When Robert Irvine, the famous chef and entrepreneur, met members of the alternative rock band O.A.R. more than a decade ago, they realized they shared one important aspect in common: supporting veterans.
This summer, with support from the Robert Irvine Foundation, O.A.R., along with special guests Gavin DeGraw, Lisa Loeb, KT Tunstall and Phantom Planet, is hitting the road for a national tour to not only celebrate the band’s 30th anniversary, but also spread awareness of veteran issues through fundraising, storytelling, and audience engagement.
The “Three Decades Tour” kicked off on June 19 in Vail, Colo., and ends Nov. 15 in Orlando, Fla.
“We’ve known Robert for years and have always admired his commitment to serving veterans and military families,” O.A.R. saxophonist/guitarist Jerry DiPizzo told Military.com. “It felt like a natural partnership because we share many of the same values around community and service.”
O.A.R. is known for hits like “That Was a Crazy Game of Poker” and “Shattered” and was a popular band on the college indie rock scene in the early 2000s.
Marc Roberge, the band’s lead vocalist, struck up a friendship with Irvine years ago and serves on the Robert Irvine Foundation’s Advisory Council. Together, they’ve promoted several wellness programs that help veterans, active-duty personnel, first responders and military families.
“Despite (Marc’s) demanding schedule, he generously dedicates his time, energy and influence to our mission,” Irvine told Military.com. “He has been instrumental in helping us build relationships, engage artists and supporters and create the kind of events that not only raise critical funds but also shine a light on the needs of those who have served our country. That’s the kind of commitment that makes a real difference.”
Tour Provides More Fundraising Chances
Instead of hosting a one-time fundraiser, O.A.R. and Irvine chose to raise funds for the military community through a national, six-month tour.
“Throughout the tour, fans will encounter activations designed to support veterans, including VIP experiences, signed guitar giveaways, fundraising initiatives, social storytelling, community engagement opportunities, and nightly moments tied to the band’s performance of ‘War Song’,” according to a press release.
Irvine said he and Roberge have worked together on several foundation-related projects, including Beats & Eats, Red, Wine & Blues, to honor veterans.
“Throughout that time, we were always looking for ways to do something bigger together. Now, with O.A.R.’s 30th Anniversary Tour, we finally can create something truly meaningful on a national scale,” Irvine told Military.com. “The tour gives us a platform to engage communities across the country, celebrate service, and raise awareness and support for veterans and military families in a way that can have a lasting impact.”
DeGraw, known for hits “I Don’t Want to Be” and “Not Over You,” comes from a family with military ties and has performed for the Robert Irvine Foundation’s annual fundraiser in Philadelphia.
“Supporting our active-duty military, veterans and first responders has always been deeply important to me because I believe too many Americans have forgotten the sacrifices these men and women make on our behalf every single day,” Irvine said. “For nearly two decades, during the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, we heard about our military constantly. Today, unless something tragic happens, those stories often disappear from the national conversation.”
One of Irvine’s missions is to help keep military service, sacrifice and honor at the forefront of the national conversation.
“I firmly believe we have the greatest military in the world, and that will never change. The least we can do as Americans is recognize their contributions, support them when they return home and ensure they know their service is valued and appreciated,” Irvine said.
Dedicated to Helping Veterans
Irvine appreciates O.A.R.’s commitment to the military community because it’s not a one-time thing or a promotional stunt.
“O.A.R. has a long history of giving back, including traveling overseas to perform for deployed service members and that dedication to our men and women in uniform really resonated with me,” Irvin said.
DiPizzo said the band’s perspective on supporting veterans and active-duty soldiers changed after visiting Iraq and Kuwait on a USO tour in 2007.
“Meeting service members firsthand made a lasting impact on us, and we’ve carried that appreciation with us ever since,” he said.
The collaboration between Irvine and O.A.R. this summer is also designed to garner more awareness for Irvine’s foundation, which DiPizzo describes as “very hands-on.”
“They don’t just raise awareness, they create real support and resources for veterans, service members, first responders and their families,” DiPizzo said. “We want to use our platform to help shine a light on the foundation’s mission, honor those who serve and inspire our fans to get involved in supporting an important cause.”
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