Steve Van Zandt for Ronald McDonald House New York

When: Friday, September 22 2017

Longtime guitarist with Bruce Springsteen & the E Street Band, “Little” Steven Van Zandt and the Ronald McDonald House New York have announced a new program that will give young pediatric cancer patients the gift of music.

Van Zandt, “House Ambassador” of the Ronald McDonald House, presented 95 guitars, which will be distributed to the cancer stricken children of the organization. In addition, the children will receive private lessons and instruction with “the best musicians in New York City,” according to a press release.

Van Zandt—who is currently on the road promoting his new album, “Soulfire,” presented the guitars at the Ronald McDonald House New York, Macy’s Living Room. As an ambassador, he also created “magic scarves,” in the spirit of the familiar scarves he’s worn for decades, for kids undergoing chemotherapy. The idea, he said, was to give kids a variation on the caps often worn by people undergoing the hair loss associated with treatment and to “make them look like rock stars,” he told Variety.

MDC's John Hedlund (Open Iris Entertainment) was on hand to film the event; perfectly capturing Little Steven's charisma, generosity and goodwill.