Stephen Bradford founded Instruments 4 Success in 2018 to help veterans dealing with PTSD and TBI through the healing power of music.
“We went into the impatient substance abuse clinic at the VA and one of the guys there was suffering from addiction, but he had loved guitar,” Bradford said. “Like PTSD, addiction takes away from your love of normal stuff, guitars, fishing for me. So, he was just kind of in a rut, and he’s like, ‘Yeah, I used to play guitar, I don’t have one.’ So, I went on Facebook and asked if anyone wanted to donate a guitar to a veteran, and that’s literally how it started. … It was a life-changing moment for him.”
Bradford says the best way to help the cause is to donate small instruments or money.
“My mindset is there’s always somebody in a worse situation than I am, so be grateful for what I have, and that’s what I do on a day-to-day basis,” Bradford said. “It doesn’t just
stop at musical instruments; it continues on to what can we do to make you successful moving forward.
“I still am a broken veteran myself. If I reach one veteran, that’s enough for me. My heart is full. I don’t have good looks, money … just my word.”
About Stephen
Age: 55
Family: Son Sabastian
Hometown: Phoenix
Residence: Sun City
Instruments you play: Guitar, bass and drums
Favorite instrument: Guitar
Favorite song to play on it: Skid Row’s “I Remember You”
Favorite Arizona road-trip: Woods Canyon Lake
SERVICE
Branch: Army
Years: 1991-99 (active and Reserves)
Duty: 2 combat tours in Gulf War
Rank: Sergeant (E5)
Most memorable: Being shot
Greatest value: Camaraderie and brotherhood
For more, visit Instruments4Success.org. You can call or text Stephen at 623-209-4505.
