Rock Out

By Richard Mineards   |   May 16, 2019
Girls Rock Executive Director Jen Baron with Teen Star 2019 Sofia Schuster and her mother Kerri Murray, Girls Rock President (photo by Priscilla)

The amazons ruled when Girls Rock, which helps youngsters through music and arts appreciation, threw a third annual beach bash at the rustic Carpinteria home of music entrepreneur Marla McNally Phillips and her husband Lee.

Our Eden by the Beach is home to the largest Girls Rock program in the world, says president Kerri Murray, who is also president of ShelterBox USA. “It has served more than 4,000 girls in our community. We use music, art, and creative expression as the tools to help girls find their inner voice.”

Girls Rock nine-year-old Lina Abraham, who sang “Wind,” which she wrote and composed herself (photo by Priscilla)
Melinda Manon, Jessica Mikayla Adams, Derek Edwards, Kristen Newton, Sharon Kempher, and Marla Phillips at the Girls Rock beach bash (photo by Priscilla)

As the 150 guests, who helped raise around $250,000 for scholarships, quaffed Foley wines and Revel tequilas, while noshing on pizzas from the Lucca’s truck, Kerri’s 15-year-old daughter, Sofia Schuster, a Crane School student and Teen Star 2019 winner, who was born with paralyzed vocal chords, entertained with American Idol contestant Jackson Gillies and Sophie Rose, and several other Girls Rock program participants.

The Youth Leadership Award went to Maya Klanfer.

Each year since its founding in 2001, Girls Rock SB has given away more than $150,000 in scholarship aid to local youth.

Among the Pacific wave of supporters were Anne Towbes, Leslie Zemeckis, David Duron, Anais Pellegrini, Melinda Manos, Lucy Harrington, Niki Sandoval, John Abraham, Kristi Newton, Peter Melnick, Charles Ward, Nancy O’Connor, Tricia Rascon, Alexandra Platt, Deanna Caballero, and Scott and Ella Brittingham.

CJ Affiliate President Waleed Al-Atraqchi with Jen Baron, Girls Rock CEO, honoring their partnering contribution of $75,000 (photo by Priscilla)
Lee Phillips with the evening’s performers Jackson Gillies, Maya Klanfer, Katy Caballero, Jessica Mikayla Adams, Sophie Rose, and Sofia Schuster (photo by Priscilla)
 

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