A man and woman smiling outdoors, with the man holding a black and blue acoustic guitar that has signatures on it, including "Aloha" and "Janis Joplin." They are standing among trees, with a wooden structure and golf carts in the background.

Stars Guitars

Supporting pediatric cancer survivors since 2009.

Stars Guitars was an annual fundraising event that supported pediatric cancer survivors through the Charles A. Main, M.D. Pediatric Cancer Survivor Scholarship Fund at Beaumont Health. I have volunteered with the event since 2009, helping plan, promote and grow this meaningful community fundraiser.

Securing signed guitars involved much more than requesting an autograph. I researched upcoming concerts, connected with artists’ representatives and venue contacts, coordinated signing arrangements, and personally delivered and retrieved guitars. Often, that meant arriving early, staying late and working around unpredictable schedules. I also photographed many of the signings to document the acquisitions and share the stories behind the guitars.

The Story Behind the Guitars

My Contributions

  • Event promotion and public relations

  • Marketing strategy and grassroots outreach

  • Sponsorship support and guitar acquisitions

  • On-site event coordination

  • Community engagement and outreach

“Stars Guitars reminds me that when stories and community come together, marketing becomes a human connection rather than a campaign.”

$400,000+

Raised through Stars Guitars to support pediatric cancer survivors as they pursue education and new opportunities.

Eddie Money holding the guitar he signed.

A selection of the artist signings I personally coordinated and photographed for Stars Guitars.

Featured Artist Acquisitions

Eddie Money signing the guitar with his autograph

Eddie Money

A man with long gray hair and a gray beard wearing a black wide-brimmed hat, dark floral shirt, and earrings, is sitting at a table signing an object. On the table are a black guitar case, a paper cup, and some tools. The background shows a white wall and a doorway.
A man working on an electric guitar in a workshop or studio setting. The workspace has various tools, papers, and electronic equipment.

The Doobie Brothers

A man with short dark hair is signing a colorful acoustic guitar that is resting on a wooden bench. He is wearing a light blue T-shirt with a graphic design, black shorts, and brown sandals. The setting appears to be outdoors in a wooded area with trees, a gravel path, and a green building in the background.
A man stands outdoors in a wooded area holding an autographed blue and black acoustic guitar, smiling at the camera. There is a bench with a black bag on it nearby and trees in the background.

Jack Johnson

A woman and a man, Kenny Loggins, posing together indoors at night, both smiling at the camera. The woman is wearing a black dress with lace and ruffles, along with jewelry and a belt. The man is in a black t-shirt, wearing a watch and necklaces.

Kenny Loggins

Four people standing together in a room, one of whom is holding a pink electric guitar. The background features a window with dark curtains, a stack of white towels, a desk with electronics, and multiple guitars on stands.

Greta Van Fleet

A woman and an older man, musician Eddie Money, sitting on a low brick wall outdoors; the man is holding a guitar and they are smiling at the camera.

Eddie Money

Over the years, I personally coordinated signings with the following artists and bands, working with artist representatives, tour personnel and venue contacts to secure autographed guitars for the Stars Guitars charity auction.

Artists Whose Signings I Coordinated

311 / AC/DC / Bon Jovi / Boston / Bruno Mars / Bush / Carrie Underwood / Eddie Money / Faith Hill / Florida Georgia Line / Godsmack / Greta Van Fleet / Hall & Oates / Huey Lewis & The News / Imagine Dragons / Blake Shelton / Jason Aldean / Joe Satriani / Kacey Musgraves / Kenny Loggins / Kenny Rogers / Miranda Lambert / Motley Crue / O.A.R. / One Direction / Panic! At The Disco / Paramore / Poison / Rascal Flatts / Red Hot Chili Peppers / Rick Springfield / Rob Zombie / Rush / Santana / Sheryl Crow / Slash / Social Distortion / Soundgarden / Steve Vai / Steve Winwood / Sting / Stone Temple Pilots / Styx / Taylor Swift / The Eagles / The Rolling Stones / Tim McGraw / Toby Keith / Van Halen / Zac Brown Band

Each signed guitar became part of a larger community fundraising effort, bringing together artists, donors, sponsors and volunteers in support of pediatric cancer survivors. The proceeds helped fund scholarships honoring Dr. Charles A. Main's commitment to their futures.

From Signings to Scholarships

A man with glasses, wearing a white lab coat and colorful tie, sitting among a large collection of guitars, holding a dark red electric guitar, with guitars of various shapes, sizes, and colors surrounding him in a room with gray curtains.