The Script, Tinie Tempah, Guy Sebastian & Potbelleez light up the Hordern Pavilion for 5,000 volunteers

5,000 Sydneysiders who earned their gig tickets by giving four hours of their time to volunteering, descended upon the Hordern Pavilion last night for the inaugural Optus RockCorps concert. Irish alternative rock band The Script, UK rapper Tinie Tempah and Aussie favourites, Guy Sebastian and The Potbelleez, rocked the stage for over three hours in an electric atmosphere, where the enthusiasm was as high on stage as it was in the crowd.

Optus RockCorps launched in February, and is part of a global youth movement that has seen more than 130,000 volunteers attend over 40 live concert events across the world including the USA, UK and Europe. Stephen Greene, RockCorps CEO, said, “It’s fantastic to see the first Optus RockCorps gig come to life. The spirit of giving in this country is massive, as is Aussies’ love of music. We couldn’t imagine a more live concert to celebrate what all of the volunteers have done to lift their communities.”

Guy Sebastian, Optus RockCorps ambassador said, “It was great to see so many people come together and reward their act of social good with an awesome gig. The atmosphere was incredible and the energy from the crowd was filled with generosity and excitement, reflecting what Optus RockCorps is all about, Give, Get Given.”

Optus RockCorps will continue to recognise volunteers year round with an initiative called The Collective. Launched today, The Collective celebrates volunteering activity across the country and rewards volunteers who dedicated four hours to their community with music related prizes. Volunteers can either give four hours to their community and submit their story to the Optus RockCorps Collective viawww.optusrockcorps.com.au or take part in an Optus RockCorps hosted volunteer event in Melbourne, Brisbane and Adelaide.

Nathan Rosenberg, Head of Brand and Communications, Optus said, “Volunteering is in Optus’ DNA and we’re really excited to see our RockCorps partnership earn the dedication and enthusiasm of the 5,000 volunteers who have transformed community projects around Sydney. We asked the young people of Sydney to roll up their sleeves to give back and they delivered – now it is time for the rest of Australia to get involved. With the launch of The Optus RockCorps Collective, the principal of Give, Get Given is open to everyone.”

Optus RockCorps Collective projects will be held from 10am – 2pm at the following locations:

Saturday April 27th – Melbourne – Parks Victoria, Westfield Reserve, Clifton Hill
Saturday May 4th – Adelaide – Variety, Salisbury Park Primary School, 66 Goddard Drive, Salisbury Park
Saturday May 11th – Brisbane – Be Uplifted, Bowden Park Geebung

For those who missed it or want to relive their favorite moments, the Optus RockCorps concert will air on Channel V on Friday 19 April.

Media contacts:
For further information, please contact Bang PR on (02) 9018 2222
Liz Hunt – liz@bangpr.com.au or Sophie Callaghan – sophie@bangpr.com.au

About RockCorps
RockCorps was dreamed up by a group of young American friends in Los Angeles, California, who saw it as a way of getting people to know each other, build neighbourhoods and have fun while doing it. By channeling the power of music and celebrity, RockCorps’ mission is to make volunteering as much a part of youth lifestyle as sports, music, fashion and gaming. Entertainers and politicians have sung the praises of RockCorps alike. It was recently given an award by the UK’s Prime Minister, David Cameron. To date volunteers have given over 500,000 hours to local communities across the world including the US, UK, France, Israel, Mexico, Colombia and Venezuela. RockCorps’ first concert took place in New York in 2005. Since then RockCorps has produced spectacular celebration concerts around the world. Artists such as Lady Gaga, Snoop Dogg, Maroon 5, Rihanna, David Guetta, Diddy, Akon, Kelly Rowland, and Kanye West, have all joined the RockCorps movement.