Representatives from more than 200 country music radio stations will join some of country musicís brightest stars Jan. 13-16 for the annual Country Cares for St. Jude KidsÆ radio training seminar. The event is the second-largest gathering of country music industry professionals in the nation and the official kick-off to the busiest season of radiothons benefiting St. Jude Childrenís Research HospitalÆ.
You can help support this wonderful cause by making an online donation to Country Cares. Along with the members of Blue County and Trick Pony, Buddy Jewell, Billy Dean, Rebecca Lynn Howard, Katrina Elam, Jeff Bates and Randy Owen of the GRAMMYÆ Award-winning group ALABAMA are among the celebrities who are scheduled to visit the patients at St. Jude Childrenís Research Hospital, the worldís premier center dedicated to the research and treatment of catastrophic childhood diseases. During the weekend seminar, country music artists, industry representatives and radio station personnel have the opportunity to tour the hospital, meet patients and attend informative sessions on planning successful radiothons. This yearís event is sponsored in part by Back Yard Burger Catering and Central Imaging and Printing.
A new addition to this yearís seminar is the Lucky Duck Casino Night. The special party will allow attendees to mingle with artists, as well as win one-of-a kind prizes to help raise extra dollars at their upcoming St. Jude fund-raisers. Some of the items include guitars autographed by Toby Keith, Rascal Flatts, Travis Tritt, Montgomery Gentry, Craig Morgan, Sherrie Austin, Joe Diffee; a Brooks & Dunn denim jacket; boots autographed by Terri Clark; a George Strait-autographed, boxed CD set, an autographed Tony LaRussa baseball; and a drum head signed by Blake Shelton and Big & Rich.
ìThe Country Cares seminar is something St. Jude looks forward to every year,î said David L. McKee, chief operating officer of ALSAC/St. Jude, the hospitalís fund-raising arm. ìHaving so many dedicated people come visit the hospital is a great way for us to start the new year. It reinvigorates old friends of the hospital and wins over new ones for St. Jude. Randy Owen, the country music industry and its fans honor us with their commitment to helping the children of St. Jude, and we are honored to have them as partners in our mission.î
Co-founded by Randy Owen, the Country Cares for St. Jude Kids fund-raising program has helped raise more than $225 million to St. Jude since the program began in 1989. All segments of the country music industry ñ radio stations, artists, record labels, artist managers and songwriters ñ participate in the Country Cares program throughout the year. More than 100 country artists have given their names and time to the program through recorded appeals, visits to the children at the hospital or call-ins to radiothons. Some of these stars include Brooks & Dunn, Toby Keith, Brad Paisley, Kenny Chesney, Tim McGraw, Faith Hill, Reba McEntire, Keith Urban, Buddy Jewell, Clint Black and the members of Lonestar.
St. Jude Childrenís Research Hospital is internationally recognized for its pioneering work in finding cures and saving children with cancer and other catastrophic diseases. Founded by late entertainer Danny Thomas and based in Memphis, Tennessee, St. Jude freely shares its discoveries with scientific and medical communities around the world. No family ever pays for treatments not covered by insurance, and families without insurance are never asked to pay. St Jude is financially supported by ALSAC, its fund-raising organization.
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