This past May, MCA-I LA/OC Chapter member, Janeane Bernstein, www.rockwrenstudios.com  produced  the music festival, "Mamapalooza Rocks the OC."  Mamapalooza  is an annual international music festival celebrating women  performers; musicians, writers and comedians who are also Moms! The fundraising concert was held at Original Mike's in Santa Ana, CA.  Janeane recruited Mamapalooza's volunteer staff of over 40 and was the prime mover behind the OC event.  What inspired this performer-producer to undertake the project?

As a mother of two and aspiring electric guitarist, Janeane Bernstein, found  her mission to produce and emcee Mamapalooza Rocks the OC after meeting Jose Rose, the Founder and Executive Director of Mamapalooza, Inc., last summer in Los Angeles.  Joy Rose, a mother of four, performs with her band, Housewives on Prozac, in NY and produces New York's Mamapalooza festival which this year drew a crowd of over 3000.

Proceeds of all the local concerts go directly to the non-profit Motherhood Foundation, established to support Mamapalooza festivals and help build a Motherhood Museum in 2011. Connecting women across the country into a community, Mamapalooza has grown from one stage in New York City into audiences in the millions since it's inception in 2002.

 For the past six years, Mamapalooza festivals have been held every May across the United States, and in Australia, Canada, and England.  Janeane's first festival brought together Mom musicians, comedians, writers, and other talented Moms for a day of music, laughter, food, prize drawings and more.

 About two hundred people turned out to attend this year's inaugural event on OC. Supporters and contributors included: STAR 98.7, Daisy Rock Guitars, Susan G. Komen for the Cure - Orange County Affiliate, Whole Foods of Tustin, Target of Santa Ana, Trader Joe's of Santa Ana, Einstein Bagels of Irvine, Golden Spoon of Irvine, American Heart Association, Bodega Chocolates, Bowers Museum, Braxen Haze Designs, Celestial Seasonings, Conroy's Flowers Tustin, Girls Inc., Highlights Magazine, Hot Moms Club, Juice Plus, Lauren Hutton Cosmetics, Luna Bar, Marcelo Lewin Photography, Moms Who Write (Brenda Colgate, Christina Das, Debbie Garfinkle, Donna Bevans, Marlene Perez, Merrily Kutner, Patti Hansen, Robin Glasser, Stacia Deutsch, and Teri Sforza), OC Balloon Dude, OC Pavilion, Original Mike's, Planned Parenthood of Orange & San Bernardino Counties, Premier Design High Fashion jewelry, Pump It Up, Rainforest Café, Roxy, Souvenir Entertainment, Total Woman Day Spa Irvine, Turtle Mountain, and Yogaworks.

 Comedians included hilarious moms, Julie Kidd and Cindy Burns of the Laff Pack and the very talented Lizette Mizelle. Musical groups included Ren Stewart & The Steiner Theory, Debra Davis, Stacy Robin and Co., and MILK. Solo artists were Adrina Thorpe, BeverlyBremers, and Ren Daversa.

 With the recent formation of the Motherhood Foundation, Mamapalooza's mission continues to celebrate and serve mom-performers, artists and families. Through generous corporate and private donations, parks departments, chambers of commerce, cultural programs, theaters, performance venues and media alliances, Mamapalooza and The Motherhood Foundation will be partnering to realize the dream of national and local arts programs for mothers everywhere and the subsequent realization of THE MUSEUM OF MOTHERHOOD targeted for 2011.