Committees

Preserve theMagic

Friends of Red Rocks’ purpose is to preserve and celebrate the magic of Red Rocks Park & Amphitheatre through projects, education and community outreach. Help us PRESERVE THE MAGIC by joining Friends of Red Rocks!

2026 Board Candidates

Thank you for all those that have showed interest in running for the 2026 Friends of Red Rocks Board of Directors Elections. Here are your candidates and their letters of intent to run;

Abraham Willock
Steve Griffiths
Becky Chance
Pia Sabina Valeriana
Greg O'Brien

Abraham Willock

Dear friends,

I am Abraham Willock. I have been a active member of this incredible outreach grassroots organization since approximately 2010. I have served on the fundraising committee and was one of the organizers of the silent auction and ambush show fundraising events over several seasons. Have Attended approximately a hundred and fifty monthly clean ups. I have Helped Raised thousands of dollars through ambush show organization. I have had the honor and pleasure of organization of about 7 ambush shows as well as playing the shows with 3 different bands and bringing over 20 bands to volunteer their time and talent and equipment to support this shining example of grassroots community action. I am committed to the mission to preserve one of the most amazing sacred, Beautiful, Magical places on earth. I am applying for Friends of Red Rocks board of directors' membership to continue to offer whatever skills and time I have to help make sure this fantastic one-of-a-kind temple of music and nature stays as it is for future generations to enjoy . I'm currently working on a documentary about the history and current efforts of Friends of Red rocks to bring more awareness about the group and their efforts to a wider audience.

As a board of directors member I am interested in contributing to improving the organization and bringing our preservation awareness efforts and cleanup projects into more areas of the park system and community.

I'm also interested in improving communication and relationships with Red Rocks and Mountain Park administration. To find balance and preserve the rocks as improvements are being made to update the ability of the park to accommodate the bands performing.

Long live Friends of Red Rocks

Abraham Willock

Steve Griffiths

After being an active member of Friends of Red Rocks since 2018, I feel that I would be a good addition to the board. Over the past 7 years I have seen so many changes to Red Rocks along with changes to Friends of Red Rocks. I feel that we have a great membership base and I would be honored if I was awarded an opportunity to represent such an amazing organization and group of people.

In the past I have served on various Committees with the most recent being the Bylaws committee, where I have demonstrated passion for that I believe in along with the ability to listen to various arguments for and against suggested updates and changes. In some of these cases I saw the value in a different solution and allowed for me to adjust my decision and supported the alternative solution.

Additionally, I am a representative of a Veterans group with my employer. Interacting with C-Level executives, participating in discussion panels and driving partnership with other groups encouraging participation and inclusion. I would love an opportunity to take that knowledge and experience and bring that to Friends of Red Rocks.

Thank you for your time and consideration!

Steve Griffiths

Becky Chance

I am writing to formally submit my letter of interest in running for a second term on the Friends of Red Rocks Board. I am eager to continue serving the organization and further advancing its mission with the benefit of experience, continuity, and a deepened understanding of the board's work.

Over the course of my first term, I have been actively involved in several key initiatives that support both our volunteers and the long-term stewardship of Red Rocks.

updating and facilitating Concert Captain procedures and trainings
Coordinating and managing all aspects of Saturday cleanups
Board liaison for the education and action committees

Having an educational and professional background that focuses on building collaborative, collegial relationships provides me the necessary skills for working productively with diverse stakeholders and contributing thoughtfully to group decision-making. Having just completed my first term, I now bring institutional knowledge to a new board. My deepened understanding of the challenges and opportunities facing the organization will be a valuable asset as we continue to move forward with future initiatives.

I would be honored to continue serving Friends of Red Rocks for a second term. I remain deeply passionate about preserving the magic of Red Rocks and am committed to making a meaningful, positive impact through continued board service.

Preserving the Magic Together,

Becky Chance

Pia Sabina Valeriana

I am writing to formally express my interest in serving on the Board of Directors of Friends of Red Rocks. As you know, I am a passionate and committed volunteer who approaches every opportunity with a positive attitude, punctuality, and a genuine desire to promote the mission of FoRR in a friendly, outgoing, and accessible way. I would bring to the Board strong leadership skills, brand stewardship expertise, creativity, diligence, and a collaborative, solutions-oriented mindset.

My experience and accomplishments with volunteer organizations demonstrate the qualifications I would bring as a FoRR Board Member. For many years, I served as a HeadCount Regional Coordinator, where I developed collaborative leadership skills that motivated and empowered volunteers. I also leveraged my professional graphic design background to create custom concert posters that supported community outreach and fundraising efforts. I have brought this same creativity to FoRR through the design of buttons, posters, table tri-folds, a joke book, and other engagement materials.

Stewardship extends beyond fundraising-it also encompasses thoughtful brand management and fulfillment of an organization's mission. Education at concert events has therefore been one of my primary objectives. Through a proactive and diligent approach, I initiated activities that furthered HeadCount's mission by identifying new venues, increasing event listings, and motivating volunteer participation. As a committed steward of Red Rocks Park, I am dedicated to advocating not only for the amphitheater, but also for its broader natural and built environments-including wildlife, landscapes, and infrastructure-through education, service, and community outreach.

I have been an active member of Friends of Red Rocks since late 2020 and have consistently demonstrated a strong commitment to the organization. I regularly log more than 100 volunteer hours annually by attending nearly every monthly park cleanup and willingly taking on less-popular but essential tasks, including leading the gum-scraping crew. Additionally, I have served as a Team Captain for three years and as a member of the Education, Action, and Documentary Committees. In every role, I have actively encouraged community members to join FoRR and participate in keeping the park beautiful and pristine.

Highlights

Active Member of Friends of Red Rocks, 2020-present
Lead the FoRR gum scraping crew, 2022-present
FoRR Team Captain, 2021-present
Member of the FoRR Education Committee, 2022-present
Member of the FoRR Action Committee, 2024-present
Member of the FoRR Documentary Committee, 2025
Regional Coordinator, HeadCount, 2015-2019 - national, non-profit working with the music industry staging voter registration drives at concerts. Duties included oversight, management, and coordination of voter registration efforts for HeadCount in Colorado, Texas, New Mexico, Arizona and Montana. Enlarged the capacity of voter registration outreach - went from two Team Leaders to more than a dozen and increased events by 100%
Team Leader, HeadCount, 2012-2014. Led voter registration/voter education events at local venues including many at Red Rocks. Worked approximately 200 events.
Board Member, Denver Bach Society, 2001-2002
MSU Denver Italian Club, Board Member, Treasurer, 2020-2021
Local Stakeholder Design Review Board, Denver Public Library, 2020-2021. Provided input on renovations at Blair-Caldwell Library
Local Stakeholder Review Board, Denver Department of Parks and Recreation, 2020-2021, Provided input on Skyline Park Improvements
Castle Place HOA Board, President, 2008-2023
University of Colorado Program Council, 1979-1981, Security for University of Colorado concert events
Staff Pro, 1999-2003, Security for music events at Red Rocks, Fillmore Auditorium, and many other local venues
Staff writer/photographer for Festival Preview, 2008-2011. Web blog reviewing major music festivals

In closing, I have consistently demonstrated strong leadership, a deep commitment to FoRR's mission and vision, and a unique blend of professional and volunteer experience. I believe I would be a valuable addition to the FoRR Board and would be honored to contribute to preserving and celebrating the magic of Red Rocks.

Warmly,

Pia Sabina Valeriana

Greg O'Brien

Dear Friends,

I respectfully ask for your consideration for a position on the Friends of Red Rocks Board of Directors. I have been an active member for the past three years and have a deep commitment to the vision and values of this organization.

During my time with FoRR, I have participated in nearly all cleanup events and have served as an Ambassador at more than 20 shows since the 2023 season. I truly enjoy walking the lots before shows, connecting with patrons, and sharing our collective mission-Preserve the Magic.

I am an active member of the Technology Committee, where we have worked to create an informative, user-friendly website that engages a broad audience. While there is still important work ahead, I would carry this same focus into my role on the Board, with a commitment to strengthening our social media presence to increase awareness, attract new members, and grow donor support. Through my involvement with FoRR, I have also identified several organizational functions that would benefit from thoughtful updates and renewed energy.

I pride myself on bringing fresh perspectives, finding efficient solutions, and following through to completion. I am ready to put in the work to help ensure Friends of Red Rocks remains a strong, effective conservation and service organization for years to come.

Thank you for your time and consideration.

Sincerely,

Greg O'Brien

Friendsof Red Rocks

Friends of Red Rocks’ mission is to preserve Red Rocks Park and Amphitheatre by hosting trail cleanups and activities to keep Red Rocks a beautiful place for all the amazing visitors each year. If you love Red Rocks, come join us at our next monthly trail cleanup on the last Saturday of each month! We meet in the upper north lot at 9:30am. Please sign in at the FoRR tent. The clean-up captains(s) are there to answer any questions in regards to FoRR. We are committed to keeping the park beautiful and pristine, and we would love your help as we work to Preserve the Magic! Please visit us on Facebook to see how to register for Trail Clean-ups and Special Projects.

In 2015, Red Rocks Park and Amphitheatre received a National Historic Landmark designation thanks, in part, to the efforts of Friends of Red Rocks volunteers.

VolunteerArea

If you've already signed up you can login and sign your waivers here.

Monthly Trail Clean-ups

Friends of Red Rocks hosts Monthly Trail Clean-ups and Special Projects on the last Saturday of each month. All are welcome to come and volunteer. Our meeting spot is in the UPPER NORTH LOT directly in front of the “Island” near the Depot. Please arrive between 9:30am and 9:50am. We will have three stations at check-in.

Check-in

Waivers

If you haven't already, sign and turn in the waivers, including FoRR and Denver Mountain Parks waivers.

Gear

Grab your gear and start hiking! FoRR provides the following: Gloves, Hand Sanitizer, Safety Vests, Trash Bags and Trash Pickers. Trash bags are limited, so for a more sustainable option, consider bringing your own bucket or container to collect trash.

GetInvolved

We are a non-profit organization and all of our members are volunteers. We depend on your generous donations to operate. Your donations help us purchase supplies such as pickers, gloves, trash bags, and safety vests. Please consider making a tax deductible donation today!

Additional Ways

There are many ways to become involved with Friends of Red Rocks!

Follow us on Facebook and Instagram to stay current on events impacting the park.
Donate supplies- we need trash pickers, trash bags, gloves, water/snacks for trail clean ups, sunscreen, etc.
We also have a variety of committees that we could use your expertise on! Committees include fundraising, education, technology, beautification, native gardens, and communications. If interested, please email friendsofredrocksinfo@gmail.com for more information.

FAQ

Company / Group Volunteer Events

We have a couple opportunities to volunteer during our clean ups. The first, and simplest is to have your group show up to a scheduled clean up, and we'll provide the rest! On the day of clean up, new volunteers will sign in and sign two waivers, one for FoRR and one for the City of Denver / Red Rocks Park. That month's clean up captain will go over some rules, tips and tricks, you'll be outfitted with trashpickers and garbage bags to walk the designated trails and parking lots picking up trash and recycling. In addition to trash picking, you can also volunteer to work with the gum scraping crew, and, during most cleanups, we have a trail project with the park rangers. Space is limited for gum scraping and trail projects, but if some of your group would like to participate, there should be some room.

A second option would be to host a weekday cleanup. These typically include your group led by one or two of the FoRR Board members. We'll usually have some regular volunteer members join in, as well, since some have a busy weekend schedule and like the weekday opportunities! Typically, we ask the following for a weekday event:

Date(s) Requesting (Any day will work if a board member can accommodate. Allow for a 2hr clean up session, with time before and after)
Number of volunteers
Is your company willing to provide a minimum monetary donation of $250, where all funds go directly to Friends of Red Rocks?
Can Friends of Red Rocks share this time and open the clean up to our regular volunteers who would like a weekday clean up opportunity?

With both options, the opportunity to become a volunteer member of FoRR exists. If you or your team thinks they'd like to join the organization and participate in more clean ups, they are welcome to join. Membership is easy, and they can get started today by clicking Join on this page.

I signed up but haven't received any confirmation - am I legit?

Once you registered on our website, you will be assigned a pin. This usually takes 10-12 days, but could take up to 30. You will receive a confirmation email once your application has been accepted and your pin is assigned. You will need to sign into the member login to complete the waivers and the volunteer quiz. Here you will also find your volunteer number, of which you'll need this for the waivers, and also for cleanups. You'll provide it at the clean up to login and logout for hour accrual. About a week before the next monthly cleanup after your pin is assigned, you will receive the clean-up announcement, and your pin will be included in that email.

I am not getting the emails!

Make sure your email preferences are set to include "Electronic Newsletters" and "Schedule Reminders". This is how we communicate our clean up announcements, other important news, as well as scheduling of concert volunteer opportunities.

Here are the steps to check your email preferences

Login into account with the email and password you registered with.
Once logged in, click "Profile".
Then scroll down to the email preference section.
You should see "Electronic Newsletters" and "Schedule Reminders". If you see them, you're good to go! If not, make sure they are selected.
If you are still not receiving the emails, please contact us at friendsofredrocksinfo@gmail.com and we will get you back to you as soon as possible!

How do I get a tee shirt?

Tee shirts are available during the clean ups, on the last Saturday of the month. Tee shirt donation of $20 goes directly back to FoRR. We accept cash, check, Venmo, Apple Pay, etc. Tees shirts are not required for cleanups but are required when volunteering at a concert. Please do not wear the FoRR tee shirt to any concert at which you are not officially assigned to volunteer.

FoRR Board of Directors

The Board of Directors is elected by the membership and serves a two-year term. They take care of the daily operations of Friends of Red Rocks and oversee committees. Friends of Red Rocks is a 100% volunteer run organization. There are a variety of leadership opportunities available, such as, serving on one of our committees which help the organization function.

We appreciate all of the hard work our volunteers do to help Preserve the Magic!

FoRR Board of Directors

We appreciate all of the hard work our volunteers do to help Preserve the Magic!

RedRocks

Red Rocks has a long history of amazing music and magical moments for concert goers and park visitors, but it’s so much more than merely a great place to see a show! It is 868 acres of beauty that deserves to be cared for and preserved for future generations. The Amphitheatre, a geologic wonder, is a rare natural formation with perfect acoustics. The City of Denver purchased the park in 1927 from a private landowner for $54,133. Construction of the amphitheatre was completed in 1941 by the workers living at the Morrison CCC Camp.

As the amphitheatre gained in popularity and the city of Denver grew, so did the impacts on Red Rocks Park. Friends of Red Rocks began in 1999 as a reaction of concerned citizens to the corporatization of Red Rocks Park. Specific concerns at the time included converting the historic planter boxes into cooperate box seats; selling advertising and naming rights of the venue; and pushing through 'improvements' at too fast a pace. Friends of Red Rocks continues to stay involved and up to date on current issues affecting the park.

FoRR also maintains the Red Rocks native garden; educates patrons in a friendly way; and stays involved with advocating for the park and amphitheatre. While we encourage concert patrons to come out and have a great time, we ask that they do so in an environmentally responsible way. By doing simple things like packing out your trash, recycling, observing the Fan Code, staying on designated trails, and being considerate of wildlife, we can all work together to keep Red Rocks Park and Amphitheatre beautiful and open for everyone’s enjoyment.

Trivia

Did you know…

There have been more shows scheduled at Red Rocks in the last decade than there were in the preceding 60 years?
That it took the natural amphitheatre of Red Rocks more than 200 million years to form?
That the amphitheatre was designed by architect Burnham Hoyt, who modeled it after the Theatre of Dionysus at the Acropolis in Athens, Greece?
Did the Beatles’ 1964 show at Red Rocks sell out?
That an estimated 750,000 non-concertgoers visit Red Rocks every year?
That AEG and LiveNation book the vast majority of shows there, but Red Rocks is an open venue, meaning anyone can book it?

These fun facts are credited to Dylan Owens at The Denver Post.Read the full article!

News

A south ramp replacement will address the fact that the iconic path, which provides access to the venue from the south parking lots, “has served its useful life expectancy.” The new south ramp will be constructed between November 2022 and April 2023 “with a design that respects the original structure’s aesthetic while meeting modern structural standards.”
The top plaza and row one of the amphitheater will get modified slopes “for increased wheelchair accessibility.” Last month, venue officials also said they would add more wheelchair-accessible seats and paving projects following a $48,000 payment that settled a claim that alleged wheelchair-accessible seats were more expensive than other seats in the city-owned venue.
The first phase of a “multi-phase” visitor center project will focus on the Ship Rock Grille and Kitchen, and the rebuild of the north restrooms. “The restaurant will be reconfigured to make the bar more visible and inviting,” officials wrote, while “the kitchen will be electrified with an improved layout.” (We hope they don’t mean literally). The restrooms will also be updated “with the addition of a family restroom and improved accessibility” as well as adding more water filling stations.
The projects will close the Red Rocks’ Visitor Center throughout the construction window, and access to the amphitheater “will continue to be maintained via the north trail and east stairs entrances.”

The public can still visit these entrances — during normal business hours — and park trails will remain open, as well as the Trading Post.

Visit redrocksonline.com/our-story/improvements for more details.

Completed Projects

We would like to thank Red Rocks Park and Amphitheatre, Denver Mountain Parks, and the City and County of Denver for doing a wonderful job on many needed upgrades and repairs to Red Rocks.Read More

Stage Roof
Red Rocks Depot
Enhanced Road, Lot, and Trail Lighting
Visitor Center Service Road Retaining Wall
Trading Post Updates and Remodeling
North Storm Water Channel Rehabilitation
Subsurface Seating Stabilization

Tom Rutter

Some years ago, a man named Tom Rutter took a bold step to make a huge difference. The Red Rocks we all know and love is just how it is today - a place of rustic beauty and magical experiences where we go home with dirt on our feet and the smell of junipers in our hair - thanks to Tom.

Tom created this flyer and led the movement to preserve Red Rocks and protect it from corporatization. His action, almost 21 years ago, continues to give us all an opportunity to protect and celebrate one of the most magical places on earth. The entire community is indebted to Tom and that handful of individuals who accepted his invitation to get organized to oppose the City’s planned changes and corporatization.

In addition to helping preserve the Amphitheater, Tom was a hiker and an animal and nature lover who loved and knew intimately the Park's landscape and trails.

Tom left this world on January 25, 2021.

Thank you, Tom, for your foresight to protect the natural beauty that is Red Rocks Park and Amphitheatre. May you rest in peace.

Friends of Red Rocks

PO Box 102891

Denver, Colorado 80250

FoRR ByLaws friendsofredrocksinfo@gmail.com