Build A Banjo, Save America
05/25/2009 19:57
Greg and Janet Deering and Bob Taylor are on a
mission to save the rapidly disappearing woodshop
classes in their home state of California.
Greg and Janet Deering and Bob Taylor are on a
mission to save the rapidly disappearing woodshop
classes in their home state of California. “We were
all shop students who benefited from wood shop in
high school when we were growing up, now we are
fearful that the local high school programs could die
out”, said Janet Deering. “In the 60’s and 70’s every
high school offered wood shop, auto shop, and crafts
classes, today there are only 11 left out of the
hundreds of high schools in the San Diego region”.
To raise much needed funds for the industrial arts classes in San Diego regional high schools, Deering Banjo Company, Taylor Guitars and the East County Economic Development Council gathered recently with their local community for an outstanding benefit concert by the Kruger Brothers and Doyle Dykes.
This is the 6th year that the East County Economic Development Council has held a benefit concert to raise funds for the schools. Rallying the business community, the Build a Future concert, along with Taylor Guitars and Deering Banjo Company raised approximately $70,000 in funds which will be used to fund shop classes, supplies and tools needed by regional schools. “We would not have Taylor Guitars or Deering Banjos if shop classes were not in our schools” stated Deering.
Greg and Janet Deering and Bob Taylor believe that educating young people in the art of woodworking is an essential part of preserving the American way of life. As such, they have committed themselves to working with their local communities to keep shop classes running.
“Not everyone is made to be purely academic, many people work well with their hands and schools need to benefit all kinds of people.” commented Jim Oxford of West Hills High School in Santee, CA who was recently given a commendation for his banjo building class
Greg and Janet Deering and Bob Taylor are happy to have an opportunity to give back and to help others have the same opportunities they had; an opportunity that made it possible to make great musical instruments by building a future for all.
To raise much needed funds for the industrial arts classes in San Diego regional high schools, Deering Banjo Company, Taylor Guitars and the East County Economic Development Council gathered recently with their local community for an outstanding benefit concert by the Kruger Brothers and Doyle Dykes.
This is the 6th year that the East County Economic Development Council has held a benefit concert to raise funds for the schools. Rallying the business community, the Build a Future concert, along with Taylor Guitars and Deering Banjo Company raised approximately $70,000 in funds which will be used to fund shop classes, supplies and tools needed by regional schools. “We would not have Taylor Guitars or Deering Banjos if shop classes were not in our schools” stated Deering.
Greg and Janet Deering and Bob Taylor believe that educating young people in the art of woodworking is an essential part of preserving the American way of life. As such, they have committed themselves to working with their local communities to keep shop classes running.
“Not everyone is made to be purely academic, many people work well with their hands and schools need to benefit all kinds of people.” commented Jim Oxford of West Hills High School in Santee, CA who was recently given a commendation for his banjo building class
Greg and Janet Deering and Bob Taylor are happy to have an opportunity to give back and to help others have the same opportunities they had; an opportunity that made it possible to make great musical instruments by building a future for all.