Concert held in effort to help stop cyberbullying in schools

SAN JOSE, Calif. (KGO) -- A Bay Area father who lost his daughter is fighting to save other young lives.

Performers from across the Santa Clara Valley took part in an effort Saturday to bring awareness to cyberbullying through music. The proceeds are benefiting the Audrie Pott Foundation named in honor of a Saratoga teenager who committed suicide.

The Rock for a Reason concert was held at the Theatre on San Pedro Square and raised $5,000 for the Audrie Pott Foundation, which is trying to eliminate cyberbullying in schools.

Audrie was only 15 years old when she committed suicide after being sexually assaulted at a party where she passed out after drinking alcohol.

When photos of the assault were posted online, Audrie later sent a message to friends on Facebook saying, "my life is over."

Three teenage boys pled guilty to the crime. "Audrie did reach out to a lot of her friends and we feel that it was a cry for help that went unanswered," Audrie's step mother Lisa Pott said.

Lisa says her family's foundation takes the message of anti-cyberbullying into schools. The message they are sending is speak out if you see it happening.

"To get behind an educational effort starting in middle schools and into the high schools and just giving kids some different opportunities and some understanding as to what's going on and to try to stop this national epidemic," Audrie's father Larry Pott said. He added that his daughter loved music.

Singer songwriter Esha Krishnamoorthy knew Audrie and believes social media can be a weapon. "I think it's a really important cause because not many people think before they do something online and she didn't deserve what happened to her at all," she said.

Last year, California Governor Jerry Brown signed Audries Law, which increases penalties for teens convicted in cyberbullying crimes.

In the meantime, others are lending their voices to bring hope and awareness to others.