Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Tina Rushing. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Alright, Tina thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. What’s the backstory behind how you came up with the idea for your business?
Honestly, it all came from necessity. Back in 2019, the Love Hope Strength Foundation decided to shut down their U.S. activations. My husband and I were both working for them, and just like that, our jobs disappeared. But we weren’t about to let that stop us. We had seen firsthand how much impact we were making, and there was no way we were going to let that momentum die.
That’s when my husband called me up and said, ‘What if we started our own nonprofit? What if we called it Punk Rock Saves Lives?’ And that was it—we just ran with it. At first, we focused on what we knew: getting people swabbed for the bone marrow registry at shows, just like we did with LHS. They had the tagline, ‘Saving lives one concert at a time,’ and we wanted to keep that spirit alive.
Then the pandemic hit, and everything changed. Live music stopped, which meant our main way of reaching people disappeared overnight. We had to pivot, and that’s when we launched our mental health initiative. It started with weekly PMA (Positive Mental Attitude) sessions—open, honest conversations with punk musicians and people in the scene. We wanted to give people a space to talk, to connect, to know they weren’t alone. That shift showed us that PRSL could be so much more than just a bone marrow registry. It could be a movement for mental health, advocacy, and real community support.
Another thing that grew out of our constant want to help and grow was our Community Box. We started showing up to shows with a simple idea—offering free essential items to anyone who needed them. Earplugs, Period Supplies, Narcan, Test Strips, Pregnancy Tests – whatever we could get our hands on. No questions asked, no judgment. It was just about making sure no one in our community had to go without. And it took off. People started donating, bands helped spread the word, and now it’s a staple at our events. It’s punk in its purest form—taking care of each other, looking out for the people around you, and making sure no one gets left behind.
As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?
I come from a technical theatre background, which means I’ve spent a lot of time behind the scenes That experience gave me a problem-solving mindset, the ability to adapt on the fly, and a deep appreciation for the work that happens behind the curtain to make things happen.
At the same time, I’ve been involved in organizations like the Kiwanis Club and its affiliates since I can remember. Growing up in that world, I saw firsthand what it means to build community, lead with purpose, and create real, lasting change. Whether it was organizing service projects, fundraising, or hands-on activism, I learned early on that if you see a need, you don’t wait for someone else to fix it—you step up and do the work.
Both of these experiences shaped who I am today and how I run Punk Rock Saves Lives. It’s a mix of production-minded logistics and heart-driven service, and I wouldn’t have it any other way.
Can you tell us the story behind how you met your business partner?
Rob and I actually met the day before we went on the Flogging Molly Cruise. He noticed my Kiwanis tattoo on my shoulder and I was shocked he even knew what Kiwanis was. We barely talked on the cruise and reconnected through FB 6 some months later.
Any stories or insights that might help us understand how you’ve built such a strong reputation?
Rob has been working for Love Hope Strength for 13 some years which means he was in the nonprofit music world for quite some time. His connections have helped GROW PRSL rapidly.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.punkrocksaveslives.org
- Instagram: punkrocksaveslives
- Facebook: PRSL-USA
