Women Play to Raise Money for Raining Jane’s Rock n’ Roll Camp for Girls Los Angeles
By DONNA BALANCIA
Women of all ages rocked out at at the bootleg in Silverlake to raise money for Rock n’ Roll Camp for Girls Los Angeles.
The fourth annual fundraiser, called Ladies Rock Camp Los Angeles, is put on by the members of Jason Mraz’ band, Raining Jane, and several hundred women.
The point is to raise funds to send girls to rock camp this summer.
The lady rock campers took a Memorial Day weekend together in Hollywood putting together seven distinct bands of virtual strangers and they have to write a song and create a logo. The final step: To perform at the Bootleg.
Most of the women have never even picked up a musical instrument before.
“We all made friends with each other,” said Pegi Hayes of Oceanside, who made the trip from San Diego County and who was in the band called Vintage. “The challenge was to write a song, create a logo and write and perform with people you have never met before. It was really fun.”
Changing Girls’ Lives Through Music
Mona Tavakoli of Raining Jane said the annual fundraiser gives women an idea of how the Rock Camp can change a girl’s life.
The exercise helps underscore the importance of cooperation and creativity.
“This is an empowerment for women,” Tavakoli said. “It enables women learn to support each other and create together.”
Each of the seven bands were given two coaches. One coach, Amber Elliott, said: “It’s a fun, team building exercise that basically brings people together.”
Tavakoli said she and her Raining Jane band members Becky Gebhardt, Chaska Potter and Mai Bloomfield got the idea after volunteering at a girls camp in Portland.
“This is about creating opportunities for women to support each other,” Tavakoli said. “It’s a chance for women to collaborate, and not compete.”
Bands that participated had cool names:
Royal Illusions with Jenifer Roosevelt, Michelle Vogel, Karman Kregloe, Courtney Orsinelli, Sarah Haywood, Kelli Wymore and Nina Kurtz
Vintage with Pegi Hayes, Karen Bates, Cheryl Filipek, Jennie Pierce, Cat Bramhall, Whitney Hogan, and Amber Elliott
We Just Met with Paula Propst, Cheri Herrboldt, Reema Iqbal, Mary Kay Wolfe, Anita Brown and Aly Miguel; Unconditional with Ellen Jannol, Marissa Pittam, Jenni Mischel, Kelsey Kaszas, Olivia Alminiana
The Rock-It Boots with Sandy Haasis, Jenny Dickmanm April Trestick, Kristine Kollasch, Celeste Ward and Marisa DeMeglio
Tigermouse with Jennifer von Stauffenberg, Vallie Gilley, Lori Wachter, Miranda Westerman, Phoebe-Marie Brown and Mai Bloomfield
Bad Rabbits with Kristine Surla, Anne Marie Iniguez, Jessica DiPaola, Charlene DiPaola, Myriam MacQuiddy, Dawn Thomas and Kelly Kathleen.
