Local entrepreneur Jason Hopp has a lot of projects on his plate, but the one he’s the most passionate about is the one that hasn’t taken off quite yet: his music-based charity Dose of Music.

Hopp started the nonprofit a year and a half ago, envisioning it as an organization that would cheer up sick, disadvantaged or people otherwise in need, through the joy of music. Think of it as Patch Adams with a guitar and amplifier.

“I thought it’d be a nice charity to have where local musicians could come together to play at hospitals or (senior) homes or anything like that,” said Hopp. “It could be karaoke, DJs, bands, whatever the event calls for.”

Hopp said the charity will provide a wide selection of musical entertainment to children in hospitals, seniors in assisted living facilities and military troops returning home, as well as for charity fundraisers and disaster relief-type benefits.

To help get the new charity off the ground, Hopp has organized a fundraiser for Friday, July 22 at Neisen’s Sports Bar and Grill in downtown. Starting at 7 p.m., the event will feature live music from local band, “High and Mighty,” as well as local students from the national School of Rock music program. In addition to the live music, there will be games, prizes and a $200 cash give-away. The event is open to all ages before 10 p.m. but will be 21-plus after that time.

The fundraiser is free to attend, but Hopp said he’ll be trying to raise money through the games and by selling $5 tickets for the cash giveaway (although technically the $5 is a suggested donation and not required to get a ticket).

“I had to get creative, so to raise money I’ve got some bean bag games; I’ve got a golf game that I’m making,” said Hopp. As prizes, Hopp will be giving away blow-up guitars, necklaces, kazoos with the charity’s logo on them and other fun trinkets. “It’s just silly things like that so hopefully I can make a buck here or there.”

For Hopp, Neisen’s was an easy choice for the venue given the bar’s large stage and reception area in the back. Hopp has connections to the area as well because his father is former Savage Mayor Rod Hopp. It also didn’t hurt that Hopp bartends at Neisen’s on weekends.

“We were really happy to do it,” said Neisen’s owner Dan Neisen, “and it gets kind of light in the summer (as far as events go), so it really kind of worked out.”

BEGINNING ‘DOSE’

Hopp, a 1990 graduate of Burnsville High School, runs a number of businesses, namely the deal-seeking web site, ilovemydeals.com, and business/social networking site gettinbizzy.com. But before he started either of those businesses, the seeds for Dose of Music had already been planted.

In 2004, Hopp was working as an instructor at ATA Martial Arts in Burnsville and Lakeville when he met Rachel, a young martial arts student from Lakeville who was battling cancer. When Rachel’s illness got worse, Hopp and his friend planned to visit her in the hospital so they could play guitar and sing to her and the other children. Unfortunately, Rachel passed away in June of 2007, before Hopp had the chance to visit her. She was 7 years old.

“She really was the inspiration” to start the charity, said Hopp.

Using that inspiration, Hopp decided to honor her memory by following up on his idea of using music to brighten the lives of those struggling. Hopp officially founded Dose of Music in October of 2009.

DIFFICULT PROCESS

While Hopp is optimistic about the future of the charity, he’s quick to acknowledge that starting a nonprofit hasn’t been an easy process so far. “I’m still in the early stages, and I’m a one man show right now,” he said.

Hopp has already held a couple of fundraisers, including a kick-off event at Neisen’s in February 2010, to help keep the charity afloat. “I’ve basically just been trying to recoup some of the money I’ve already lost,” Hopp said laughing.

Among the early struggles is his bid to become a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, which is needed so that donors can write off their donations for tax purposes.

“To play with the big boys, you have to become a 501(c)(3),” said Hopp. “But it’s an expensive process, and I’m funding it all on my own right now.”

Hopp said he’s consulted with attorneys, filed the paperwork, and also put together a board of directors, which is required to be a 501(c)(3), so that it’s only a matter of time before his request is approved.

He has also struggled to gather a stable of musicians willing to partner with his organization. Although Hopp said he “plays a little guitar,” he said he’s not exactly Jimmy Page when it comes to the instrument. “I would never get paid to play, I’d probably get paid not to play,” Hopp joked.

Hopp said the next step will be finding those musicians willing to donate their time for the cause. “I meet tons of (musicians) working here at Neisen’s,” said Hopp, “so hopefully now that I’ve got all the (legal) stuff done, I’ll be able to” get musicians to come aboard.

In spite of the charity’s early difficulties, Hopp said it’s something he strongly believes in and he is confident it will succeed. “It’s taken a little longer than I expected,” admitted Hopp, “but I know it’s going to work out.”