BEAVER COUNTY RADIO
PITTSBURGH — The annual Women Who Rock benefit concert returns to Stage AE on Oct. 17, headlined by global pop icon Taylor Dayne.
More than just a concert, Women Who Rock (WWR) is a movement that brings together music, advocacy and philanthropy to support critical women’s health research. Tickets are at womenwhorock.info
Presented by Gibson Gives, this year’s concert will feature a dynamic, all female-fronted lineup. In addition to Dayne, the evening will showcase groundbreaking guitarist and vocalist Malina Moye, who will open the show with her signature National Anthem performance.
Returning to the WWR stage, The Vindys, out of Youngstown, Ohio, will deliver their high-energy blend of rock and soul, while Kalie Shorr will perform her empowering anthem “Fight Like A Girl” as part of the Survivors Who Rock tribute presented by UPMC Magee-Womens Hospital. The event will also include DJ Formosa and a special appearance by the 2026 WWR Rising Star Contest winner.
Beyond the music, attendees will experience the signature Pink Carpet entrance presented by UPMC Health Plan, a Beauty Bar featuring complimentary beauty activations, a social sharing photo booth, and the Rockstar Silent Auction. A limited number of VIP tickets will provide access to an exclusive VIP Lounge, Gifting Suite, and pre-show happy hour. To see all event details visit: https://womenwhorock.info.
Women make up more than half of the global population, yet women’s health research receives less than 10 percent of federal funding. At a time when funding pressures continue to grow, the mission of Women Who Rock has never been more urgent. The benefit concert brings together artists, fans, and partners to raise awareness and provide critical funding for research that impacts women at every stage of life. All proceeds directly benefit the Magee-Womens Research Institute & Foundation (MWRI), the nation’s first and largest research institute dedicated to women’s health.
Funds raised through Women Who Rock support research across a wide range of critical areas, including breast and gynecologic cancers, heart health, infectious diseases such as HIV and COVID-19, infertility, maternal and infant health, mental health, substance use disorders, and more. MWRI currently supports hundreds of active studies and has engaged more than 160,000 clinical trial participants globally, helping to advance life-saving discoveries and improve outcomes for women worldwide.
Melinda Colaizzi, founder & CEO of Women Who Rock, discussed the concert’s mission when she guested Wednesday on the Beaver County Radio Morning Show with Scott Tady.
Listen here to Colaizzi’s WBVPO-WMBA interview:
In a media release, Colaizzi said, ““Women Who Rock was built on the belief that music can spark real change. As women’s health research faces critical funding gaps, our mission has never been more urgent. We’re proud to welcome an extraordinary lineup of women who embody strength, resilience, and purpose, while helping raise vital funds for the life-saving work taking place every day at Magee-Womens Research Institute. Together, we’re proving that when women come together, we don’t just amplify voices—we accelerate progress and create meaningful, lasting impact. This concert is more than a performance—it’s a movement uniting voices to drive progress, fund life-saving research, and put women’s health where it belongs: center stage.”
Michael Annichine, CEO, Magee-Womens Research Institute & Foundation, added, “Women’s health continues to face significant gaps in clinical research, clinical trials, and funding As federal funding cuts and uncertainty impact research nationwide, the need for community support has never been greater. Partnerships with organizations like Women Who Rock and Gibson Gives help close critical funding gaps, fuel innovation, and raise awareness about the importance of investing in women’s health. Together, we can accelerate progress and change the way the world understands and treats women’s health.”