Since rolling his “Petaluma Pete” piano out onto the sidewalk back in 2007, John Maher has been using his gift of making music to help raise money for virtually every nonprofit in town. This includes the City 1st Responders, the River "Pledge to Dredge", children’s Mentor Me, senior Meals on Wheels, School Music Education, PPSC and Salvation Army. - While supporting a Petaluma River “Save the Trestle” nonprofit, John also acquired 30 pianos, had them painted by local artists, and placed them all over town for citizens to share. Thousands of dollars worth of free nonprofit Bay Area TV Network publicity resulted. - - Then covid hit.

John moved them to a warehouse where they sit to this very day. He then had his promised funding abruptly pulled out from under him. He then experienced serious shoulder damage resulting in a complicated surgery. This ended his “piano lifting” days, leaving him high, dry, and disabled. - At an average cost of $200 each, John needs to hire a professional hauler to pick up the instruments so he can donate the good playing pianos while taking the worn out units to the landfill. - Any money raised over the initial goal will go to paying for appropriate piano technician repairs, hauling away parade props, giving away support equipment and hiring a cleaning crew.

Meanwhile, John is starting 2 months of physical therapy in the hopes of making a successful comeback. :-)