Wednesday, February 5, 2025

Donate Your Instruments to Young Fire Victims


Donate new or gently used instruments for youth impacted by the Los Angeles County wild fires. 

 

Music and Mental Health go hand in hand

Outside the Box has partnered with Musack.org, who has been giving instruments and grants to music teachers and music programs throughout the world. We are now accepting requests to replace musical instruments and equipment lost in the LA County wild fires. Donated instruments will be available for kids, young adults, families, music programs and schools. 

Please head over to the Musack form if you have a wish list. 

If you have instruments to donate, contact info@otbseries.com. We are setting up donation locations  throughout Los Angeles County.  Pick up is available in Orange County by one of our team members.

UPDATE 2/4/25

Outside the Box has also partnered with LA Strong Foundation to help coordinate donations of new and gently used instruments for youth impacted by the California wildfires.

#lastrong #lastrongfoundation 


Community service projects for students  in middle and high school are also underway. Students  lead donation efforts at their schools, collecting instruments from their peers for distribution to young fire victims. 

Contact info@otbseries.com to learn more.


 

Tuesday, February 4, 2025

Drew Koven of The LA Strong Foundation featured on KUCI 88.9fm



The LA Strong Foundation was created by Philanthropists, First Responders, and Venture Capitalists Maxi Kozler Koven and Drew Koven. They provide and coordinate relief including food, essential supplies, services and emotional support to the victims of the LA Fires, the homeless, at risk communities, and youth.

Need supplies? Want to volunteer? Are you able to donate items needed?
Head on over to the LA Strong Foundation website and find out how to get involved.

UPDATE 
Shoutout to Kassatex for donating beautiful bedding and linens available now at the LA Strong Foundation locations in Malibu and Venice Beach.






ABOUT

Drew is the Co-Managing Director of LDR Ventures. He has successfully incubated, operated, turned around, transformed, advised and invested in Food, Restaurant, Fashion & Consumer Lifestyle Omni-channel brands worldwide for over twenty years.

He actively leads, co-leads, invests, consults to and advises companies, executives and entrepreneurs across the United States and internationally at multiple stages including Seed and Series A, in businesses that are part of the omni-channel food economy and restaurant ecosystem. He is an early stage investor in companies which include: Sweetgreen, Junzi Kitchen (+Advisor), Territory Foods, Thrive Market (+Advisor) and Court Buddy (+Lead & Board Member).

Drew’s investment, consulting and advisory experience includes: better, fast casual brick & mortar, mobile and digitally enabled restaurants, food, beverage, CPG, cloud kitchens, commissaries, pods/outposts, production automation, delivery/distribution/logistics, food tech, ancillary products and services, travel and legal tech, fashion, eCommerce and marketplaces.

He is widely regarded as a pioneering force in Internet Grocery, E-commerce, M-commerce, Omnichannel Retail and a thought leader for Innovative Technologies which support food, fashion and retail. Drew embraces diversity, impact, inclusion and female led businesses to build market leaders which address systemic and behavioral trend changes and have Impact.

Monday, February 3, 2025

THE SHE ROCKS AWARDS CONCLUDES THEIR 13TH YEAR OF HONORING WOMEN IN MUSIC AND AUDIO Sponsored by NAMM




THE SHE ROCKS AWARDS CONCLUDES THEIR
13TH YEAR OF HONORING WOMEN IN MUSIC AND AUDIO
Sponsored by NAMM



Left to Right: AIJIA, Amanda Palmer, Laura Whitmore, Jennifer Batten, Lindsey Stirling, Shantaia, Paula Cole, Alecia “Mixi” Demner of Stitched Up Heart, Samantha Fish, Theresa Hoffman, Rozanna Weinberger, Nurit Siegel Smith, Katie Daryl, Chris Schyvinck, Beth Heidt,
Download photos here.


ANAHEIM, CA January 27, 2023 – The She Rocks Awards concludes another incredible year of honoring groundbreaking women and innovators from across the music and audio industries with NAMM as the presenting partner.
The night started with an incredible performance by PRS Guitars artist Shantaia, followed by opening remarks from Women’s International Music Network and She Rocks Awards founder Laura Whitmore, which included acknowledging those affected by the recent Los Angeles fires. The show teamed up with NAMM’s Wildfire Relief Fund to collect donations at the event. The show also featured an exceptional performance of former honoree Starr Parodi and her daughter Isolde Maria Parodi Fair, who had just lost their family home in the fires in Pacific Palisades. Parodi was presented with a new She Rocks award to replace the one lost in the fires, and the two performed a mash-up of Fair’s song “Time Traveller” and Mama’s and Papa’s “California Dreaming.”

The She Rocks Awards have built a reputation for honoring women from all corners of the industry and genres, recognizing legends and up-and-comers. Honoree Alecia “Mixi” Demner of Stitched up Heart commented that this award was the first the band had received in their 15 years together, leading to a fiery performance where she was seen singing on tables in the crowd. 

Grammy winner and 2025 She Rocks Award Icon honoree Paula Cole moved the crowd with a stripped-down piano version of the multi-platinum-selling “I Don’t Wanna Wait.” In her profound acceptance speech, she spoke about the challenges of living the life of an artist and how, after seeing what she called an epidemic of low self-confidence in young women in the years she spent as a professor, she has now dedicated her life to empowering her girls and young women. She challenged the crowd to envision a world where girls are “shooting their hands up to ask the questions, express large opinions and taking their seat at the proverbial table, rocking boats and confidently ascending into leadership.”

Honoree Amanda Palmer gave a stunning speech about the power of volume in female voices, both loud and soft and the “freedom to be heard at any volume.” She also went to thank the female executives in the room who made gear and instruments that helped to amplify female voices. Her acceptance speech was followed by a moving performance of her powerful song “Voicemail for Jill.” Honorees from the C-Suite, such as Gibson Guitars CEO Beth Heidt and Chairman, President, and CEO of Shure Inc., Chris Schyvinck, spoke on the importance of mentorship and giving access to women in their speeches.
The night was rounded out by incredible performances by AIJIA, who performed with her husband, multi-platinum-selling artist Andy Grammer, and Lindsey Stirling, who was joined by up-and-coming violinist Christa. The night concluded with a bombastic performance by honorees Samantha Fish to close the night.
The full show can be viewed on the Women’s International Music Network YouTube channel.

Samantha Fish cr: Scott Mitchell

Full list of honorees:

AIJIA – Artist, songwriter, and vocal producer who has worked with Selena Gomez and Anderson .Paak and is an advocate for women’s equality.
Paula Cole – GRAMMY-winning singer-songwriter known for "Where Have All the Cowboys Gone?" and "I Don't Want to Wait." Her latest album Lo is her first collection of original songs in nearly a decade.

Katie Daryl – Rock journalist and former Vice President of Programming at AXS TV, known for developing shows like The Top Ten Revealed and Sounds Delicious.
Alecia “Mixi” Demner – Lead vocalist and founder of hard rock band Stitched Up Heart. Mixi has released three albums with the band, toured with legends like Godsmack and Halestorm, and is a passionate advocate for animal rescue. 
Hosted by Monster.

Samantha Fish – GRAMMY-nominated guitarist and songwriter known for her unique blend of blues, rock, and soul. Fish’s recent successes include performing at Eric Clapton's Crossroads LA Festival, gracing the cover of Guitar World with Slash, and touring with both Slash and The Rolling Stones. Her latest album, Death Wish Blues, topped the Billboard Blues Chart.

Beth Heidt – Chief Marketing Officer at Gibson Brands, leading global marketing, artist relations, and partnerships while driving philanthropic efforts through Gibson Gives.

Theresa Hoffman – Director of Custom Shop Sales at C.F. Martin Guitar & Co., she brings her extensive experience in sales, engineering, and leadership to drive growth and innovation. Known for her professionalism and dedication, Theresa holds two patents and has led significant projects in custom machinery development and international sales.

Amanda Palmer – A pioneering performance artist and musician, Palmer gained fame with The Dresden Dolls. Her solo career includes the fan-funded Theatre Is Evil, which debuted in the top 10 of the Billboard 200 and remains the top-funded music project on Kickstarter.

Chris Schyvinck – Chairman, President, and CEO of Shure Inc., leading the company to global growth and celebrating its 100th anniversary.
Nurit Siegel Smith – Executive Director of Music Forward Foundation, a charitable partner of Live Nation Entertainment, dedicated to fostering a more inclusive music industry.

Rozanna Weinberger - NAMM Female Entrepreneur of the Year + founder of Rozanna’s Violins

Co Hosts:Lyndsey Stirling - Ground-breaking electronic violinist, dancer, and artist and former honoree
Jennifer Batten - renowned for her groundbreaking guitar work, having toured the world as part of Michael Jackson’s solo tours for 10 years and with Jeff Beck for three years.

Opening ActShantaia, a Nashville-based singer-songwriter, was named the 2023 SCMA Female Artist of the Year. Shantaia has toured with The Washboard Union and opened for artists like Kane Brown and Chris Lane, with millions of streams for her singles such as "Had a Good Weekend" and "Broke to Brand New." Her performance is sponsored by PRS Guitars.

The She Rocks Awards is proudly supported by our incredible sponsors,
 including our presenting sponsor NAMM, along with PRS Guitars, Freeman, Monster Energy, Positive Grid, Shure, M.A.C Cosmetics, Roland, dw, Boss, Seymour Duncan, Fishman, Berklee Online, Gibson, Sennheiser, Ernie Ball, Exploration.io, D'Angelico, Taylor Guitars, Reverb, 108 Rock Star Guitars, Venus Guitars, Ableton, Sweetwater, Rafter Marsh, Hudson Audio Works, Martin Guitar,The Hollywood Times, Guitar Girl Magazine, Music Connection, Guitar World, Guitar Player, MusicRadar, and AXS TV.

For more information and to purchase tickets, please visit www.sherocksawards.com.

#####
About The Women’s International Music Network (WiMN)
Founded in 2012, the Women’s International Music Network unites women working in all facets of the music and audio industries. With theWiMN.com as its hub, the WiMN provides a community for women within the industry while enriching their careers and musical experiences through networking and sharing. Founded by music industry veteran Laura B. Whitmore, the Women’s International Music Network produces and hosts events such as, the WiMN She Rocks Showcase series, the She Rocks Awards, and a variety of workshops and panels throughout the year. For more information, visit www.TheWiMN.com.

For Media Inquiries Contact:
Nicole Poulos // nicole@sideways-media.com // 310-908-3812


Wednesday, January 29, 2025

January 29th at 9:30am - L.A.’s legendary retired meteorologist Fritz Coleman shares details about his current Residency at THE EL PORTAL MONROE FORUM - a special performance to benefit California Community Foundation Wildfire Recovery Fund



Fritz Coleman invites you to an afternoon of Comedy
at the El Portal Theatre February 23rd, March 30th, and April 27th


El Portal Theatre, in the intimate Monroe Forum, 5269 Lankershim Blvd.,
North Hollywood, CA 91601




WHAT/WHO: Unassisted Residency. Live comedy performance by beloved TV personality Fritz Coleman, with special guests.


WHERE: El Portal Theatre, in the intimate Monroe Forum, 5269 Lankershim Blvd., North Hollywood, CA 91601.


WHEN: Sundays at 3 p.m. on January 26, February 23, March 30, and April 27, 2025. Further 2025 dates to be announced.


ADMISSION: $40 general admission; $50 cocktail table seating.


ONLINE TICKETING: https://www.elportaltheatre.com/fritzcoleman.html


Fritz Coleman’s monthly engagements at the Monroe Forum in North Hollywood have consistently been selling out, and his run at the intimate venue is extending into 2025. Fritz Coleman’s Unassisted Residency is the El Portal’s longest-running attraction, and tickets to this show make a great holiday gift idea.


Coleman has accrued a base of devoted fans throughout Southern California thanks to his four-decade, Emmy®-winning career as a weatherman and newscaster for NBC and his designation as honorary mayor of Toluca Lake. But he also had careers as an actor, writer, and comedian.


Fritz has done live solo comedy shows before (The Reception; It’s Me, Dad!). His newest show, Unassisted Residency, gives him a platform to talk about those topics which emerge from his current perspective: that of a still vital seventy-something. His show for “woke boomers” will cover things like Zoom school, retirement, becoming vegan, pharmaceuticals, celebrating growing up, and growing old. The show will also feature some of his favorite stories and observations about modern life.


Fritz will share the stage with a special guest each month.


The shows are all matinee performances. Fritz says, “The show starts early…because I’m trying to be sensitive to the needs of my particular demographic….old people and their parents…I promise to have you home by dark.”

Plying his trade with a gentler touch than some of his contemporaries, Fritz performs clean comedy.

“Beguiling and very funny…Recommended.”---Stage Raw

“Coleman is always welcoming…We DO need a weatherman to know the way the wind blows.”---Showmag.com

“Each show will continue to have the audience reflecting on their own life, while rolling in laughter…Wonderful.”---L.A. Splash.

Please make your reservations early to avoid disappointment, as this show will continue to sell out. Fritz wants to welcome you.















Wednesday, January 22, 2025

Joining Janeane on Wednesday January 22nd at 9:30am is Mikey Latner Founder | Executive Director of Project: Camp


Project:Camp is a disaster response nonprofit that pops up free, trauma-informed day camps for children impacted by disasters. We're currently running multiple camps in and around Los Angeles to support families impacted by the Palisades and Eaton fires.





Project:Camp’s MIssion

Care for children, relief for families, resilience for communities

Mikey Latner
Founder | Executive Director

A former camp director with two decades of camp experience under his belt, Mikey founded Project:Camp with the idea that camp and childcare professionals have critical skills to offer in times of emergency. In developing our pop-up camp model, Mikey sought to use the structure of camp as a vehicle to bring joy, safety and peace of mind to children and parents impacted by natural disasters. He hopes this work leads to a seismic shift in the disaster response ecosystem, creating a more holistic, trauma-informed and community-driven model that prioritizes the needs of families during emergencies.


Wednesday January 22nd at 9:00am - Dr. Linda Eckert, author of ENOUGH - Because We Can Stop Cervical Cancer, and internationally recognized expert in immunizations and cervical cancer prevention.


Dr. Linda Eckert, author of ENOUGH in the New Year. Internationally recognized expert in immunizations and cervical cancer prevention, Dr Eckert has worked as a consultant with the World Health Organization on global cancer prevention for the last fifteen years, facilitating policy development for the HPV vaccine and cervical cancer screening. She is a Professor of obstetrics and gynecology with an Infectious Disease Fellowship at University of Washington’s Departments of Obstetrics and Gynecology and Global Health.

For over thirty years, Dr. Eckert has been based at Seattle’s Harborview Hospital, the largest public hospital in the Pacific Northwest, serving people from all over the globe who represent a broad spectrum of economic means and disease symptoms. 

She has also been able to work in multiple countries above and below the equator, seeing patients, doing policy development, and assisting health ministries to plan for cervical cancer screening, or HPV vaccine introduction – most recently in Pakistan.

Cervical cancer kills nearly 350,000 women globally each year. What’s more horrifying is that millions have died of this disease that's nearly 100% preventable.
 

January is Cervical Cancer Awareness Month, an ideal chance to raise awareness of cervical cancer and vaccination against human papillomavirus (HPV), the main cause of cervical cancer. 

Reviews:

“Beautifully written, Enough is a searing call to arms, for too many women are dying of cervical cancer when we have the tools to save their lives. The unnecessary human cost of cervical cancer is a scandal, and one that Dr. Eckert is determined to fix.” Nicholas Kristof, Columnist, The New York Times and co-author of Half the Sky

“Eckert presents an urgent and powerful call to action to save lives, based on her decades of practice and research around the world. Enough is an essential resource for anyone concerned with public health, women's rights, and addressing racial and national inequities in healthcare.” Anjli Parrin, Director, Global Human Rights Clinic


Cervical cancer kills nearly 350,000 women globally each year. What’s more horrifying is that millions have died of this disease that's nearly 100% preventable. It's no secret that healthcare is full of inequities, with a severe lack of accessible screening programs. But women's health care is also impeded by cultural, gender, and political barriers, issues that have combined to create devastating consequences.

A leading expert in cervical cancer prevention, Dr. Linda Eckert takes her years of practice and weaves it together with the voices of the courageous women who use their own experience of cervical cancer to advocate for change in this passionate call-to-action. Publishing to coincide with Cervical Cancer Awareness Month in January, this heart-breaking yet hopeful book takes you through the world of cervical cancer, with evidence-based information, personal stories, and actionable outcomes, covering topics like:


The power of prevention

The deadly link between inequality and cervical cancer

Obstacles to vaccination, screening, and treatment

And how readers can help in their own communities.


Society flourishes when women have access to safe and affordable healthcare. Together we can make this need a reality and eliminate the world's most preventable cancer.


About the Author

Dr. Linda Eckert is a Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology with an Infectious Disease Fellowship at the University of Washington and an internationally recognized expert in immunizations and cervical cancer prevention. For over thirty years, Dr. Eckert has worked at Seattle's Harborview Hospital, treating people from all around the world. Frequently in the spotlight for her expertise in HPV vaccinations and cervical cancer screenings, Dr. Eckert is passionate in her drive to eliminate this deadly disease.

Donate Your Instruments to Young Fire Victims

Donate new or gently used instruments for youth impacted by the Los Angeles County wild fires.    Music and Mental Health go hand in hand Ou...