Pawnbrokers play Santa Claus
The Cypress Times
Pawnshops in 17 states across the country are joining forces this holiday season to provide underprivileged children with hundreds of musical instruments. The National Pawnbrokers Association, who is sponsoring the event, has christened the effort Musical Instrument Gift Day, and the program is designed to put musical instruments into the hands of children who need them the most.More

Musical Instrument Gift Day: Georgia Governor Perdue
GiftDay.org
On Dec. 1, Georgia Gov. Sonny Perdue met with pawnbrokers from around the state to take part in the National Pawnbrokers Association’s Musical Instrument Gift Day.  At least 8 Georgia pawn shop owners pledged over 70 instruments to donate to the Charles R. Drew Charter School. Governor Perdue selected the school at an event in his office with students, faculty and members of the local businesses making the donations. The school is a part of a successful initiative to redevelop the community of East Lake and will use the musical instruments to build a strong music program. Georgia native Dave Adelman, former President of the National Pawnbrokers Association, spear-headed the effort with the Governor.More

Knoxville, Tenn., pawnshop gives gift of music for Christmas
WBIR-TV

Jim Clarke, better known as "Pappy" of Pappy's Pawn Shop in Knoxville, Tenn., keeps his place rocking with guitars, flutes, violins, and trumpets. His pawnshop looks a lot like a music store. It's filled with all types of instruments. If you look around, it's obvious Pappy has a passion for music. For him, loving music also means sharing it with others.More

From Saint Nicholas to Santa Claus: The changing face of an enduring icon
The Bulletin
Did you know Dec. 6 is the feast day of Saint Nicholas? It's most commonly celebrated in our country by children putting out their shoes on the night of the fifth, to find candy, coins or other small treats in and around them the following morning.  Nicholas is remembered as the patron saint of sailors, fishermen, merchants, the falsely accused, repentant thieves, pharmacists, archers, pawnbrokers, and especially children.More

Alabama city pawnshop owner donates instruments to elementary school
The Enterprise Ledger
Enterprise, Ala., pawnshop owner Michael Welch believes music can make a difference in a child's life. Welch donated the gift of musical instruments to students in Hilda Hagins' music appreciation classes at Rucker Boulevard and Harrand Creek Elementary schools. Presenting Hagins three flutes and one clarinet, Welch said pawnshops nationwide are encouraged to donate badly-needed musical instruments to local charities or schools.More

Music students get their hardware for a song
The Chronicle-Telegram
Inside a back room at Steve Smith's Park and Pawn in Elyria, Ohio, musical instruments are sometimes easy to find. They are there because down-on-their-luck customers trade them in for cash, or parents of children long removed from the school band want to clear out their closets. But last week, each one — a flute, clarinet, trumpet, violin and bass guitar — was carried out of the stores in the arms of Elyria Schools teacher Mark Wainwright.More

Pawnshops put high note on St. Nicholas Day
Lake County News-Sun
A glance along the walls at Hometown Jewelry & Loan Co. in Waukegan, Ill., revealed another dominant theme: music, as represented by rows of acoustic, electric and bass guitars. In the spirit of giving that is central to St. Nicholas Day, both Hometown and Alexander's are participating in Musical Instrument Gift Day (Dec. 6,) sponsored by the National Pawnbrokers Association.More

South Bend, Ind., pawnshop donates guitars to help youth
the South Bend Tribune
A local Indiana pawn store presented the Boys & Girls Clubs of St. Joseph County with the gift of music. Tom Howard, director of operations for Worldwide Jewelry and Pawn in South Bend, Ind., presented three electric guitars and two acoustic guitars to branch director Ron Lawrence. The donations were part of a larger effort of pawn shops across the nation to provide musical instruments to children's organizations and schools.More

Pawn Express donates instruments
Troy Messenger
Christmas came early for the Goshen High School Band. Joey Holley, owner of Pawn Express of Troy, Ala., donated 20 musical instruments to the band Wednesday as part of a nationwide effort on the part of pawnbrokers to provide musical instruments to underprivileged children. Holley said the donation was made in support of Musical Instrument Gift Day, which is sponsored by the National Pawnbrokers Association.More