We believe in the power of music to transform lives and build community. That’s why in 2019, Mike Risko Music launched our Instrument Donation Program to give gently used instruments a second life. By polishing, restringing, and revitalizing these instruments, we’ve been able to place them in the hands of aspiring musicians and organizations dedicated to music education.
When It Started
The program began with a holiday drive in 2019, when we donated 13 guitars to the Ossining Children’s Center. Along with the instruments, we provided guitar lessons to the students, After six months of lessons, the children performed at the Ossining Village Fair, showcasing their hard work and talent.
Since then, the Instrument Donation Program has grown into an ongoing effort. Community members continued to donate instruments, and we’ve made it our mission to find them new homes.
Over the years, the program has supported a wide variety of initiatives:
- Taconic Women’s Correctional Facility: Donating instruments to programs for incarcerated women.
- Sing Sing Family Collective: Providing instruments to families affected by incarceration.
- Greenburgh 11 School District: Revitalizing an empty music room with guitars, bass guitars, wind instruments, violins, and more.
- Instrument Exploration Programs: Visiting schools like Yonkers’ School 30 to host “instrument petting zoos,” allowing children without access to music programs to try playing different instruments.
The program continued to thrive through the COVID-19 pandemic. From donating a guitar to a nursing home for a dementia patient to distributing instruments at community events, we’ve stayed committed to helping as many people as possible experience the joy of music.
In 2023, we received an exciting call from Grace Church in Ossining, which was clearing out its unused music program. They generously donated over 20 guitars, drum pads, and bucket drumming supplies. These instruments have since become a cornerstone of our educational programs, fueling workshops in local schools, Make Music Day celebrations, and even our popular “Strum & Sip” guitar classes at local establishments.
This program is about more than just instruments—it’s about creating opportunities. Over the years, we’ve inspired thousands of new musicians while also contributing to sustainability by keeping instruments out of landfills. Our work was even highlighted in Westchester Magazine for its impact on both the environment and the community.
Importantly, we don’t sell donated instruments. Every guitar, violin, or drum is given a new purpose: to inspire music, learning, and creativity. As we look ahead, we remain dedicated to putting instruments into the hands of new players and helping more people discover the magic of making music.
How to Participate
If you’d like to be a part of this initiative, consider donating your gently used instruments. Together, we can create more music makers and give these instruments a second chance to shine.