LI 'Idol' contestant sings for charity

Less than a month after Robbie Rosen was voted off "American Idol," the 16-year-old Merrick native was back on a big stage -- this time to help children fight a crippling disease.

Rosen, who made it to the TV show's semifinals, sang at Saturday's Islanders game against the Philadelphia Flyers at Nassau Coliseum to raise money for The Sophia's Cure Foundation.

The nonprofit aims to boost public awareness and help fund research into spinal muscular atrophy.

"Being part of a competition is definitely a lot different than something like this -- supporting something so special and trying to save a girl's life," Rosen said.

"It's great that I have the ability to influence people," he said. "That's all I ever really want to do."

The mop-haired junior from Sanford H. Calhoun High School was voted off "Idol" on March 3. On Saturday, Rosen performed "Make It Through," a song he said he wrote as a tribute to 2-year-old Sophia Gaynor of Wantagh.

Sophia -- the foundation's namesake -- suffers from spinal muscular atrophy, a disease that causes weakness and degeneration of muscles in the arms and legs of infants and children. It has no cure and treatment consists of managing the symptoms.

Rosen said he heard about Sophia's battle with the disease about a year ago and was so moved that he composed the song in two days.

"It's kind of an uplifting song to say that together we will be behind Sophia, and that no matter what, we'll make it through together," he said.

Dozens of fans, young and old, gathered near the arena entrance to get the teen's autograph and pose for pictures with him.

A spokesman for the Islanders said a portion of Saturday's ticket sales will go to The Sophia's Cure Foundation. Further details weren't available.

Vincent Gaynor, Sophia's father, said the foundation launched in 2009 has raised about $800,000.