WHO WE ARE
OUR STORY
Kids Rock For Kids began with a simple idea from two Brooklyn musician-parents, Dave Miller (a touring rock musician in the 1990s) and Lisa Schorr (a former vocal coach), who wanted to give their young kids a place to perform while also empowering them to become good global citizens by giving back to those in need. In 2017, they put on a local benefit concert featuring young bands from their neighborhood. That one-night event – fueled by community spirit, passion, and raw talent – lit the spark for the Kids Rock For Kids movement.
As word spread, more young musicians, many with incredible skill but few places to be heard, began to join in. The shows grew, the audience grew, and so did the purpose. What started as a grassroots effort to give young musicians a stage has since evolved into a year-round platform dedicated to discovering, developing, and showcasing exceptional teen artists from around the world, while using music to raise awareness and support for youth-focused causes.
When the pandemic hit in 2020, just weeks before a scheduled live event, KRFK quickly pivoted. Filming bands in advance and livestreaming the performances, the show reached a larger audience than ever before. Young musicians from around the globe began reaching out to get involved, leading to the creation of virtual international collaborations like Six Continents, a band formed entirely online with teen musicians from six continents who met, rehearsed, and performed virtually before finally gathering in person for KRFK's first post-lockdown festival in NYC.
KRFK’s livestream to support homeless teens during the pandemic started to attract some serious industry attention. We knew we were going to need some help and started to pull together a few significant music professionals, producers, media experts, and nonprofit leaders – all of whom volunteered their time, skills, and networks to support the increasing demand from musician kids and their families.
Since then, Kids Rock For Kids has hosted 70+ live shows and multi-day festivals in New York, London, and Toronto, featuring artists from more than 24 countries. Through these events, KRFK has helped young artists step onto major stages, including securing a slot at the legendary Glastonbury Festival for the Ukrainian all-girl teen band The Sixsters – and bringing the Six Continents band to perform at New York's Governors Ball.
But Kids Rock For Kids isn't just about the performers. It's about building a music community where teens from all walks of life and cultures can grow, connect, and give back both on stage and behind the scenes.
“You don't even need to speak the same language—music is a language all its own,” as one of the young performers put it.
From musicians to sound engineers, video creators to live crew, the focus is to help these young people explore their passion for making music while becoming actively involved in supporting and highlighting the causes close to their hearts as teenagers.
The shared experience of using music to help others not only deepens those global connections, but reinforces the belief in every young participant that they can make a difference. Many of the young musicians KRFK works with are already deeply committed to music and community, and highly likely more than a few future stars will emerge, carrying forward the philanthropic spirit KRFK helps to nurture today.
The mission remains rooted in what started it all:
Give young artists a safe, supportive, collaborative community to help them grow
Help kids in need
Use music to make a difference
EXECUTIVE TEAM:
DAVE MILLER | Co-Founder, Board Chair
Fearless co-founder of KRFK, Dave Miller, wished he’d had something like Kids Rock For Kids when he grew up in Miami in the 1980s. But Miami arts and music weren’t thriving like they are today so Dave moved to NYC. Life took a turn, making him a finance expert and manager of several hundred-million-dollar projects. His true passion, however, remained music – so on the side, Dave, a multi-instrumentalist, composed for television and industrials, and gigged in the NYC music scene for 30+ years. At KRFK, Dave puts his boundless energy into scouting new talent, mentoring young bands, producing local and global collaboration projects, and leading strategic direction for the organization.
LISA SCHORR | Co-Founder, Board Secretary
Tenacious co-founder of KRFK, director of marketing, operations and events. A lifelong singer and former youth vocal coach, the multi-talented Lisa led a team as an e-commerce senior marketing and merchandising strategist at The Knot.com, and continues to oversee operations at Brooklyn Tech Guy, a premiere IT consultancy in New York City. At Kids Rock For Kids, Lisa combines her passion for music and experience mentoring young performers with decades of leadership in operations management and marketing. Lisa nurtures performer and community relationships, provides strategic direction to ensure brand visibility and growth, and creates impactful events for our musicians.
GARY FORTUNE | Global Music Industry Advisor, Board Member
Gary Fortune is a senior executive with more than 30 years of experience in the global music industry, spanning artist development, international strategy, and cross-sector partnerships. Gary brings his deep industry knowledge and extensive network to help young artists find meaningful opportunities onstage and beyond.
Originally from New Zealand, Gary began his career at BMG and later helped launch Zomba Records NZ before leading the country’s first government-backed music export office a nonprofit management role that blended industry insight with public-sector collaboration.
He spent over a decade supporting New Zealand artists entering global markets and went on to co-found Mondo.NYC, an international music, arts, and tech conference based in New York City. Now based in Brooklyn, he remains committed to artist development through both professional and volunteer work—mentoring talent, building industry pathways, and helping the next generation of musicians grow with confidence, opportunity, and support.
MICHELLE RILEY | Board Treasurer
Meticulous bookkeeper of KRFK, Michelle brings years of experience overseeing multi-national nonprofit bookkeeping and organizational accountability.
BOARD MEMBERS:
CHRISTINA KIELY | TV & Media Producer and Consultant
Christina Kiely is an Emmy-nominated documentary film and television producer, writer and director with over 25 years in the industry (ABC News, New York Times Television, A&E, PBS, CNN International and more) — and currently serves on the executive board of New York Women in Film and Television. A singer and rock musician in the NY Music scene who has also toured the Czech Republic, Christina leverages her extensive background in documentary filmmaking and music to mentor young talents, ensuring they are equipped with the skills and confidence needed to navigate the media landscape.
JOSH ROTHSTEIN | Video Production and Mentor
Josh is an award-winning director and photographer who creates multi-platform solutions for some of today’s most iconic brands and artists. Josh began his 25 year career as a photographer capturing rock legends (Steven Tyler, Jack White, John Legend , and more!). Throughout his career, Josh has sought out creative opportunities that are rooted in his passion for storytelling and positive impact. Through his recently launched “Dinner Roll TV” — a media training and content creation program designed for underserved NYC high school students — Josh brings his expertise (and students!) to Kids Rock For Kids by mentoring aspiring young videographers and photographers.
JEFF HOFFMAN | Sound Design & Audio Production
Jeff has been a professional audio engineer at some of NYC’s top recording studios: RPM Sound Studios (formerly Electric Ladyland) and The Orchard, as well as BIRS Studio in New Jersey. An experienced music producer, arranger, and musician in the NYC music scene for over 30 years, Jeff guides emerging musicians and teens interested in audio production, providing essential training and resources to help them achieve professional sound quality and artistic vision.
JOSH MARGOLIS | Live Music Consultant
An expert music director and live-event planner, coordinating unforgettable performances for artists. Josh has directed and produced hundreds of shows at the top venues in NYC for up-and-coming bands and artists.
JEAN-MICHEL KIENTZ | Jacques of all trades
A casual guitar and bass player with a serious knack for growth and guidance, Jean-Michel brings a dynamic mix of corporate strategy, tech know-how, and hands-on enthusiasm to Kids Rock For Kids. As a multi-skilled advisor, he supports organizational expansion, helping shape operational policies, safety protocols, and engagement strategies that keep the spotlight on young musicians in a safe and thriving environment. When he's not contributing to big-picture planning, you’ll probably find him backstage lugging amps, plugging in cables, and helping as needed to keep the rock rolling and the next generation shining!
