Supporting a Mandolins for Kids Program

By Mandolin Cafe
December 4, 2008 - 8:30 am

California Bluegrass Association

Lawrence, Kans. — Once a year the Mandolin Cafe selects a mandolin related program that can benefit from our collective community generosity and throws its support behind this effort.

This year we've selected two programs that share a common cause: the California Bluegrass Association's Kids on Bluegrass (mandolin program) and the Cool Mandolin Company Cool Mandolins for Kids, two exceptionally well run programs that assist in getting mandolins into the hands of young musicians whose parents might not otherwise have the financial means. Both programs require accountability from instrument recipients and are in need of good instruments for their mandolin lending libraries.

Cool Mandolin Company

A common challenge shared by both programs? Lack of adequate funding and less than desirable mandolins. We've established a goal to obtain six good quality entry level instruments for each program. This will be done through a combination of donations of used instruments, new instruments from manufacturers and retailers, and online donations from the mandolin community at large.

The Mandolin Cafe is happy to announce that as the result of reading a blog entry about our support of this program, The Mandolin Store has agreed to donate an Eastman mandolin. We are hoping other retailers, builders and mandolin related organizations will join us in support of these two fine programs.