The following Spring, the band was approached by Donna Sillan and Tsegaye Bekele who had started a non-profit organization named COMMON RIVER, dedicated to helping the village of Aleta Wondo in Ethiopia. They hoped to develop a grassroots movement that would support their efforts. The children spontaneously offered to have a fundraiser and played two concerts to sold out crowds in the Tam Valley Community Center and the local elementary school.
Theband raised $10,000 - enough to build a schoolhouse in Aleta Wondo.
They were honored by the children of Aleta Wondo, who named the schoolhouse after the band, ‘Chasing Maya.’
Since then the band has helped to sell Aleta Wondo coffee, and has played at another fundraiser that resulted in the purchase of a milk cow, 20 chickens and school supplies for the children of ALETA WONDO. They have been invited to play in Ethiopia, but changing financial times have not yet allowed that dream to mature. The band has also played to raise funds for Performing Stars of Marin, and raised $3000 for Pencils for Kids at the Tesla car showroom’s L.A. holiday party in Los Angeles.
In early 2009, Ozzie Ahlers became the new Band Director, and the kids changed their name to Third Rock.
Chasing Maya Schoolhouse Inside the classroom Aleta Wando Coffee
In early 2007, a group of young friends, aged 8-10, came together to start a band. They were all new to their instruments. Under the direction of Derek Kudrow, they quickly matured, and played their first block party six months later. Their name was CHASING MAYA.
In the Fall of 2007, they were invited to play at a fundraiser for a film on pioneering drummer, Barbara Borden, entitled KEEPER OF THE BEAT, produced by DavidL. Brown.That night, the band sang an original song, Winter for Me, which was about a soldier fighting in the Iraq War.
After David had filmed the band, he was impressed by the young musicians' skill and social consciousness, and asked permission to begin a documentary about them.
The musicians of Third Rock have continued their commitment to service. After the Haiti earthquake, they became one of the founding groups of Youth Rock the Rebuild, which facilitates youth service through music. In January 2010, two weeks after the earthquake, they played in the Help Haiti fundraiser, and helped to raise over $11,000 for Doctors Without Borders. In May the second Youth Rock Concert was held in the plaza of Mill Valley. Third Rock joined 40 other musicians to raise money for Architecture for Humanity. They also played the third concert in December 2010 at the Woods. Youth Rock the Rebuild has partnered with Students Rebuild to help build schools in Haiti. In 2010 with generous matching funds from Students Rebuild, Third Rock has helped to raise over $45,000 to build schools in Haiti.
