ROCK ISLAND, Ill. — Tony Carducci plays an important role in the Quad City music community. He fixes and restores guitars at Pawn Central in Rock Island. He also plays in a band with Mike Mudd, who noticed something special that Carducci has been doing with some of the guitars that come into the shop.
“Every year, he’s been donating guitars and collecting guitars from area musicians and rebuilding guitars that have come into his store,” Mudd said. “Putting them into the hands of kids that may not be able to afford to have a guitar.”
That's why Mudd nominated Carducci for the Pay It Forward award, sponsored by Ascentra Credit Union.
This whole project of Carducci’s started by accident, he says.
“I had a customer come in and they were looking for something and she just couldn’t afford it for her kid. And I had an extra guitar already in the shop that I wasn’t doing anything with, so I handed it to her,” Carducci said.
Ever since that day, Carducci has continued giving away guitars to those in need. That local music community continues to drive Carducci’s passion for the project.
“I am excessively proud of our music community. It is a tight-knit, great amount of people that do wonderful things, and I could not do it without them. Giving back to the music community and helping it grow is just something I feel I need to do,” Carducci said.
That impact is felt throughout the music community to this day from his project.
“He shared the love of his music and inspired kids to learn an instrument, find a hobby, maybe find a career playing music.”
This year, Carducci is already at a record number of guitars donated, at 47 so far. It is a long process to get all of them together, once the new year rolls around, he will already be preparing for next year. But that spirit of giving just keeps him going.
“It is amazing, there is no other feeling in the world like giving to somebody,” Carducci said.
Do you know someone who goes above and beyond for his or her community? News 8 and Ascentra Credit Union would like to help you Pay it Forward to them. Click here to nominate someone you know.