Louson Drums was attending a music therapist convention in Broomfield, Colorado this past March when we received a message through our Etsy Shop. A guy from Boulder told me what he was all about: getting drum lessons and education to poor and indigent kids who otherwise wouldn't have access. The charity, Drumming for Jared, provides weekly drum lessons free of charge to program participants, and even attempts to provide a free drum kit so the students can practice at home.
I don't think he had any idea that we are a Pittsburgh company and we were at that moment just a few miles away from him. We agreed to donate a drum to an auction raising money for his charity, and he graciously accepted and came by to pick it up.
I was browsing our website's traffic history today when I saw a few referrals from his domain, BoulderDrumStudio.com. His name is Larry Bennett. He started his charity after he lost one of his students, Jared Lizakowski, in a tragic motorcycle accident.
The silent auction to raise money for Drumming for Jared is Sunday, May 21at the Riverside in Boulder, CO. You can read more about that at the Drumming for Jared page.
I was touched at the outpouring of donations and support he has received for his program, and we are honored to participate. For those interested, here is a direct fundraising page for the Drumming for Jared program on GoFundMe.
Good luck this weekend, Larry. We wish you the best! If you are reading this and are in the Denver/Boulder area this weekend, consider heading over yourself and supporting this cause at the silent auction!