Yesterday, I wrote about some gift ideas for Christmas. Now, today, I want to focus on the spirit of true giving. The giving to charities this time of year. This is also a great idea for gifts. You can give in the name of someone else.
There several great charities relating to country music directly or that the country music community is directly involved with in some way.
Now, these are only suggestions of country music related charities that I know of, please post a comment with others if you know any others of interest to the readers. Before donating, please, do you own research on these charities. Learn about them more and do you homework in checking out their business practices.
The Opry Trust Fund
Started in 1965, the Opry Trust Fund’s mission is to help those in the country music industry when they need it the most, by offering financial assistance during their time of need. Since its inception, the Opry Trust Fund has distributed more than $2 million. Examples of distribution include medical bills, living expenses, rent or mortgage, utilities, and food. Any individual who has been employed full time in some facet of the country music industry (i.e. performer, songwriter, publisher, radio, session musician, etc.) may be eligible to benefit from the Opry Trust Fund.
To make a contribution you can send a check or money order to:
Opry Trust Fund
2804 Opryland Drive
Nashville, Tennessee 37214
For additional information:
Phone: (615) 316-6174
Fax: (615) 458-0440
OpryTrustFund@opry.comSt. Jude Children's HospitalSt. Jude is unlike any other pediatric treatment and research facility. Discoveries made here have completely changed how the world treats children with cancer and other catastrophic diseases. With research and patient care under one roof, St. Jude is where some of today's most gifted researchers are able to do science more quickly.
All patients accepted for treatment at St. Jude are treated without regard to the family's ability to pay. St. Jude covers all costs of treatment at St. Jude beyond those reimbursed by third-party insurers, and total costs at St. Jude when no insurance is available. St. Jude also provides assistance with transportation costs and local living expenses during treatments
The country music community highly supports this cause, in fact it just may be the most supported charity in country music through Country Cares For St. Jude's Kids founded by Randy Owen that sponsors radio-thons on hundreds of country radio stations. Country artists support the charity in many different fundraisers and public outreach projects, including visits to the hospital itself in Memphis, TN.
There many ways to donate to this cause. Visit
http://www.stjude.org for more information, including online donations. Click on "donate now" in the upper right. At very least, explore the website to learn more about this great cause.
City of HopeCity of Hope is recognized worldwide for its compassionate patient care, innovative science and translational research, which rapidly turns laboratory breakthroughs into promising new therapies. We are one of only 40 National Cancer Institute-designated Comprehensive Cancer Centers nationwide and a founding member of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network. An independent biomedical research, treatment and education institution, we are a leader in the fight to conquer cancer, diabetes, HIV/AIDS and other life-threatening diseases.
On our park-like campus just northeast of Los Angeles, researchers advance ideas into discoveries, physicians bring emerging therapies to patients, and students learn to transform the landscape of modern medicine – all supported by the generosity of philanthropists from across the country. Every day we pursue new and better ways to improve the lives of men, women and children here and around the world – and have for almost 100 years.
The annual celebrity softball game during The CMA Music Festival supports this charity, among other fundraisers that country artists participate in.
Visit
http://www.cityofhope.org for much more information and can also make donations online.
Reading, Writing, and RhythmReading, Writing, and Rhythm is a non-profit organization dedicated to improving music education in America's public schools. Country music artist, Chely Wright , founded this charity to donate musical instruments to schools in need all over the nation and to raise public awareness of the importance of music education for our nation's youth.
You can donate online or by money order/check to:
Reading, Writing, and RhythmP. O. Box 1605Belton, MO 64012Visit
http://www.rwandr.org/ for more information and to donate.
American Red CrossThe American Red Cross services domestic disaster relief, but also The American Red Cross offers compassionate services in five other areas: community services that help the needy; support and comfort for military members and their families; the collection, processing and distribution of lifesaving blood and blood products; educational programs that promote health and safety; and international relief and development programs.
The American Red Cross is where people mobilize to help their neighbors—across the street, across the country, and across the world—in emergencies. Each year, in communities large and small, victims of some 70,000 disasters turn to neighbors familiar and new—the more than half a million volunteers and 35,000 employees of the Red Cross. Through over 700 locally supported chapters, more than 15 million people gain the skills they need to prepare for and respond to emergencies in their homes, communities and world.
Some four million people give blood—the gift of life—through the Red Cross, making it the largest supplier of blood and blood products in the United States. And the Red Cross helps thousands of U.S. service members separated from their families by military duty stay connected. As part of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, a global network of 186 national societies, the Red Cross helps restore hope and dignity to the world's most vulnerable people.
An average of 91 cents of every dollar the Red Cross spends is invested in humanitarian services and programs. The Red Cross is not a government agency; it relies on donations of time, money, and blood to do its work.
The country music community supports this charity often, especially after natural disasters and other routine charitable fundraising events.
For more information, visit
http://www.redcross.org including online donation and other ways of donating assistance.
