Music’s In Our Blood
A new Bloodworks 101 podcast episode captures the heart behind Free Guitars 4 Kids and the campaign that put 100 guitars into the hands of youth across the Pacific Northwest.
This year’s Music In Our Blood campaign turned everyday stops—like grabbing a Top Pot doughnut or visiting community music spaces—into powerful moments of impact across Seattle and Portland. Through a partnership between Bloodworks Northwest, Top Pot Doughnuts, and an incredible network of nonprofits devoted to youth and community health, the campaign rallied thousands to help save lives and support local families.
For Free Guitars for Kids, it became our biggest regional giveaway yet. One hundred guitars were placed into the hands of young people who might never have had the chance to call an instrument their own. Each guitar was paired with mentorship and music education opportunities designed to build confidence, creativity, and a lasting connection to the power of music.
In Portland, the partnership grew even stronger. Working alongside My Voice Music, Trillium Family Services, and Friends of Noise we helped deliver 36 guitars during a local event connected to the campaign. The day was filled with excitement, gratitude, and the unmistakable spark that happens when kids realize someone believes in them enough to put an instrument in their hands.
The heart of the campaign is now captured in a new Bloodworks 101 podcast episode. Producer John Yeager traveled to Portland to sit down with our Executive Director, Ben Dudley, for a conversation about the mission of Free Guitars for Kids, the importance of access to music, and the personal story that fuels this work. The episode offers a look at why music has been such a powerful force in Ben’s life and why this campaign resonated so deeply with our team and our community partners.
The Music In Our Blood campaign accomplished far more than meeting donation goals. It brought people together in unexpected places. It connected everyday acts of kindness with moments of creativity and joy. And it reminded us that both blood and music have the power to give life.
