The Take Action Tour to hit Orlando in Feb.
John Smith
Issue date: 2/2/10 Section: Entertainment
Roughly 10 years ago Hopeless/Sub-City Records set out to create a philanthropic project called the Take Action Tour. Each year a different charity is paired with the tour and there is a partnership as bands tour the country, perform music and provide awareness and help for that charity.
This year the Take Action Tour is working with a non-profit organization called Driving for Donors, which was founded by a young man named Patrick Pedraja. At only 14 Pedraja has started this amazing charity to help with the national marrow registry. After being diagnosed with Leukemia at age 10 and after seeing someone lose their life after they couldn't find a matching marrow donor, Pedraja started Driving for Donors, which is a non-profit organization that drives across the country helping people sign up for the national marrow registry. Pedraja's goal this year is to have 2,010 people added to the registry on top of his already phenomenal 6,500 donors.
I had a chance to catch up with Pedraja on the phone this week to ask him about his organization and what he thinks of some of the bands on tour.
"We the Kings is awesome I'm really glad they are on tour," said Pedraja.
I asked him if he had any say in what bands would be on tour and he said that he did not, however he was really happy with the bands. I had the chance to ask him about the organization and where he sees his project going in the future.
"My main goal is to raise awareness and tell everyone about bone marrow and to educate people. I would love if everyone could donate or at least help others donate," said Pedraja.
For only being 14 Pedraja was very well spoken and truly inspiring.
So how does music fit into all of this? Each year Hopeless/Sub-City Records pulls together bands from their label to go on tour, and a percentage from ticket sales goes to that charity. Not only do the bands get to perform their music each night but an awareness is raised about the charity and the charity itself gets to interact with the concert attendees.
The Take Action Tour will be in Orlando at the House of Blues on Feb. 11, and the bands that will be performing are We the Kings, Mayday Parade, A Rocket to the Moon, There for Tomorrow and on select other dates Stereo Skyline! And Call the Cops will also perform.
For more information check out takeactiontour.com or drivingfordonors.com
This year the Take Action Tour is working with a non-profit organization called Driving for Donors, which was founded by a young man named Patrick Pedraja. At only 14 Pedraja has started this amazing charity to help with the national marrow registry. After being diagnosed with Leukemia at age 10 and after seeing someone lose their life after they couldn't find a matching marrow donor, Pedraja started Driving for Donors, which is a non-profit organization that drives across the country helping people sign up for the national marrow registry. Pedraja's goal this year is to have 2,010 people added to the registry on top of his already phenomenal 6,500 donors.
I had a chance to catch up with Pedraja on the phone this week to ask him about his organization and what he thinks of some of the bands on tour.
"We the Kings is awesome I'm really glad they are on tour," said Pedraja.
I asked him if he had any say in what bands would be on tour and he said that he did not, however he was really happy with the bands. I had the chance to ask him about the organization and where he sees his project going in the future.
"My main goal is to raise awareness and tell everyone about bone marrow and to educate people. I would love if everyone could donate or at least help others donate," said Pedraja.
For only being 14 Pedraja was very well spoken and truly inspiring.
So how does music fit into all of this? Each year Hopeless/Sub-City Records pulls together bands from their label to go on tour, and a percentage from ticket sales goes to that charity. Not only do the bands get to perform their music each night but an awareness is raised about the charity and the charity itself gets to interact with the concert attendees.
The Take Action Tour will be in Orlando at the House of Blues on Feb. 11, and the bands that will be performing are We the Kings, Mayday Parade, A Rocket to the Moon, There for Tomorrow and on select other dates Stereo Skyline! And Call the Cops will also perform.
For more information check out takeactiontour.com or drivingfordonors.com
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