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PRESS CONFERENCE: Rock The Power 70's Style


(Photo: Rock the Power Press Conference, September 15th, 2009 at ASCAP. Featured L-R Joanne Kokot-Hoppen, Director of Development for You Have the Power, Lisa Hurley, Sales & Marketing Manager for B.B.King's, First Lady Andrea Conte, Founder/President of You Have the Power, Catherine Hite, General Counsel for Shoney's, Lance Hoppen, Co-Founder of the band Orleans and Producer of Rock the Power 70's Style with Orleans & Friends.)

Rock The Power 70’s Style is the name attributed to the upcoming concert in support of You Have The Power (YHTP) as it celebrates the 16th Anniversary helping crime victims and promoting children’s advocacy. At a recent press conference held in Nashville, Joanne Hoppen Director of Development for YHTP announced the upcoming concert and fundraiser, and also introduced YHTP founder, first lady, Andrea Conti.

YHTP is a not-for-profit victim awareness and prevention program with a mission to educate and counsel those who are victims of violence. When asked what the purpose of YHTP was, first lady Conti reply was straightforward. “We have crimes that really can be preventable, such as domestic violence, child sexual abuse, elder abuse, and similar offenses.“

Conti knows first hand about violent crime, as she was abducted in a busy shopping center parking lot. She was fortunate and was able to escape, however a few months later, the same man who kidnapped her, killed a young woman in broad daylight at a popular Nashville park. YHTP started the first year with an average of one program a year. Now, sixteen years later, it offers two-to-three programs a week to include victim impact classes in prisons and talking with inmates about the affects of their crimes on people. Many of them are realizing, for the first time, that there is an impact and sometimes a lasting affect. Hope is to prevent someone who has been released from prison from committing another crime and to just think about their victims.

In an effort to raise funds for the organization, Lance Hoppen from the seventies rock band Orleans, has organized the Rock The Power 70’s Style. This is the second year Hoppen has worked with the organization to raise awareness and funds for YHTP. Orleans, best known for the songs “Still The One” and “Dance With Me” which have continued over the years to be popular songs and recognized by several generations. This is not your typical fundraiser where a band is asked to come perform simply because of their popularity and ability to draw a crowd. Lance Hoppen and Joanne Hoppen (his ex-wife), have two wonderful daughters who are now teenagers who unfortunately had a molestation incident in 2000. It was under this circumstance that they discovered You Have the Power. Their children received counseling and all of them received support. Because of that experience Joanne became a volunteer speaker for the organization and later was hired as Director of Development.

When asked about his personal experience and what he felt his family has gained from You Have the Power he replied with “You Have the Power provided counseling services so the girls could get psychological treatment immediately and continually, in fact, that went on for quite a long time and they’re still eligible. We gained support in how to deal with the legal system and we were supported by the D.A.’s office as well. In the end the girls received financial reward to help them with college expenses.”

The question was asked on what made them decide to share the story to which Lance explained that “keeping this a secret helps perpetuate it. It also can ruin your own life by suppressing it.”
Rock The Power 70’s Style is a unique opportunity to see amazing talent and classic rock in Nashville. The concert is being held at the TPAC War Memorial Auditorium (301 6th Ave N) beginning at 8:00 pm on September 25th. Besides hearing the hits of Orleans, you will also be treated to songs by Jimi Jamison (formerly of Survivor) with hits like “Eye of the Tiger”, “So High on You”, “The Search is Over”, “I Can't Hold Back” and the “Theme from 'BayWatch'”; Joe Bouchard (Blue Oyster Cult) singing hits “Don't Fear the Reaper”, “I'm Burnin' For You” and “Godzilla” ; John Cafferty (Beaver Brown Band/Eddie & the Cruisers) with the ever popular “On the Dark Side”, “Tender Years”, “C.I.T.Y.” and “Tough All Over”; Wayne Nelson (Little River Band) bringing with him songs like “Reminiscing”, “Lady”,” Cool Change”, “Take it Easy on Me”, “Help Is On It's Way” and “The Night Owls”. Nashville’s own beautiful songbirds Jonell Mosser, Kathie Baillie and Linda Davis will also take the stage.

A VIP Reception with TN's First Lady, Andrea Conte will be held from 5:30 - 7:30 PM at the Auditorium prior to the show where there will also be an opportunity to meet members of Orleans and several of the guest artists.

To obtain tickets for this event or more information visit www.OrleansOnline.com/nashville.html


For additional information on You Have The Power (YHTP) visit http://www.yhtp.org/

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