RockCorps is a pro-social production company that uses music to inspire people to volunteer and get involved in their community. To date, over 80,000 volunteers have attended more than 30 live concert events. The company was first founded in America in 2003 and launched in the US in 2005 in partnership with Boost Mobile

Boost Mobile

Boost Mobile is a brand of wireless prepay service run by Sprint Nextel, operating within the Sprint Prepaid Group along with Virgin Mobile USA, Assurance Wireless, and payLo by Virgin Mobile. Boost Mobile uses GSMand iDEN networks...

, Following that, RockCorps launched in the UK in 2008, France in 2009 and Israel in 2010. RockCorps has featured famous artists at their concerts, including Lady GaGa

Lady GaGa

Stefani Joanne Angelina Germanotta , better known by her stage name Lady Gaga, is an American singer and songwriter. Born and raised in New York City, she primarily studied at the Convent of the Sacred Heart and briefly attended New York University's Tisch School of the Arts before withdrawing to...

, David Guetta

David Guetta

Pierre David Guetta , known professionally as David Guetta , is a French house music producer and DJ. Originally a DJ at nightclubs during the 1980s and 1990s, he co-founded Gum Productions and released his first album, Just a Little More Love, in 2002. Later, he released Guetta Blaster and Pop Life...

, Lil Wayne

Lil Wayne

Dwayne Michael Carter, Jr. , better known by his stage name Lil Wayne, is an American rapper. At the age of nine, Lil Wayne joined Cash Money Records as the youngest member of the label, and half of the duo, The B.G.'z, with B.G.. In 1997, Lil Wayne joined the group Hot Boys, which also included...

, T.I.

T.I.

Clifford Joseph Harris, Jr. , better known by his stage name T.I., is an American rap artist, film and music producer, actor and author. He is also the founder and co-chief executive officer of Grand Hustle Records....

, Akon

Akon

Aliaune Damala Badara Thiam, better known as simply Akon , is a Senegalese American R&B recording artist and songwriter.According to Forbes, Akon grossed $21 million in 2010, $20 million in 2009 and $12 million in 2008. He rose to prominence in 2004 following the release of "Locked Up", the first...

, Nelly

Nelly

Cornell Iral Haynes, Jr. , better known by his stage name Nelly, is an Grammy Award winning American rapper and actor. He has performed with the rap group St. Lunatics since 1993 and signed to Universal Records in 1999. Under Universal, Nelly began his solo career in 2000 with his debut album...

, Nas

Nas

Nasir bin Olu Dara Jones, who performs under the name Nas , formerly Nasty Nas, is an American rapper and actor. He is regarded as one of the most important figures in hip hop and one of the most skilled and influential rappers of all-time...

, Snoop Dogg

Snoop Dogg

Calvin Cordozar Broadus, Jr. , better known by his stage name Snoop Dogg, is an American rapper, record producer, and actor. Snoop is best known as a rapper in the West Coast hip hop scene, and for being one of Dr. Dre's most notable protégés. Snoop Dogg was a Crip gang member while in high school...

, Kanye West

Kanye West

Kanye Omari West is an American rapper, singer, and record producer. West first rose to fame as a producer for Roc-A-Fella Records, where he eventually achieved recognition for his work on Jay-Z's album The Blueprint, as well as hit singles for musical artists including Alicia Keys, Ludacris, and...

, Young Jeezy

Young Jeezy

Jay Wayne Jenkins , better known by his stage name Young Jeezy, is an American rapper. He is the member of the hip hop group United Streets Dopeboyz of America and a former member of BMF...

, Korn

Korn

Korn is an American nu metal band from Bakersfield, California, formed in 1993. The current band line up includes four members: Jonathan Davis, James "Munky" Shaffer, Reginald "Fieldy" Arvizu, and Ray Luzier. The band was formed as an expansion of L.A.P.D.The band released their first demo album,...

, N-Dubz

N-Dubz

N-Dubz are a British hip hop group from Camden Town, London. The group consists of members Dappy, Tulisa Contostavlos and Fazer.N-Dubz were previously signed to Polydor Records before joining All Around the World Records...

,and Vampire Weekend

Vampire Weekend

Vampire Weekend is an American indie rock band from New York City that formed in 2006 and signed to XL Recordings. The Band has four members: Ezra Koenig, Rostam Batmanglij, Chris Tomson, and Chris Baio. The band released its first album Vampire Weekend in 2008, which produced the singles "Mansard...

.
RockCorps’ principal idea is “Got 2 Give to Get (U.S.), Give, Get Given (UK).

Tagline: Moving a Generation to Change the World

About

Anyone who gives 4 hours of their time at a RockCorps organized volunteer event in their local community gets given a ticket to an exclusive concert put on by RockCorps.

The volunteer events are always in partnership with local non-profit organizations. Non-Profit partners in various cities have included: Lee Valley Regional Park (UK), Thames 21(UK) Social Change Media (USA), Watts Boys and Girls Club (USA), Heal the Bay

Heal the Bay

Heal the Bay is a U.S. environmental advocacy non-profit organization based in Santa Monica, California.Heal the Bay is dedicated to protecting California's Santa Monica Bay, a region of the Pacific coast encompassed by Malibu's Point Dume on the north and the Palos Verdes Peninsula on the south...

 (USA), Big Kidz (USA), Reynoldstown Revitalization Corporation

Reynoldstown Revitalization Corporation

Resources for Residents and Communities of Georgia is a nonprofit 501 nonprofit community development corporation founded in 1989 as Reynoldstown Revitalization Corporation with the initial mission of revitalizing the Reynoldstown community in Atlanta, Georgia, United States...

 (USA), Arepa

Arepa

An arepa is a dish made of ground corn dough or cooked flour, popular in Colombia, Venezuela and other Spanish-speaking countries. It is similar in shape to the Salvadoran pupusa...

 (FRANCE) and ABEJ (FRANCE).

RockCorps is not a non-profit organization, instead partners with a brand partner in each country, creating a marketing and communication platform that combines entertainment and community work. When launched in 2005 in the USA, RockCorps partnered with Boost Mobile and was known as ‘Boost Mobile RockCorps’. In the UK, France and Israel RockCorps is partnered with Orange and is known as ‘Orange RockCorps’. In the UK in 2008 and 2009 RockCorps was also partnered with Sony Ericsson

Sony Ericsson

Sony Ericsson Mobile Communications AB is a joint venture established on October 1, 2001 by the Japanese consumer electronics company Sony Corporation and the Swedish telecommunications company Ericsson to manufacture mobile phones....

. This changed to BlackBerry

BlackBerry

BlackBerry is a line of mobile email and smartphone devices developed and designed by Canadian company Research In Motion since 1999.BlackBerry devices are smartphones, designed to function as personal digital assistants, portable media players, internet browsers, gaming devices, and much more...

 in 2010.

The Collective

In 2009 RockCorps launched 'The Collective'. 'The Collective' is the anywhere/anytime part of the project. It rewards volunteers who give to their community, but who may not be able to make a project or gig. Volunteers have to give 4 hours of their time wherever, whenever they want and they become a part of 'The Collective community' by sharing their experience with their peers through The Collective website. Collective members are offered exclusive tickets and are entered into prize draws. Prizes have included Ticketmaster

Ticketmaster

Ticketmaster Entertainment, Inc. is an independent American ticket sales and distribution company based in West Hollywood, California, USA, with operations in many countries around the world. In 2010 it merged with Live Nation to become Live Nation Entertainment...

 vouchers, tickets to RockCorps gigs in other countries, and exclusive access to other concerts.

Leadership

RockCorps was founded and continues to be operated by: Stephen Greene (CEO), Grady Lee (COO), movie and video director Chris Robinson

Chris Robinson (director)

Chris Robinson is an American film director working mostly with music videos and commercials. He has directed commercials for brands such as iPod, Coca Cola and Verizon and music videos for songs like "Fallin'" and "You Don't Know My Name" by Alicia Keys, "Roc Boys" by Jay-Z, the grammy nominated...

, Haley Moffett, Paul Hunter, Toby Garrett and Noel Eisenberg.

History

RockCorps sprang from the work of the Greenbucks Foundation in the USA. Active in the mid-‘90s, Greenbucks staged its initial concerts in Telluride and encouraged local residents to clean up the outdoor concert space in order to earn a ticket.

RockCorps’ first nationwide effort in 2005 with partner Boost Mobile, a wireless telecommunications company. In its first year, the Boost Mobile RockCorps (BMRC) movement staged events in six U.S. cities and had 5,000 volunteers who generated 20,000 hours of service. In 2007, Boost Mobile RockCorps expanded the program to 11 cities and over 15,000 volunteers. BMRC had a total of over 30,000 American volunteers and travelled to over 13 U.S. cities.

RockCorps expanded to the UK in 2008, announcing in April its partnership with mobile operator Orange. In 2008, in partnership with Orange, Sony Ericsson and Channel 4, RockCorps produced the Orange RockCorps (ORC) concert at The Royal Albert Hall

Royal Albert Hall

The Royal Albert Hall is a concert hall situated on the northern edge of the South Kensington area, in the City of Westminster, London, England, best known for holding the annual summer Proms concerts since 1941....

 on September 26. To get a ticket to the show - people had to sign up for one of 55 volunteer events that happened throughout August and September. 5000 people volunteered 20,000 hours to 41 UK charities in London, Manchester, Cardiff, Southampton and Newcastle.

In 2009, Orange RockCorps returned to London, and also launched in Manchester, UK. The Manchester gig took place on July 13 at the Manchester Apollo

Manchester Apollo

O2 Apollo Manchester is a concert venue in Manchester, England. Locally known as The Apollo, it is a listed building, with a capacity of 3,500 ....

 with Lady GaGa, N-Dubz, The Enemy, VV Brown

VV Brown

Vanessa Brown , also known as VV Brown, is an English singer, songwriter, model, and producer signed to Island Records in the United Kingdom and to Universal Republic Records and Capitol Records in the United States...

 and Tinchy Stryder

Tinchy Stryder

Kwasi Danquah III , better known by his pseudonyms Tinchy Stryder and Star In The Hood, is a Ghanaian British recording artist, music executive, A&R executive, and businessman...

. The London concert took place on September 25 at the Royal Albert Hall with Nelly

Nelly

Cornell Iral Haynes, Jr. , better known by his stage name Nelly, is an Grammy Award winning American rapper and actor. He has performed with the rap group St. Lunatics since 1993 and signed to Universal Records in 1999. Under Universal, Nelly began his solo career in 2000 with his debut album...

, Nas

Nas

Nasir bin Olu Dara Jones, who performs under the name Nas , formerly Nasty Nas, is an American rapper and actor. He is regarded as one of the most important figures in hip hop and one of the most skilled and influential rappers of all-time...

, Kelly Rowland

Kelly Rowland

Kelendria Trene "Kelly" Rowland is an American singer, songwriter, actress, dancer, and television personality. She rose to fame as one of the founding members of the American girl group Destiny's Child...

 and David Guetta

David Guetta

Pierre David Guetta , known professionally as David Guetta , is a French house music producer and DJ. Originally a DJ at nightclubs during the 1980s and 1990s, he co-founded Gum Productions and released his first album, Just a Little More Love, in 2002. Later, he released Guetta Blaster and Pop Life...

, Razorlight

Razorlight

Razorlight are a UK based indie rock band formed in 2002. They are primarily known in the UK, having topped the charts with the 2006 single "America" and its parent self-titled album, their second...

, Chase & Status

Chase & Status

Chase & Status are an electronic music production duo from London consisting of Saul Milton and Will Kennard. MC Rage & Andy Gangadeen also make up the live band.-2003-2005:...

 and Akon

Akon

Aliaune Damala Badara Thiam, better known as simply Akon , is a Senegalese American R&B recording artist and songwriter.According to Forbes, Akon grossed $21 million in 2010, $20 million in 2009 and $12 million in 2008. He rose to prominence in 2004 following the release of "Locked Up", the first...

.

RockCorps also launched in Paris their first French program, on July 21 ("en association avec M6"). The concert took place on October 2 in Le Zénith and featured Akon, David Guetta, Busta Rhymes

Busta Rhymes

Trevor Tahiem Smith, Jr., better known by his stage name Busta Rhymes ,Smith is an American rapper, producer and actor. Chuck D of Public Enemy gave him the alias Busta Rhymes after NFL wide receiver George "Buster" Rhymes...

, Sefyu

Sefyu

Youssef Soukouna , better known by his stage name Sefyu , is a French rapper of Senegalese descent. He comes from Aulnay-sous-Bois , a city in the French department of Seine-Saint-Denis...

.

In 2010 Orange RockCorps spread to Israel for a Rihanna

Rihanna

Robyn Rihanna Fenty , better known as simply Rihanna, is a Barbadian recording artist. Born in Saint Michael, Barbados, Rihanna moved to the United States at the age of 16 to pursue a recording career under the guidance of record producer Evan Rogers...

 concert at the Bloomfield Stadium in Tel Aviv for 13,000 RockCorps volunteers.

2010 also saw Orange RockCorps return to Manchester and to the Apollo on July 8 with Snoop Dogg

Snoop Dogg

Calvin Cordozar Broadus, Jr. , better known by his stage name Snoop Dogg, is an American rapper, record producer, and actor. Snoop is best known as a rapper in the West Coast hip hop scene, and for being one of Dr. Dre's most notable protégés. Snoop Dogg was a Crip gang member while in high school...

, Vampire Weekend

Vampire Weekend

Vampire Weekend is an American indie rock band from New York City that formed in 2006 and signed to XL Recordings. The Band has four members: Ezra Koenig, Rostam Batmanglij, Chris Tomson, and Chris Baio. The band released its first album Vampire Weekend in 2008, which produced the singles "Mansard...

, Tinie Tempah

Tinie Tempah

Patrick Chukwuemeka Okogwu , better known by his stage name Tinie Tempah, is a British rapper. He made his first mixtape in 2007 with 28 songs, freestyles and remixes, the album features Mz Bratt, Chipmunk and G-Unit...

 and Mr Hudson. The London concert that year was held in The Albert Hall on September 24 with Pendulum

Pendulum

A pendulum is a weight suspended from a pivot so that it can swing freely. When a pendulum is displaced from its resting equilibrium position, it is subject to a restoring force due to gravity that will accelerate it back toward the equilibrium position...

, Mark Ronson

Mark Ronson

Mark Daniel Ronson is an English DJ, guitarist, music producer, artist and co-founder of Allido Records. He currently works with his band under the music alias of Mark Ronson & The Business Intl....

 and the Business International featuring Boy George

Boy George

Boy George is a British singer-songwriter who was part of the English New Romantic movement which emerged in the early 1980s. He helped give androgyny an international stage with the success of Culture Club during the 1980s. His music is often classified as blue-eyed soul, which is influenced by...

, N-Dubz, Taio Cruz

Taio Cruz

Taio Cruz is a British singer-songwriter, record producer, occasional rapper, and entrepreneur. In 2008, he released his debut album Departure, which Cruz wrote, arranged and produced himself. It achieved initial success in the UK and earned him a MOBO Award nomination...

 and Plan B

Plan B

Plan B is a popular term used to mean a reserved, secondary plan, in case a first plan fails. Plan B is also an FDA-approved emergency contraception drug.It also may refer to:-People:...

. By the end of 2010, 24,000 people had volunteered with RockCorps in the UK.

In France 2010, Orange RockCorps expanded to Marseille, completing the programme with a concert at Le Dôme on July 12 featuring Damien Marley, Nas, Sexion D’Assaut, Alonzo

Alonzo

Alonzo or Alonso is the name of:*Alonzo Babers , a U.S. athlete.*Alonzo Bodden, a U.S. comedian.*Alonzo Church , a U.S. mathematician.*Alonzo Clemons, a U.S. autistic savant clay sculptor....

 and Soprano

Soprano

A soprano is a voice type with a vocal range from approximately middle C to "high A" in choral music, or to "soprano C" or higher in operatic music. In four-part chorale style harmony, the soprano takes the highest part, which usually encompasses the melody...

. They also returned to Paris and with a concert at Le Zénith on October 5, featuring N*E*R*D, Sexion D’Assaut, Mark Ronson and the Business International featuring Boy George and VV Brown.

External links

• http://www.orangerockcorps.co.uk/
• http://www.orangerockcorps.fr/
• http://www.rockcorps.com