Just a Bunch of Roadies

Well, a group that literally calls itself Just a Bunch of Roadies has shown us just how good they are — and how deeply committed to making the world a better place.

Charlie Hernandez and Lori Tierney are the driving force behind Just a Bunch of Roadies, a nonprofit organization formed by musical touring industry professionals to respond to humanitarian crises. The idea took root in 2005, when veteran production manager Charlie Hernandez, president of QED Productions, co-produced a benefit concert in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, raising nearly $8 million for relief efforts in the aftermath of the devastating Indian Ocean tsunami.

Then, Charlie and his long-time friend and former business partner, Lori Tierney, began considering ways that their years of moving people and equipment around the world for the world’s biggest rock bands could be put to use more directly in future disaster response and relief efforts. In January 2010, Charlie was working in China when the earthquake struck but immediately contacted Lori, and the two began making phone calls and assembling a team from around the world. Just a Bunch of Roadies formed virtually overnight.

Between January 30th and February 4th, 2010, the roadie relief team completed four rotations of supplies and medical personnel in and out of Port-au-Prince; moved approximately $2 million worth of medical equipment from Project C.U.R.E. into Haiti, delivering it directly to hospitals run by Partners in Health; transported 48 doctors, nurses, and medical support staff into Haiti from Partners in Health, Project Medishare, and Airline Ambassadors; and, on its return flights, brought home almost 90 medical personnel and relief volunteers who had been working in Haiti since the earthquake. Later, Just a Bunch of Roadies helped facilitate the movement of over 500,000 meals from Madison Meals for Haiti in Madison, WI, to Relief International in Haiti.

Now, Just a Bunch of Roadies is partnering with the One World Futbol Project, connecting us with many of their clients as potential buyers of the futbol and “evangelists” for the Project and solving some of our knottiest shipping and warehousing challenges.

In the photo above, Charlie Hernandez is front and center holding the One World Futbol, flanked by Lori Tierney and One World Futbol Project Founder Tim Jahnigen. (Photo: RoadieRelief)