Chuck Brennan, CEO of Dollar Loan Center and namesake of the Brennan Rock & Roll Academy, doesn’t do anything halfway. To celebrate the grand opening of the Brennan Rock & Roll Academy, the businessman, philanthropist and former music industry executive is planning the biggest entertainment event ever held in Sioux Falls South Dakota and recently added comedian George Lopez to a celebrity-packed week of performances.
Brennan is a native of Sioux Falls and helped develop the academy to serve Boys & Girls Clubs members in the area. After a $250,000 initial donation and commitment to financially support the program for the next 20 years, Brennan enlisted some of his famous friends to help celebrate its grand opening.
The star-studded events kick off with a performance by Night Ranger, one of America’s most prolific rock bands, on Tuesday March 26. World-famous comedians George Lopez and Louie Anderson bring a night of laughter on Wednesday March 27 with help from Rick and Cory Harrison from the hit reality series “Pawn Stars.” Alice Cooper rocks the house on Thursday March 28 with a little help from rock & roll super-stars including Tommy Thayer and Eric Singer of KISS, Robby Krieger of The Doors, Sebastian Bach, and Joey Allen of Warrant. The Boys & Girls Club members get their very own rock concert on Saturday afternoon March 30 with 80’s rock tribute sensation HAIRBALL. That same evening HAIRBALL is joined by Vince Neil of Motley Crue and Stephen Pearcy of RATT bring down the house.
Tickets are now available at www.brennanrockandrollacademy.com. All shows are fundraisers to benefit the Academy and Boys & Girls Club of the Sioux Empire, with a free open house on March 29 that includes facility tours for the public. Sponsorships are also available.
“This will be an experience that has never happened before and will likely never happen again,” said Brennan. “These performers are friends and support my dream of bringing the joys of rock music to kids who would otherwise never be exposed to it. There are so many benefits of music education and I am very grateful that these legendary entertainment icons can help the children of Sioux Falls.”
Alice Cooper, who founded Alice Cooper’s Solid Rock Foundation in Phoenix, was on-hand to help Brennan announce the academy’s formation last year. “He has been an incredible mentor and supporter in helping bring the academy to my hometown,” said Brennan. “I grew up just a few blocks from here and know first-hand how important it is for kids to explore their passions and be supported in that,” said Brennan.
The Brennan Rock & Roll Academy will provide the first ever free music education program for children in the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Sioux Empire, focusing on Rock & Roll instruments including guitar, bass guitar, keyboard, drums and vocals.
“This school will change the lives of many Sioux Falls children. But we can’t do it alone. We need the support of community members to make this into one of the finest Boys & Girls Clubs programs in the country, and a model for other communities.”
Brennan has a lifelong love for Rock & Roll. Before founding Dollar Loan Center in Sioux Falls, Brennan opened and operated one of the largest Rock & Roll concert halls in the Midwest, The Blitz Ballroom. Iconic bands including Joan Jett, Steppenwolf, Quiet Riot and Blue Oyster Cult all graced the stage at the Blitz during Brennan’s ownership of the venue.
Brennan’s company now operates in South Dakota, Nevada, Utah and California and has given hundreds of thousands of dollars to community organizations including Opportunity Village and Henderson Little League in Nevada as well as Alice Cooper’s Solid Rock Foundation.
This year, the company was named a “Best Place To Work” In Southern Nevada by Vegas Inc magazine. Dollar Loan Center has received several industry awards from their peers for charitable work. For more information, visit www.dontbebroke.com.
