Hi, my name is Sofia Salinas. I’m a music industry student at USC, where I’ve had incredible opportunities to grow my passion for live music and event production. I’ve worked at festivals, venues, and even hosted concerts of my own—but the person who first inspired my love for music was my dad.

When I was eight years old, he made sure I practiced, encouraged me to write songs, and shaped my old-school taste in music. He’s the reason I fell in love with it in the first place.

Last summer, my dad was diagnosed with ALS. Watching his decline has been devastating, but one thing that has always brought him joy is live music. That’s what inspired my capstone project: a virtual benefit concert supporting the ALS Association.

The event will be live-streamed on December 7th at 1 PM (PT), featuring live performances and personal stories from artists dedicated to this cause. All proceeds will go directly to the ALS Association.

I’m raising funds to cover production costs—artist payment, cinematography, one artist’s flight, and lunch for the crew on the day of the shoot. Any contribution, big or small, will help make this event possible and meaningful.

Thank you so much for your support—it truly means the world to me and my family.