Today we’d like to introduce you to Jeff Curley.
Hi Jeff, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I have lived several different lives. I have been a Chemist, a Filmmaker, a Talent Manager and Agent, and the founder of a 501c3 non-profit. Today, I am focusing on the non-profit, which is called 2010 PICK WITH AUSTIN, INC. Pick With Austin operates several different outreach programs in both our Central Texas community and the Detroit, Michigan, area. We are a 501c3, meaning we are tax-exempt, and our donations are tax-deductible by those who donate (s). Our primary program is called “Alan’s Gift of Music.” This program provides free guitars and other musical instruments to young people who may be at risk of depression. My wife Carolyn and I founded PICK WITH AUSTIN in 2010 when we lost our youngest son to suicide. He was a gifted musician and had a propensity to help others, so we adopted his mentality and began giving to others in his memory. Our partner in Detroit is James Gibbs, overseeing the establishment and operation of the same outreach in his community. I am in the process of retiring and focusing almost 100% of my time on the charity operation. We give away 150 to 200 free instruments yearly, although, in 2023, we gave away over 600!
It wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
It is not a smooth road because the non-profit was established in the first place; no parent should experience the tragic loss of their child for any reason, and if Pick With Austin can help prevent even one young person from being consumed to severe depression, then we have succeeded in our goal and given some meaning to our loss. Music heals, and young people find that it helps them cope with what may otherwise be happening. Our biggest struggle remains finding people to volunteer to help us in our outreach, which is always challenging. Still, we make due and burn the midnight oil often to ensure that donated instruments get reconditioned and made available to give to young people.
Thanks for sharing that. So, you could tell us a bit more about your work.
I began playing guitar at age 8. As a teenager, I participated in a few garage bands. My son, Alan, took after me in that respect and became very accomplished in his few years with the guitar. His band was a combination of reggae and Christian rock. Alan took his own life at the age of 18 after a few years of depression. What sets us apart from many other non-profits is that we are 100% non-profit. In other words, every penny we receive goes back into our outreach. We do not take any salaries and only recoup actual costs, where applicable.
If we knew you growing up, how would we have described you?
My interests as a youth were reading and writing (mainly science and science fiction), music, movies/TV, and baseball. Summer, I played baseball every day with my Uncle David. At school, you could often find me sitting off in some quiet place reading a book when not in class. I started taking classical guitar lessons at age 8. An avid fan of classic films and television shows such as Star Trek, I often shot my own Super 8mm movies – sometimes coaxing my friends and their sisters into being actors in them.
Contact Info:
- Website: PickWithAustin.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pickwithaustin/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pickwithaustin
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@PickWithAustin
