and community-based outpatient clinics. The nonprofit organization operates more than 150 chapters across the nation with the help of over 1,000 volunteers. Thanks to the StellaNova Foundation, Houston veterans will soon benefit from these resources.

“The outpouring of support from the music industry and Houston’s arts community has been overwhelmingly positive,” says Doug Harris, Executive Director of the StellaNova Foundation. “It seems there are no ‘politics’ when it comes to helping our veterans and people have gone out of their way to get us what we need to engage donors.”

If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, help is available. Call or text 988 or chat at 988lifeline.org to reach the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.

Dennis Quaid-autographed 'Ronald Reagan' guitar by Tra' Slaughter

Deasa Turner's 'Barbie' guitar

Dennis Quaid-autographed 'Jerry Lee' guitar by Tra' Slaughter


Related Articles Around the Web
Art + Entertainment
promoted

Leadership in Action: ‘Family, Community and Spiritual Connection’ Drives Success for Henry Richardson

Al Torres
Leadership in Action: ‘Family, Community and Spiritual Connection’ Drives Success for Henry Richardson

How did you get to where you are today? The present moment is a combined history of my family, my time as an athlete, my passion for learning, and my desire to see the world be better. I grew up as a successful springboard and platform diver, however, an injury caused me to seek alternative treatments to heal my body. In that process, I discovered the power of yoga, exercise, meditation, mindset, and nutrition. This holistic approach eventually led me to open a Pilates and cycling studio called DEFINE body & mind. I opened studios around the nation, and after selling most of my business between 2017-2019, I was ready to explore how I could make an even greater impact on the wellbeing of our community. In 2023, I started actively working on a brand new multi-family/apartment concept called, Define Living. The idea focused on offering health and wellness services within a beautiful apartment setting to increase the wellbeing of our residents. Having a strong sense of community is the number one factor in living a happy life, so why not build a community where daily fitness, cooking classes, and social connection are the norm? We opened Define Living in March of 2024, and we couldn’t be happier with how things are being received. We are already looking at building more concepts like this in the Houston area and beyond.

Keep Reading Show less

Fall Philanthropy Report: Kids’ Meals Aims to ‘End Childhood Hunger in Houston’

What is your mission? Launched in 2006, Kids’ Meals’ mission is to end childhood hunger in Houston by delivering free, healthy meals year-round to the doorsteps of Houston’s hungriest preschool-aged children and through collaboration, provide their families with resources to end the cycle of poverty.

Keep Reading Show less
promoted

Fall Philanthropy Report: Be An Angel Improves Quality of Life for Children with Special Needs

What year was your organization launched? 1986 by a small group of committee community members that believed special needs children were not receiving basic life services.

Keep Reading Show less