DES MOINES, Iowa — Broken Strings Inc gifted a guitar to a student from Norwalk with autism this weekend just in time for Christmas.

Broken Strings Inc is a non-profit that’s focused on raising awareness for funding fine arts programs in schools.

The non-profit raises awareness by giving away guitars to students. The goal being to give one guitar to a child in every school district in Iowa. So far, Broken Strings Inc has given away more than 100 guitars.

Scott Kirkhart, the founder of Broken Strings Inc, said music programs in schools benefit everyone.

“Funding in schools has dwindled over the years for fine arts, barn arts programs. And if we can help that along and support the fine arts and in lieu of funding to give the schools more funding for fine arts, it’s, everybody’s better off because of it,” Kirkhart said.

This past weekend Broken Strings Inc gave a guitar to Mikie Ring, a student from Norwalk who has Autism.

Jenny Ring, Mikie’s mother, said that music has helped Mikie express himself.

“Yeah, I just think that music is so important for them to express themselves and especially when they can’t do it verbally and they’re, you know, more to themselves like he can be. I think it’s a way just for him to come out of his shell and express himself,” Ring said.

To learn more about Broken Strings Inc visit the non-profit’s website.

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