We The Kings To 'Rock Out For Cause' At Lakewood Ranch High

Iconic rock legend and celebrity humanitarian Bono, U2's frontman, once said, “As a rock star, I have two instincts: I want to have fun, and I want to change the world. I have a chance to do both.”

That idea is the driving principle behind Rock Out for a Cause, a benefit concert to be held Friday night at Lakewood Ranch High School. The school's International Key Club has teamed up with Bradenton-based charity organization Taking Back Lives to put on an event that promises to bring down the house while raising awareness and money for a handful of great causes. Rocking out has never felt so good.

Mandy Kersey, English teacher and faculty adviser for the Key Club at Lakewood Ranch, originally envisioned “Campout for a Cause” in 2009, an overnight event in which participating students could pitch tents and have a good time in the name of charity. The event, which drew hundreds of participants in its first two years, has been changed to Rock Out for a Cause this year to accommodate Relay for Life and the FCAT exam schedule.

Bradenton’s very own Billboard chart-topping superstars, , will be the headliners at Friday’s concert. Performing along with them are three Sarasota-based bands: Skyline Summer – whose keyboardist, Lindsay England, is a Lakewood Ranch High School alumna – Lion Choir, and Speedwell. New City Lions will be traveling from Fort Lauderdale to perform at the event, and Tigerweather, an Orlando-based indie-pop band, is also heading to Bradenton to take the stage.

Dan McNeillie, director of program development at Taking Back Lives, sees the event as a win-win scenario for everyone involved.

“It’s going to be great,” McNeillie said. “All of these charities get funding and awareness, and a bunch of talented bands get a place to play.”

Taking Back Lives was founded in 2008 after then-Lakewood Ranch student Cassandra Yoder returned from an eye-opening trip to Malawi, Africa, where she volunteered at Dzanja La Chifundo Orphanage. Today, the organization works to raise funds to build schools and provide valuable educational opportunities for children in Africa.

Other participating charities include Solve Maternity Homes, Honor Sanctuary Animal Rescue, Food Bank of Manatee, Family Network on Disabilities of Manatee/Sarasota, Inc., and Manatee Glens. In order to be granted access to the event, attendees must pay an entrance fee of $15 pre-registration or $20 at the door and must also bring at least one “Wish List” item for the charity of their choice. Participating charities’ wish lists can be accessed here on the Rock Out for a Cause official website.

Unlike the other charities who are accepting items relevant to their causes, McNeillie says that Taking Back Lives would prefer its supporters make a $5 donation and purchase a paper brick to symbolize the construction of a double classroom block in Malawi this summer, which the donations will be put toward.

“It really just costs too much to ship items to Malawi,” said McNeillie. “It’s better to raise money that can be put toward purchasing items within the country that will support the local economy.”

McNeillie says that event organizers are hoping to draw between 2,000 and 3,000 attendees. Rock for a Cause has been running commercials on both BrightHouse and Comcast television networks to raise awareness for the event, and Lakewood Ranch High’s Key Club has played a very active role in promoting the concert throughout county schools. Along with acquiring the venue for the event and getting sponsors, Key Club members have distributed 8,000 postcards throughout the local community to raise publicity for the concert.

“We’re in the process of looking to expand,” said McNeillie. “First, we want to bring the event to various schools throughout the county. Ultimately, though, we want to get Rock for a Cause going throughout the entire country. That’s our real goal.”

Rock Out for a Cause is scheduled to begin at 5 p.m. Friday at Lakewood Ranch High School. For additional information, or to purchase tickets, visit the Rock Out for a Cause official website.