What happens when a voice for women in music and women's health advocacy & research collide? You have two organizations that come together throughout the year dedicated to raising awareness on health research, supporting women in music and philanthropic events driving much needed funding. Women Who Rock is celebrating with their annual benefit concert highlighting achievements of women in the music industry and women who are at the forefront of ground-breaking research in women's health. What occurs on one magical night blanketing Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania in pink is an amazing benefit concert where Women Really Do Rock.
Women Who Rock is the vision, mission & brand of Founder & CEO Melinda Colaizzi and her amazing team for ten years. She has created a community of support for women in music and women advancing health research along with Magee Women's Research Institute. Colaizzi's Pittsburgh background is that of a singer, songwriter, teacher, mentor, and voting member of the Recording Academy of Music. With her background and vision, WWR has become an integral organization providing a platform of support to women in music and women dedicated to health research both locally and nationally.
Creating that community, WWR has given a safe space to women. They are one of a handful of support organizations for women in the music industry today. They are the biggest cheerleaders and supporters for women's health advancements and research standing with Magee Women's Research Institute.
Despite obstacles, aka the pandemic, Colaizzi's annual benefit concert has survived and thrived. "This is our ninth year for the benefit concert; I can't believe it. We were slowed down during the pandemic because we were just getting the benefit starting to scale, and then, of course, we got hit with the event cancellations." The long running event is a testament to the dedication of both organizations support of women and all the people involved in putting together this successful event each year.
The partnership between WWR and Magee Women's Research Institute could not be a more perfect match. The Pittsburgh based institute encompasses women leading advanced research in every aspect of women's health and are the nation's first and largest research institute dedicated to women's health. They are the strong female pioneers in comprehensive care, advancing research and a support community for every woman's healthcare journey.
WWR's mission goes beyond promoting women in music; they are allies, supporters, mentors for women in music. In a few short years, their footprint has exploded providing necessary support and advocacy. It is about women being honored for their music achievements, and it is about the women who are advocates, survivors, groundbreakers in women's health and research. With the long-standing partnership with Gibson Gives - Gibson Foundation as one of WWR biggest allies, these organizations produce a great event with an even greater purpose.
Purchase Tickets:
https://womenwhorock.info/pittsburgh-2026
Diana Napper, founder of the Glimmer of Hope Foundation will receive the inaugural recipient of the Impact Award - Presented by Peoples an Essential Utility Company. Napper's dedication and commitment to advance women's health through groundbreaking breast cancer research and her unwavering leadership and being a voice for women's health made her a perfect recipient for this year's first ever award.
Colaizzi applauds and recognizes everything Napper has achieved and continues to achieve advancements in women's health. "Over the years, I have watched Diana move mountains to ensure patients receive the care they need. She is a tireless advocate for individuals and families navigating one of life's most difficult journeys."
Some notable headliners in the past few years of the WWR benefit concert include Orianthi, Melissa Etheridge and Ann Wilson from Heart. The past and present women lineups are lending their talents not just for a concert, but more importantly they are lending their support for women in music and health research.
In May 2026, WWR Foundation was added as a fund to the Entertainment Industry Fund, supporting women in music. This critical edition of the WWR Foundation will offer additional support within EIF to women throughout their music industry careers and health journeys.
Colaizzi's outreach is taking her down a new path. "I'd love to tell you a little bit about the podcast because you're one of the first interviews since we just announced that its launching September 16th. I can't discuss the guests right now, but we are going to have some surprises." On September 16, 2026, WWR will be taking music and advocacy to a whole new level, launching their first 12- episode podcast season available via the WWR website platform.
People will get a front row seat to the WOMEN shaping the music industry as we know it. These are your tour managers, your producers, your songwriters, your legendary artists, and your up-and-coming artists. They will be featured in this amazing new podcast sharing their stories that most don't get to hear. Colaizzi's vision, "I started this podcast because I thought to myself, there's no voice for this out there. I hope that it will inspire women, teach them and give them the opportunity to learn from each other. You know, all the lessons we've had to learn, and I've had to learn over my long career in the industry, they haven't always been easy lessons to learn and I'm really hoping this platform helps with that."
The Colaizzi's podcast vision will discuss, "the breakthrough & barriers, the reinventions in the rejections, motherhood, women's health, and the realities of building a career in music and the women behind it all." The conversations from the guests can help the next generation of female music professionals navigate their careers.
Looking at the future of WWR, Colaizzi reflects on where women's health should be in 2026. "With funding being cut for women's health research, the focus for women's health research is crucial." Even though underfunded and under researched, women's health is forging forward with the resources currently accessible and continued advancements.
"I want to expand WWR's mission and brand both nationally & globally," Colaizzi states. Her vision strives to give a bigger voice to both women in music industry and health research. WWR's continued support of women in the music industry and contributions are celebrated daily with social media posts, events, community outreach, and achievements.
Women are continuing to make their community noticed. Most recently, with the reinvented all-female festival Daisy Chain Fields. Olivia Rodrigo has taken the torch from original Lilith Fair founder Sarah McLachlan. Daisy Chain's overwhelming summer 2026 success raised $10 million to support women and girls, with a gracious $10 million matching donation from Melinda French Gates through her Pivotal Ventures organization. 100% of net proceeds from the festival benefited ten nonprofit partners focused on reproductive rights, economic empowerment, and gender equity. Even with this success, it is important to note that today women artists still only make up about 22% of all festival lineups.
Colaizzi's mentorship of the next generation of women in music is a fundamental building block of WWR. "I've had incredible mentors along the way getting into the music industry. I would never be where I am right now if I didn't have incredible people that taught me the way. It really was a few key people that invested in me that helped me to get into this industry and to be successful in this industry. So, I look at WWR as a way to give back and a way to also share the knowledge because this industry is also something you cannot really read a book about."
As we have highlighted today, women's healthcare research is severely underfunded and under researched. Women in today's music industry need to have support organizations to help them navigate their careers.
To learn more about the resources available to women in the music industry & women's health highlighted today, please see below, and discover the faces, mentors and innovators of these organizations.
#womenwhorock
Women Who Rock & Foundation
https://womenwhorock.info/
Magee-Women's Research Institute & Foundation
https://mageewomens.org/
Gibson Gives: Gibson Foundation
https://www.gibsonfoundation.org/
Entertainment Industry Fun (EIF)
https://www.eifoundation.org/
She Is The Music
https://sheisthemusic.org/
Please check back for coverage of October 17th, Women Who Rock 2026 Benefit Concert with headliner Taylor Dane.
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