Eddie Van Halen Donates 75 Electric Guitars to L.A.-Area Schools

Facebook.com/VanHalenEddie Van Halen has jumped at the chance to lend a hand to schools in and around Los Angeles whose music programs have been hurt by recent budget cuts.  On Wednesday, the rock legend announced that he's donated 75 of his own electric guitars to the Mr. Holland's Opus Foundation, which will distribute them to L.A.-area public schools that don't have enough instruments to meet the need of their students.

"Music education and families are dealing with the economic times, and I wanted to help them," Van Halen said in a statement.  "If I can help a kid discover a liking, or even a passion for music in their life, then that's a wonderful thing.  Music has provided a good life for me and hopefully it can help make life better for others with this donation."

The Mr. Holland's Opus Foundation was founded in 1996 by film composer Michael Kamen.  Since it began, the charity has donated thousands of instruments to cash-strapped grade schools across the country in support of their music education programs.

Copyright 2012 ABC News Radio