We are thrilled to announce the great success of our 6th Annual Strings for Dreams Bluegrass Raffle! Thanks to the overwhelming generosity of our community, this year’s initiative raised over $7,500. Every dollar generated goes directly into the IBMA Foundation’s mission, supporting crucial grants, college scholarships, and bluegrass education initiatives that build a brighter future for bluegrass music.
Whether you bought a ticket, shared our posts on social media, or cheered us on from afar, you played a vital part in making this year’s raffle a resounding success. Thank you for investing in the future of the bluegrass community.
Meet This Year’s Winner: Gerald “Jerry” Hicks
Please join us in sending a massive congratulations to this year’s lucky winner, Gerald “Jerry” Hicks! Jerry is a long-time bluegrass devotee, multi-instrumentalist, and dedicated supporter of bluegrass music.
After learning he won the beautiful Martin HD-35 acoustic guitar, Jerry shared a bit of his bluegrass journey with us. His story perfectly captures the spirit of community and connection that drives the foundation’s work:
“During my high school days, I spent my summers working in the restaurants in Gatlinburg, Tennessee,” Jerry shared. “The Smoky Mountain Travelers were the local bluegrass band, and they performed nightly for the tourists… I was hooked, and I’ve been a fan of bluegrass music ever since.”
Like many of us, Jerry’s love for the music quickly turned into a desire to pick.
“I own and dabble in guitar, mandolin, banjo, and bass, but not enough to be proficient at any of them,” he joked. “I hope that winning this HD-35 will encourage me to carve out more time for practice.”
Jerry’s connection to the broader bluegrass world runs deep. He joined the International Bluegrass Music Association (IBMA) back in 2013 and has attended World of Bluegrass each year in Raleigh, North Carolina. For Jerry, buying a raffle ticket wasn’t about the prize, it was about giving back.
“I am happy to support the IBMA Foundation and initiatives such as Strings for Dreams. I never dreamed I would win the Martin; I just wanted to contribute.”
This successful raffle would not have been possible without the remarkable generosity of Dr. Richard Brown, who graciously donated the guitar to support our mission. Our deepest thanks to Richard, a huge congratulations to Jerry, and to all our supporters who keep the music thriving!
RETURN to the June 2026 issue of The Cornerstone.
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