Punk Rock Saves Lives
 | |
| Formation | 2019 |
|---|---|
| Founders | Rob Rushing, Tina Rushing |
| Type | Non-profit |
| Tax ID no. | 84-3093371 |
| Headquarters | Denver, Colorado, U.S. |
Region served | United States |
| Website | www |
Punk Rock Saves Lives (PRSL) is a nonprofit organization that seeks to raise mental health awareness, support bone marrow donations through registration,[1] and promotes harm reduction through the distribution of Narcan and fentanyl testing strips to those in the punk community.[2] As of June 2026, PRSL is active in 23 cities within the United States, and to date, has added more than 25,000 participants to the national bone-marrow registry.[3]
History
PRSL was co-founded in November 2019 by Rob and Tina Rushing in Denver, Colorado.[3] The pair started PRSL after being laid off from their roles at another Denver nonprofit, Love, Hope, Strength.[2][4] In addition to his nonprofit experience, Rob is a former roadie, band manager, and tour organizer.[3] He is the former tour driver for Anti-Flag,[5] and has toured with other bands, like Anberlin.[3] Tina has also toured with bands like New Found Glory and Yellowcard.[3] Jaret Reddick, lead vocalist of Bowling for Soup, serves on the board of directors for PRSL.[6]
During the COVID-19 pandemic, PRSL established a mental health group, allowing the nonprofit to continue to operate despite the lack of a physical presence.[2] In addition to this, the nonprofit put on an outdoor concert series at the end of the pandemic, called Positive Mental Attitude, inspired by the same concept written about by self-help author Napoleon Hill and popularized by the punk band Bad Brains.[7][2]
In 2022, PRSL returned to physical events, appearing at Lollapalooza.[3]
In 2023, PRSL toured with Flogging Molly, taking cheek swabs at shows for potential bone marrow donors.[5]
In 2024, PRSL appeared at the Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival, having a presence in the festival's Non-Profit Village.[8]
In 2025, PRSL co-hosted "The Femmes Are Giving", a San Francisco concert featuring femme-fronted punk bands.[9]
Punk Rock Saves Lives festival
In 2022, PRSL debuted the Punk Rock Saves Lives Festival in Denver, and created a compilation album to pair with the event.[7] The festival was previously headlined by Bad Cop/Bad Cop, and has included femme punk, queer, trans, and BIPOC punk bands as part of its lineup.[10][11]
References
- ↑ Mcdonald, Abbey (28 August 2025). "Punx in the Park returns, bringing more resources to a new location". Salem Reporter.
- 1 2 3 4 Bear, John (11 January 2023). "Denver Nonprofit Punk Rock Saves Lives Raises Mental Health Awareness Across the U.S." Westword.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 Moore, John (6 June 2026). "Meet the Mr. Rogers of Denver punk rock". Denver Gazette.
- ↑ "It's a New Year for Denver: 22 People to Watch in 2022". Westword. 5 January 2022.
- 1 2 Ortiz, Chris (13 March 2023). "Flogging Molly's stompfest at Harrah's Voodoo Lounge was the perfect pre-Patty's celebration". The Pitch.
- ↑ Pruitt, Simon (1 May 2025). "Bowling for Soup's Jaret Reddick Advocates for Mental Health Awareness". Dallas Observer.
- 1 2 Criado, Justin (18 July 2023). "Punk Rock Saves Lives Festival Raises Mental Health Awareness With Punk Bands". Westword.
- ↑ Reynolds, Shauna (17 June 2024). "Advocates make connections and spread awareness in Bonnaroo's Non-Profit Village". MTSU Sidelines.
- ↑ Odom, JL (29 October 2025). "Femmes to the front at SF punk show in the Mission". Local News Matters.
- ↑ River, Julie (12 July 2024). "Festival Review: Punk Rock Saves Lives 2024 At Ratio Beerworks Overland in Denver, CO". New Noise Magazine.
- ↑ Rivers, Julie (27 July 2023). "Festival Review: Punk Rock Saves Lives 2023 at Ratio Beerworks Overland in Denver, CO". New Noise Magazine.
External links
- "Punk Rock Saves Lives". Internal Revenue Service filings. ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer.