Luthiers for a Cause – Six Builders, Two Legendary Trees and Many Happy Healing Children
- December 2017 project update: the six ukuleles crafted for this project have just been sold to a collector for $100,000! Click here for more of the story.
It is with great pride that we share news about an epic project just underway, Luthiers for a Cause. The seed of this project was planted in the fertile soil of the Ukulele Guild of Hawaii November 2016 fall exhibition. You never know what will happen when you gather a group of wild and creative luthiers together. The conversation began with something like … “What if …” and wrapped up with a clear vision of a group of builders each crafting an instrument to be auctioned/sold to benefit a worthy cause.
But which builders, what to build, what worthy cause and who the heck is going to organize this?
The six luthiers who have been chosen and who are generously contributing 100% of their time and talents are: Steve Grimes, Beau Hannam, Jay Lichty, Jake Maclay, John Kinnard and Joji Yoshida. Each will be building a tenor ukulele in their own style, yet crafted with Mahogany from the legendary “The Tree” and redwood from the famed “Lucky Strike.”
After extensive research, the group found a non-profit whose work and mission touched everyone’s hearts – The Ukulele Kids Club. The Ukulele Kids Club is a 501(c)3 non-profit whose mission is to harness the healing power of music by sending hospitalized children home with the gift of music for life. The work they do and the lives they touch are truly amazing. Luthiers for a Cause hopes to raise both dollars and awareness to help this organization reach more children and families in need.
This project is BIG and would not be happening if it were not for the the talents and generous giving-spirit of Lead Project Organizer Eddie Monnier and the contributions of Patchen Uchiyama and Corrie Woods.
We’ve got a long road ahead. Each builder is currently gathering materials. Over the coming months the builds will begin. Ultimately these instruments will each be available to purchase with 100% of the proceeds going to UKC. In the meantime, it is our hope that lots of folks will fall in love with the work The Ukulele Kids Club is doing and donate to the cause.
We invite you to join us on this journey by following us (and sharing) on Facebook.
- Follow the building of the Lichty Ukulele here.
Learn more
- Download February 2017 Press Release
- LuthiersForACause.org
- Ukulele Kids Club – theukc.org
- Hawaii Ukulele Festival 2017 recap