News writer
The Arizona Lottery recently donated $25,000 to Alice Cooper's Solid Rock Teen Centers. Solid Rock is a faith-based nonprofit organization that offers young people aged 12-20 a safe environment during non-school hours where they can develop their passion for music through free training in music, video, dance, and sound production.
Thanks to the funding from the Arizona Lottery, Solid Rock was able to buy new video equipment. They can now teach programs in filmmaking and other creative visual arts.
Solid Rock Teen Centers
Currently, there are centers in Mesa and Phoenix. The centers are open on weekdays from 2 p.m. until 7.30 p.m. Young people can sign up for free and enjoy a range of creative musical pursuits. Teens who want to play but don't have an instrument are welcome. The centers provide a range of instruments. They also offer private lessons in piano, bass, guitar, drums, ukelele, and vocals.
Rock the Block concert
In January 2024, student musicians from the Teen Center had the amazing opportunity to participate in the Barrett-Jackson Inaugural Rock the Block concert, presented by the Arizona Lottery. The singer Eleeza, winner of Alice Cooper's Solid Rock's “Proof is in the Pudding” competition, got to open the concert for Night Ranger and Foreigner.
Raised in Yuma, Arizona, Eleeza ranks Pat Benatar and Ann Wilson of Heart among her influences. The dynamic singer won the winning solo artist award in Alice Cooper's annual music competition for youth in Arizona in 2022. Following her victory over 200 other contestants, Eleeza got to perform with Alic Cooper, Gin Blossoms, Wally Palmar, and Rob Zombie at “Christmas Pudding” at Celebrity Theatre in Phoenix. In addition to performing, Eleeza is a vocal instructor and social media coordinator at Alice Cooper's Solid Rock Teen Centers in Mesa and Phoenix.
At the Rock the Block concert, Eleeza was supported by her band, who are also students of the Teen Center. The members are guitarist Conrad Varela, who is a 2018 “Proof is in the Pudding” guitarist winner, drummer Alejandro Toscano, bassist Sam Ozzman, and pianist Josh Soroka.
Randy Spencer, from Partnerships and Development at Solid Rock Teen Centers, said:
We are thankful for the Arizona Lottery and to Barrett-Jackson for providing an opportunity for some of our teens to perform with Foreigner. Teens need inspiration and encouragement, and these opportunities are life-saving and life-changing for the youth that we engage with.
About the Arizona Lottery
Each year, the Arizona Lottery donates a percentage of its lottery revenue to fund key areas throughout the state, including environmental conservation, higher education, economic and business development, and health and human services. As well as the Alice Cooper Teen Centers, the Arizona Lottery funds several nonprofit organizations and specialty programs such as Recycle Your Bicycle.
