By Mattew Sotlar / The Jambar
Rock the Rich Center, an annual fundraiser sponsored by the Rich Center for Autism, will host lead guitarist and former Runaways star, Lita Ford, alongside Youngstown band The Vindys on May 31.
Jake Ellis, community engagement and event operations coordinator for the Rich Center, said this year’s Rock the Rich is its largest fundraiser thus far.
“We’ve been doing this for a number of years now,” Ellis said. “We went on pause briefly around [COVID-19], but it really grew into our biggest fundraiser currently.”
In previous years, Rock the Rich was held at a banquet hall. Ellis said that popular demand allowed the Rich Center to expand the fundraiser.
“The last two years, we have held the event at a banquet hall locally in Boardman, and we sold it [out] to capacity. This year, it was time to level up and take the next step with it, and that’s why we are now at the Youngstown Foundation Amphitheater,” Ellis said.
Rock the Rich will be headlined by Ford, the bassist for the all-female hard rock band The Runaways. The band, formed in 1975 by guitarist Joan Jett, would influence other all-female rock bands.
The band — known for its songs “Cherry Bomb,” “Hollywood Nights” and “Queens of Noise” — headlined venues across California and eventually attained stardom in Japan. Internal conflicts led to the breakup of The Runaways in 1979.
Following the disbandment, Ford recorded several U.S. hits, including “Close My Eyes Forever,” a duet with Ozzy Osbourne and “Kiss Me Deadly.”
Alongside Ford are The Vindys, a Youngstown-based pop-rock band, who have toured extensively across the country. Ellis said The Vindys will open the show.
“It’s all one show,” Ellis said. “Think of it as Lita Ford with special guests The Vindys, so The Vindys are going to come on and open up for the night for us … and then they’ll be followed by Lita Ford. Doors open at 6:30[p.m.], we’ll start the show about an hour later and go from there.”
While Rock the Rich previously sold individual tickets to the fundraiser, Ellis said he wanted to make the community aware of the event by relocating venues.
“We were pretty much capped at 500 at that banquet hall,” Ellis said. “Everybody who was there was a sponsor or a guest of a sponsor. With this, we’re really getting out into the community more.”
Ellis said the fundraiser is on track with ticket sales and he looks forward to a large turnout.
“We are right on what I projected us to be at with ticket sales after the first month,” Ellis said. “Individual ticket sales, this is outside of sponsorships, were at $12,000 in individual tickets … I’m looking to get about 2,000 people there that night.”
He said the event will be a great way to engage with the community, in addition to the benefit of live music.
“You can get a lawn seat for $28,” Ellis said. “You don’t have to be dropping big money to support the Rich Center, to support your fellow students on campus and our families and the autism community.”
Rock the Rich Center will be held on Saturday, May 31. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit rocktherichcenter.com.
