About
Raven Drum Foundation serves, educates, and empowers trauma survivors and communities in crisis, with a focus on Veterans and First Responders. By integrating advocacy, storytelling, music and arts programs and events, we bring the tools and experiences of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) to support and inspire mental health, resiliency, and unity.
Raven Drum Foundation’s approach was born from the idea that unconditional love and support is the most powerful healer and that each of us is responsible for our own health and soul growth through dark and challenging times.
We engage drumming as a tool for healing, allowing participants to use rhythm, mindfulness, and energy-medicine techniques as an avenue for connection, and supports complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) programs for trauma recovery.
As an organization, we serve, educate, and empower through:
- promoting Veteran resiliency through CAM therapies,
- drumming for healing at-risk populations,
- and suicide prevention programs.
Over the past 20 years, some of our most significant and impactful work has been that focused on suicide prevention, for Veterans and others at risk.
The rate of Veteran suicide is 52 percent higher than the general population. In 2019, statistics indicate that there was an overall decrease in Veteran suicide. Though the numbers remain staggering, and we wait to get updated data, we are encouraged that programs and broader efforts seem to have begun to make a difference.
As a nonprofit, we are committed to being responsible and efficient stewards of your gifts. Raven Drum Foundation Financials.
Rick Allen & Lauren Monroe
Rick Allen became the drummer for Def Leppard at age 15. At the height of worldwide fame in 1984, he had a car accident that changed his life. Rick lost an arm, but turned personal tragedy into spiritual transformation and continued his musical career. While he was already a hero to millions of young people, he soon added millions of new admirers. Since then Rick has been reaching out and giving support to others all over the globe by sharing his personal experiences and his love of drumming.
Over the past 20 years Rick has reached out to teenage cancer patients, children with special needs, at risk youth in crisis, families of domestic violence and veterans who have served in Vietnam, Desert Storm, Iraq and Afghanistan.
He was awarded the Humanitarian Award by Maria Shriver’s Best Buddies of CA in 2002 and in 2012, was also awarded the prestigious Wounded Warrior Project’s Carry It Forward Award. Rick continues his work helping wounded warriors through Project Resiliency’s Warrior Resiliency Program sponsored by his charity the Raven Drum Foundation founded by himself and his wife Lauren Monroe whose mission is support people in crisis through the alternative healing modalities and power of the drum.
In 2012 Rick debuted is first collection of light art with raving reviews and continues to launch notable collections of mixed media art and paint on canvas through Wentworth Galleries located across the east coast of America.
In 2019 Rick along side of his longtime bandmates of Def Leppard was inducted to the prestigious Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. He continues to tour world wide and inspire millions with his passion for music.
Lauren Monroe is the co-founder and visionary of the Raven Drum Foundation (RDF). A speaker, musician, and healing arts educator, Lauren holds a Master of Arts Degree in Dance with advanced certifications in mind-body medicine, focusing on self-realization through psychological archetypes.
With more than 25 years of experience as a guide, facilitator, and performance artist focusing on mind-body connection and mind-heart coherence, she designs and transforms ordinary environments into environments of extraordinary meetings with the self and the soul.
The emotional and spiritual power of Lauren’s voice and vision created the foundation’s signature drum circle experience, which she facilitates with her husband, drummer and RDF co-founder Rick Allen.
Together they live a life comprised of art, music, and philanthropy and founded Raven Drum Foundation in 2001. Their decades-long community outreach and healing events, empowering Veterans and others through music, has touched lives around the world.
Raven Drum Foundation
Board of Directors Roster
January 2023
President
Lauren Monroe
Vice President
John Roberts
Treasurer
Richard (Rick) Allen
Director/Artist Relations
Billy Amendola
Director
Larry Broughton
Director
Jason Kampf
Director
Karen Simonton
STAFF
Executive Director
Laurie Baker
laurie@ravendrumfoundation.org
Operations & Special Projects
Dale Barr
contact@laurenmonroe.com