By Leah MarieAnn Klett, Assistant Editor Tuesday, April 07, 2026

Musicians Forrest Frank and Noah Hayden announced the winner of a fan-driven contest to rename their band, a decision that not only introduced the new name “Party Wave” but also helped spark tens of thousands of dollars in donations for a children’s center in Guatemala.

The change comes after the duo was forced to abandon their previous name, "Dawn Patrol," when their newly launched Instagram account, which had grown to 27,000 followers, was taken down over copyright concerns.

In March, Frank said the band received approval from its music distributor to use the name. However, after their debut single “SOS” gained traction online, he discovered the band’s Instagram page had been deactivated.

Although management initially suggested pursuing legal rights to the name, even proposing to spend $10,000 to secure it, Frank instead invited fans to submit new band name ideas, offering the $10,000 prize to the winner.

“This whole project is to serve the Lord and help bring people together in community. So I actually think that this could be a moment where God is wanting to extend that. This is like an extension of that seed,” the 30-year-old “Lemonade” singer said in an Instagram post. “So rather than fight it and go the legal route and stuff like that, I think the best thing to do would be just to change our name.”

The winning submission came from a traveling family behind the Instagram account thebucketlistfamily. Instead of keeping the prize, the family asked that the money be passed to the runner-up.

That recipient, a married couple expecting their first child and preparing to move into a new home, also declined to keep the money. The couple chose instead to donate the $10,000 to a foundation in Guatemala that works to rescue children from trafficking. The donation has since grown to $30,000 as others joined in.

In a Monday Instagram post, the “Your Way’s Better” singer revealed the effort expanded beyond the initial gift.

“My friend Noah and I, for fun, make a band. The band name didn't work out, so we do a $10,000 contest to see who could pick our name. We then give the $10,000 to the winner. They say, in real time, 'Hey, we don't need it. Let's give it to this foundation,'” he said. “Meanwhile, this guy who's trying to start this children's center in Guatemala couldn't find funding … so he fasted and prayed that the Lord would give him funding. That $10,000 has grown to $30,000 because people are like, ‘Oh, I want to match that generosity. I'm going to throw a fundraiser thing down here, just to add to it. God is literally doing this in real time.”

Orbis Nieves, founder and president of A Father’s Heart Children’s Ministry, said the funds will help launch construction on a new children’s center in Guatemala.

“All I can tell you is ‘thank you,’” he said. I'm actually standing here on the property of the children's center. What we're going to be building well with your help, and a lot of your fans and a lot of your followers, we're looking to start construction here at the end of the month. So we are so grateful. First, grateful to Jesus. You guys have a big part on what's going on here. Now you just can't imagine what's going through my head. Now it's just racing, racing, racing.”

In an earlier post, Hayden said the name “Party Wave” resonated with their lifestyle as surfers.

“We then selected the name that sounded so cool to us, because as surfers all the time in the water, we’ll hear someone shout out, ‘party wave,’” Hayden said. “Basically just means, don’t take the wave for yourself, let’s all go and enjoy [the wave].”

Frank, who previously formed one half of the mainstream band Surfaces, contends that the concept reflects a spirit of selflessness, adding that a party wave is when a person "selflessly gives up [their] spot on the wave to include someone else.”

“We felt like that was a super Christ-like thing to do, and it fit the vibe,” he said. “We went with that [and] announced the winner.”

Hayden said the situation, though unexpected, ultimately led to a meaningful outcome.

“It kind of was forced in our hand, but through that, God honored it in such a beautiful way,” he said.

“We are so stoked on this name, and it means so much that all you guys were a huge part of it, and we want you guys on this wave with us and on the journey, and we can’t wait to see what happens,” Hayden added.

The band’s full album, still titled “Dawn Patrol,” is set for release on April 8, which coincides with Frank’s 31st birthday. 

Frank previously told The Christian Post that if he feels the presence of the Holy Spirit in the music, he believes it will naturally help others connect with God.

“As long as I'm putting the truth of the Gospel in the songs, and if I can recognize the Holy Spirit in the music, then I know that He's going to be doing the work because I don't put any pressure on it,” he said. 

The artist also told CP he doesn’t plan on diverging from Christian music, no matter how big he gets.

“Jesus is my Savior, and I'm alive when I worship Him,” he said. “Once I started making Christian music and worshiping Him, going back to making pop music is like air. There's no substance in it for me personally. The fact that I get to wake up every day and worship Jesus and then just record it, and other people get to worship Jesus, too, it is so fulfilling and so life-giving, and I'm here to stay.”

News Source : https://www.christianpost.com/news/forrest-franks-10k-band-name-contest-sparks-miracle.html