Summer 2015 Sammons Financial Group

News about how
What’s New with
Girls Rock!Des Moines
YOU are
helping GIRLS to find their
Summer/Fall 2015
POWER through
music education, creation, and performance.
7 STEP PROGRAM
PERFORMS AT LAZERFEST!!
Seven amazing young women from GR!DSM Summer Day Camp, formed a
band called 7 Step Program (clever!), and had the amazing opportunity to play
in front of an awesome crowd opening the 2015 rock festival Lazerfest. The band
composed an original song just for the fans, and performed that and a number
of rocking cover songs including a rendition of “Welcome to the Black Parade,”
which was a crowd favorite! In preparation for the big gig, the girls performed on
KCWI’s Great Day! The campers also got to meet Lizzy Hale of Halestorm and
hang out with the band backstage. Check out videos of the rockin’ show here.
Girls Rock!Des Moines held its first
annual fundraiser, Pedal Jam, in May
of 2015. This family friendly all day
biking and concert event, featured
local bands, GR!DSM campers, and
Caroline Smith. GR!DSM thanks
all of the volunteers and sponsors
who made this amazing day
possible. Through their support and
enthusiastic help, the organization raised $6000! We look forward
to bringing another great family friendly community event to Des
Moines in September 2016!
Big thanks to the following sponsors:
Nationwide, EMC, Home Base DSM, Des Moines Social Club, La
Mie, The Blazing Saddle, Ichibike, Des Moines Bicycle Collective,
TIkly, Mullets, KFMG, Confluence, iHeart Radio, Exile, Jasper
Winery, and Americana!
Lizzy also shared with the campers and the world what it means to “Rock Like a
Girl!” Check out the video on Twitter here.
GR!DSM is working on more opportunities for campers like those in 7 Step
Program to keep performing throughout the year! Watch more 7 Step
performances at the Des Moines Arts Festival here.
Summer 2015
This year, for the first time since its inception, GR!DSM Summer Day Camp SOLD OUT!!! We served 43
talented and strong girls and young women, and even had a waiting list for campers! Eight bands were
formed, each band wrote, recorded, and performed an original song and they each learned a cover song! The
bands got to work with the great folks at Sonic Factory to record their original songs. And on the last night
of camp, through the support of the Des Moines Social Club, they all performed at the Kum & Go Theatre
in - what some audience members say - the best GR!DSM showcase concert EVER!! Through support from
scholarship sponsors like Eden in Des Moines’ East Village, GR!DSM provided $7000 in scholarships to
50% of our campers! CDs of the awesome recordings will be available soon...order yours today at info@
girlsrockdsm.com! Check out showcase videos here!
Currently, GR!DSM hopes to hold TWO summer day camps in 2016...we want to make sure EVERY girl
gets a chance to ROCK!
In July, GR!DSM held its first ever Singer/Songwriter Overnight Camp. Ten amazingly talented young women
participated, and 80% received a scholarship to attend. This pilot program is very different from the overnight
camp in that it provides a focus on helping solo artists develop their skills as songwriters and performers. The
campers played either guitar or keys (taught by recent inductee into the Iowa Jazz Hall of Fame, Janie Hooper!),
and received one-on-one mentoring to help them write an original song. On the last day of camp, they performed
their original composition at 8035 on the Generation Z Youth Stage! GR!DSM Overnight Camp CDs will be
available in hard copy or mp3 very soon. Contact us to pre-order yours today at [email protected]! Big
thanks to Jeff and Kim Young, for without them, this camp would not have been possible!
Currently, GR!DSM plans to continue this programming next summer and hopes to double the number of campers!
COMING UP IN 2016...
AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAM - In partnership with Harding Middle School and the Arts
Integration Program, GR!DSM plans to launch an after school program that primarily
serves students attending Harding but is open to any girl in the Des Moines Metro. We are
currently seeking sponsors and funding to provide this vital program to all participants free
of charge!
PROGRAM EXPANSION - We are in the midst of an exciting and ambitious time of growth.
In 2016, GR!DSM will bring you Little Grrls Rock! for girls ages 5 - 9, TWO summer day
camp programs, and Ladies Rock! for adults 18+.
ANNUAL FUND DRIVE - GR!DSM can not continue to grow and provide enriching
opportunities for girls and young women without your support. We will soon launch an
annual fundraising campaign with a goal of raising $50,000. Learn how for just $40 a
month you can play a crucial part in helping more girls to ROCK!
www.girlsrockdsm.com
[email protected]
Girls Rock!Des Moines thanks its
2015 major sponsors:
Sammons Financial Group
We Can Build It
Home Base DSM
Jodi Beavers
(o) 515.313.8211