Thanksgiving is a chance to spend time with family and friends while also giving back to the community. Many alumni of The Capitol Theatre understand the deeper meaning of Thanksgiving and have made it their mission to encourage life-changing experiences by supporting important causes. Below are just a few of the ways some of our favorite Cap alum give back to those in need. Now, go out, get inspired, and help make someone else's Thanksgiving special!

1. Alice Cooper's Solid Rock Foundation

Alice Cooper has been credited with helping shape the sound and look of heavy metal. Although he brings unique horror imagery to his performances on and off stage, his softer side shines through his sincere charity work. In 1995, Alice Cooper and his friend Chuck Savale founded the Solid Rock Foundation. Based in Arizona, the foundation is devoted to helping troubled teenagers and children get through troubled times through the love of the art. Every year in Phoenix, Alice Cooper puts together a benefit concert called Alice Cooper's Annual Christmas Pudding, where all the proceeds go to Solid Rock Foundation and The Rock Teen Center. Famous musicians, dancers, and TV film actors come out to support the cause and past performers have included Johnny Depp, Joan Jett, Cheap Trick, and Glen Campbell.

2. Trombone Shorty's Trombone Shorty Foundation

As a New Orleans native, Troy "Trombone Shorty" Andrews continues to share his NOLA style across the world. In order to give back to his home town, he has set up the Trombone Shorty Foundation. The foundation's mission "is to continue the musical heritage of New Orleans through music education, instruction, mentorship and performance to prepare young, under-served musicians for success in music and in life." On April of 2015, Trombone Shorty hosted the third annual Shorty Fest, a benefit concert where all proceeds go to the Trombone Shorty Foundation. Past guest performers include Orleans Avenue, North Mississippi Allstars' Luther Dickinson, Grateful Dead Drummer Bill Kreutzmann, as well students from the Trombone Shorty Foundation.

3. Sarah McLachlan's Sarah McLachlan School of Music

Aside from advocating for protecting animal rights, McLachlan formed the Sarah McLachlan School of Music. Her school provides free after school music education to under-served and at risk children and adults living in Vancouver. Classes range from music instrument lessons to music and video production.

4. Bob Weir - Rex Foundation and Furthur Foundation

Bob Weir along with other Grateful Dead members established the Rex Foundation in 1983. The Rex Foundation provides community support to creative endeavors in the arts, sciences, and education. Since 1984, the Rex Foundation has granted $8.2 million to around 1,000 recipients. Aside from the Rex Foundation, Bob Weir is also on the board of the Furthur Foundation, an organization that gives money to progressive groups working on environment and social change issues in the Bay Area and around the world.

5. Warren Haynes's The Warren Haynes Christmas Jam

Guitar legend Warren Haynes has been giving back to his home in Asheville, North Carolina since 1988. That year, he founded The Warren Haynes Christmas Jam, a live concert spectacular that donates all proceeds to the Asheville Chapter of Habitat For Humanity. In 2007, they reached the $1 million donation mark.

6. The Wailers - World Food Program

As longtime supporters of the World Food Program, the Wailers spread positive vibrations by spreading love with their charity efforts. In 2009, the Wailers started their work with the United Nations' World Food Program with the hopes to put an end to world hunger. In 2010, The Wailers also recorded a track called "A Step for Mankind." The track, written by Duane Stephenson, benefits the WFP. Recently in 2014, the Wailers launched an e-commerce website with all proceeds going to the WFP. The purchase of a $40 t-shirt raises enough money to feed 40 children in Africa.

7. Jackson Browne - Benefit Concerts

Jackson Browne has sold over 18 million albums in the United States, and today, he gives back by performing at multiple benefit concerts. In 2010, Jackson Browne performed at both days of the Neil Young's 24th Annual Bridge School Benefit Concert, where proceeds go to assists children with severe physical impairments and complex communication needs. In 2012, Jackson Browne participated for his fifth time in Artists for the Arts, a benefit concert that raised $100,000 to keep arts and music in public schools. In 2009, Browne held a benefit concert for the Rory David Deutsch Foundation, a foundation dedicated to providing funding for brain tumor research and treatment.

8. Cyndi Lauper's True Colors Fund

Lauper's "True Colors" is not only an anthem of acceptance and inspiration, but the name of the foundation she co-founded. The "True Colors Fund" aims to end homelessness among the LGBT youth. In December of 2015, Lauper will host the 5th annual Cyndi Lauper & Friends: Home for The Holidays. ALl proceeds will go to support the True Colors Fund.

9. Willie Nelson - Farm Aid

Along with being a musician, singer, songwriter, author, poet, and actor, Nelson is a strong activist, especially in supporting family farmers. In 1985, Willie Nelson, Neil Young, and John Melloncamp set up a benefit concert called Farm Aid to raise money for family farmers. To continue their efforts to support family farmers, Willie Nelson and John Melloncamp brought family farmers before congress to discuss their problems. Their hard work paid off when in 1987, congress passed the Agricultural Credit Act, an act that helps save family farms from foreclosure. Farm Aid still puts on their annual concert as well as becoming an organization that works to increase the importance of family farms. All proceeds are used to support farmers expenses, including legal and financial help, food, and psychological help.

10. Phil Lesh's Unbroken Chain foundation

The Grateful Dead has always made it their mission to give back to the community. In 1997, bassist Phil Lesh and his wife Jill wanted to continue that tradition. Together, they founded a nonprofit organization called the Unbroken Chain Foundation, a foundation committed whose mission is "to generate support for, and public awareness of, groups and individuals that bring hope and inspiration to communities where great need exists, and to create partnerships of people working together for a common good, especially in such areas as the arts, education and the environment."