Page 16 - ION Indie Magazine MARCHAPRIL 2020 Issue

After working with many celebrities throughout my
music career, I have learned to control my star-
struckness, but not tonight. As I watched renowned
artist after artist walk onto the beautiful in-the-round
stage at The Celebrity Theatre (Phoenix, AZ), I was
literally struck in awe just to witness how many came to
answer the call of one Mr. Alice Cooper and his Solid
Rock Foundation event.

Recognized as one of Phoenix’s signature holiday
events, Alice Cooper’s Annual Christmas Pudding helps
to raise awareness and money to continue supporting
Alice’s popular teen center.

The Solid Rock Teen Center accommodates more than
100 teens per day, teaching and empowering with
programs like dance, art, video, photography, sound,
vocational training, music, and more. In a time where
public schools are cutting funds from the art and music
programs, Solid Rock cultivates a love of the arts to
inspire and challenge teens to embrace artistic
excellence and reach their full potential.

The Teen Center is FREE and open to all teens, ages
12 to 20-years-old. The center has been so successful,
that there are plans to open another center in Mesa,
Arizona.

The cost may be free for the teen attendees, but the
centers themselves require revenue in order to operate.
Cooper has two major fundraising events during the
year -- one is the golf classic in April and the other is
Alice Cooper’s Christmas Pudding in December, which
I was now reporting on for ION Indie Magazine.

This concert event was broken down into three parts or
“servings.” The First Serving opened not like your usual
concert, but more of a family affair, with introductions by
Executive Director Jeff Moore and community
members, including Alice Cooper and his wife, Sheryl
Goddard.

A song prayer followed and a performance by Debbie
Sledge and the rest of Sister Sledge with their beloved
song, “We Are Family.”