Talkin' With a Partner: Greg Rollett of Rock for Hunger

Shilpi: Tell me about the organization.
Greg: Rock For Hunger is a 501(c)3 nonprofit in Orlando, FL. It was started in 2006 at the University of Central Florida as part of their Hunger and Homeless committee. Since then it has expanded to a community resource for over 150 homeless individuals every week.

Shilpi: What can you do for the community that some other organization can’t?
Greg: We provide hope and give back dreams to people who think they have nothing to dream for. For a few hours every Monday, we let loose from the pressures of the world, hold conversations, play music and give warm meals to the people who need them. We also know that we have the pulse of the youth in Central Florida. From high school and college volunteers to the kids at the concerts, we are getting the youth involved to change lives and give of themselves.

Shilpi: What are the five most significant accomplishments in the history of this organization?
Greg:

• Throwing Rock For Hunger I, II and III
• Launching Talk 4 Hunger in March 2009
• Holding a Christmas Party for the Homeless in Downtown Orlando with warm food, presents and a movie in the middle of Lake Eola
• Having more volunteers than homeless for 2 consecutive Thanksgiving breakfasts. Showing that the community can come together when it matters.
• Finding a full time job for one of our community members. He is now off the streets, debt-free and the banquet manager for a top Orlando hotel.

Shilpi: What do you look for when getting volunteers?
Greg: We reach out to our existing community. We also look at Facebook, Myspace, Craigslist when looking for a mass amount for a project, concert or collaboration. The local colleges are also a source for our volunteers – we love getting Gen-Y and the youth involved. The volunteers can come from any background, age, race, etc. As long as they are smiling and can hold a conversation, we would love to have them out at an event or food sharing.

Shilpi: Why would people want to help and promote this organization in the community?
Greg: Because they see the problem directly. When they go to a bar on the weekends. When they drive on the highways. When they look at the news stories of people losing jobs and businesses shutting down. Hunger and homelessness is happening to regular people and stereotypes are being broken. Plus we operate in a nontraditional way. We are a breath of fresh air for this community. We really do rock for hunger.

Shilpi: What kind of hours and dedication is required?
Greg: Typical volunteers only give an hour or 2 a week. For those in management, we typically put in 20+ hours a week on top of our bill-paying jobs.

Shilpi: What type of support would someone receive in terms of references, recommendations, incentives?
Greg: We offer internships to those that can obtain college credit. We have given high school students volunteer hours. Anyone on staff will gladly give recommendations.

Shilpi: What does leadership, innovation, and philanthropy look like for the upcoming generations?
Greg: I think it looks great! The way that people have embraced giving through Social Media sites like Twitter and Facebook, books and sites like Generation WE and the number of kids I see every week at our food sharings is demonstrating that Gen-Y and the youth of today are going to be more likely to help their neighbor than ever before!

Shilpi: When did you realize you really had something phenomenal with Rock for Hunger?
Greg: I first realized it a long time after I started, at a Hunger Banquet at UCF, when one of our volunteers, a student at UCF, told her story of being homeless and overcoming obstacles to become a college grad, a local leader and a major part of our organization. It was then that I realized we were really on to something and can change lives, or give life back to those that believe there is nothing left for them.

Shilpi: What do you think Rock for Hunger will look like in 5 years?
Greg: I hope it will look like a major operation in Central Florida, with a facility for re-establishing dreams for those less fortunate in our area. I hope it will be an educational institution where we can teach basic needs as well as financial training, entrepreneurship, music, theater and other arts that inspire and enlighten. I also hope that our Talk 4 Hunger newspaper has grown legs and spread to affect many lives and break cycles. I also hope that I am a part of this, in my current role or as an advisor!

Shilpi: Lastly, what makes Rock for Hunger so totally and completely “cool”?
Greg: Rock For Hunger is totally cool because we are instilling the rock star persona and bringing life back into individuals that thought all was lost. We relive dreams by creating them. We throw rock concerts that move people, get them excited and showcase bands that they would never be exposed to. We have food sharing that features no hairnets, no lines or favorites, but DO include live musicians, games and friends. We teach kids that there’s more to life than slangin’ crack rock and having a wicked jump shot (Biggie reference) and that by learning and growing their skills they can create a life beyond their wildest dreams.