“SOMA is the Best!!” explained one of our kids after we took them to see a recent Guttermouth show at SOMA. As I watched this particular kid walk away in a ripped up white T-shirt, drenched in sweat, breathing heavily, experiencing an unknown high degree of adrenaline and smiling from ear to ear
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- I realized the importance of music in this kid’s life. I looked around and I saw another one of our kids rubbing his ribs and commented that he got elbowed while moshing in the pit. He still displayed a similar smile exclaiming “Man, that was an awesome show!” On the ride back to the outreach center, the conversation is centered on the evening’s experiences and observations of tonight’s performances and it continues the entire drive back. As I drop the kids off, the first thing out of their mouth is “When’s the next SOMA show?”

SOMA is an all-age music venue, located in San Diego that offers kids an alternative to drugs and/or alcohol. It’s also the perfect place to give the kids the opportunity to escape the dangers of the street and to clear their minds. Since 2002, SOMA has teamed up with StandUp For Kids to help make a difference in the San Diego community. Through the collaboration of Len Paul (owner of SOMA) and Scott Raynor (local StandUp For Kids volunteer), StandUp For Kids has been given the opportunity to bring kids to countless music concerts at their facility. Here’s a partial list of the 100+ bands that we’ve seen at SOMA over the years; Flogging Molly, Dropkick Murphys, Blink 182, Guttermouth, Unwritten Law, Pennywise, Subhumans, T.S.O.L., Youth Brigade, Buck-O-nine, P.O.D. and the Yeah Yeah Yeahs.

Professional drummers Scott Raynor (ex-Blink 182) and Wade Youman (Unwritten Law) have taken time out of their busy schedules to provide impromptu lessons to our kids, by taking them to SOMA during the day and inviting them to perform on stage with various instruments. This gives the kids a great sense of what it feels like to play on a real stage. Experiences like these are unmatched for the likes of anyone.

Len is an amazing person. The kids love going to see shows at SOMA and without Len’s generosity, this would have never been possible. Erin Paul, Len’s wife, is also a devout supporter of our program as well. Each time we walk up to the box office, we’ll see Erin sitting there with a big smile on
her face and asking us “How many kids do you have today?… enjoy the show.” SOMA has also done numerous fundraisers for us and is one of our biggest supporters. Currently they are donating a portion of each ticket that is
sold through Lunatiks, SOMA’s online ticketing, to StandUp For Kids. Last year, Wade got Unwritten Law and other local bands to put on benefit show at SOMA for the ‘Don’t Runaway’ program and raised $13,500.

Getting the kids off the streets into a safe environment is one of our main goals here at StandUp For Kids, and SOMA provides that perfect forum. Thank you Len, Erin, Scott and Wade for inspiring our kids and for all the great shows!

-Jason @ StandUp For Kids– San Diego