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Our Mission:
Guitars ‘n’ Kids mission is to provide free guitars and professional instruction to youth in our community, using music to inspire creativity, build confidence, and support personal growth.
Through structured classroom programs led by qualified instructors, we equip young people with foundational musical skills while offering a positive alternative to destructive influences. Our goal is to empower youth, strengthen communities, and create lasting change through access to music education.
ABOUT Guitars N Kids:
About: Guitars ‘n’ Kids is led by a group of passionate musicians and community volunteers who recognized a need for accessible guitar instruction for young people in Contra Costa County. Our instructors bring years of experience teaching groups of youth in engaging and supportive learning environments.
Each program session consists of a one-hour class held weekly for eight consecutive weeks, typically hosted in local libraries and other civic facilities that provide safe and convenient learning spaces. During the program, students are provided with acoustic guitars and all necessary equipment at no cost.
We also work with local arts organizations and community partners to create performance opportunities for students who wish to continue developing their musical skills and share their talents with the community.
Our Board of Officers:
Barbara Gorin (CEO): Barbara has been front and center teaching kids guitar for the past two decades. As a professional musician, she has connections throughout the music industry and with entertainment venues, as well as with community leaders. Her networking skills have obtained teaching facilities, donations of funds and equipment, capable and committed teachers, publicity, and government support. And she fires up the students with her enthusiasm! In 2025, Barbara was nominated and honored with the CBS News Bay Area ICON Award for her years of dedicated community service. |
Bruce Johnson (CFO):
Bruce has worked alongside Barbara Gorin for nearly two decades as a volunteer and board member with a youth music nonprofit, helping provide free guitar education and mentorship to local youth.
Known as the organization’s “guitar tech,” Bruce enjoys working on guitars and has a passion for all things audio—from home and vehicle sound systems to professional live sound. He has provided live sound services for Bay Area musicians and bands for more than a decade and maintains strong working relationships within the Contra Costa County music community and beyond.
Professionally, Bruce is an independent California Real Estate consultant with over 30 years of experience. As both a licensed Real Estate Broker and an NMLS Mortgage Loan Originator, he brings strong financial and organizational expertise to support the mission of Guitars ’n’ Kids.
Marty McVeigh (Secretary): |
Marty spent 34 years as an electrical engineer in the semiconductor business of Silicon Valley.
But throughout that time, back to when he was going to Serra High School in San Mateo, he played guitar and kept learning about music: blues, country, folk, rock and roll, fusion, punk, surf, reggae, metal…. If there were guitars being played, Marty was into it.
In recent years he’s been focused on acoustic fingerstyle guitar and likes to warm up the classroom with his playing as students show up. They especially like his rendition of “Jingle Bells”; all year long they like this tune! He also plays at Farmers’ Markets and other venues in the Bay Area, and tips go to Guitars ‘n’ Kids!
Marty started teaching kids guitar lessons in 2019 when he read about the opportunity on Facebook and contacted Barbara Gorin to join her staff of teachers. As a co-founder of Guitars ‘n’ Kids, Marty is determined to keep the free lessons going and to help bring the joy of music to our communities!
Email: gnk.marty.mcveigh@gmail.com
Tel.: 408-206-8056
STEVE KENNEDY
Steve has been playing guitar since the age of 15, developing a lifelong passion for music and learning. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Information Systems from the University of San Francisco and later completed a Certificate in Marketing from UC Berkeley.
Throughout his professional career, Steve worked as a computer programming instructor, systems programmer, product marketer, and product development professional for a major telecommunications company. His diverse background reflects a commitment to both technology and education.
After retiring in 2018, Steve turned his attention to one of his greatest passions—teaching guitar. As a volunteer instructor, he has dedicated himself to helping students discover the joy of making music. He believes that learning to play an instrument builds confidence, creativity, and discipline, and that music has the power to positively transform a young person’s life.
For Steve, there is no greater reward than watching a student develop a love for music and gain skills that will stay with them for years to come.
Successes:
Although Guitars ‘n Kids is a newly created 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, its staff and Officers have spent years teaching the youth of disadvantaged communities in Contra Costa County.
In 2024 our graduate students performed at Todos Santos Park in Concord, CA as part of “Creative Concord” Art festival.
In 2025, several of our former students performed at the 50th Anniversary Celebration of the Concord Pavilion, titled, “Big Blues Bash.” Various similar opportunities have been available through the networking of our volunteer staff, especially CEO Barbara Gorin.
Creative Concord 2024 hosts our student performance.
Recent grads at the Big Blues Bash 2025, at Toyota Pavilion.
Celebration at the Concord Pavilion, titled, “Big Blues Bash.”
Various similar opportunities have been available through the networking of our volunteer staff, especially CEO Barbara Gorin.
You Can Help!:
Guitars ‘n’ Kids welcomes donations of funds and volunteer time to help us fulfill our mission. Monetary contributions are needed on an ongoing basis to purchase guitars and equipment, and to cover essential operating expenses such as insurance, background checks, and other program costs.
Volunteer guitar instructors and classroom assistants are always welcome. Only basic guitar skills are needed to help support our teaching programs.
All board members and instructors donate their time — no one is compensated — so contributions go directly toward supporting the program and the youth we serve.
Guitars ‘n’ Kids is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, and receipts will be provided for your tax records. Donations are tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law
Mailing Address:
Guitars N’ Kids
PO Box 773
Diablo, CA 94528
Copyright 2026 – Guitars N’ Kids org