Country artists generous with time and talent
- Tracy Lawrence ‘Mission: Possible Turkey Fry’
- Christmas 4 Kids helps children in need
- Michael Ray’s Wrigley Cares helps shelter animals
- Charlie Daniels reaches out to veterans
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Country artists are among the most generous members of show business when it comes to giving their time and talent to help others or to support a charity. As we approach the Holiday season, many country stars are finding ways to help those in need.
Tracy Lawrence ‘Mission: Possible Turkey Fry’
Case in point: Tracy Lawrence. He is already warming up the fryers and calling up his friends in music. The reason is Tracy’s 13th annual Mission: Possible Turkey Fry at Nashville Rescue Mission. Now a long-standing Holiday tradition, the event takes place Tuesday, November 20. It will provide hundreds of tasty and nutritious meals for ‘underserved’ people in Metro Nashville and Middle Tennessee.
Tracy will be up and out early in the morning to get the turkey fryers fired up. The day will wrap up at the Wildhorse Saloon at 7:00 pm with live performances by Tracy and some of his friends. Proceeds will benefit Nashville Rescue Mission. Scheduled to appear: EMI recording artist Eric Paslay, BMG/Chrysalis singer/songwriter Doug McCormick, Outlaw Country duo Halfway To Hazard, newcomer Bristyn Camp and some special surprise guests. A live auction to benefit the Rescue Mission takes place during the show.
As Tracy has a new Christmas album, ‘Frozen in Time,’ he will probably treat fans to one or two Christmas songs to get them in the Holiday spirit. Tickets are available here or at the door, if still available. General admission: $25.00; Reserved seating: $50.00; Meet and greet with Tracy: $100.00.
Christmas 4 Kids helps children in need
The stars came out Monday, November 19 for the 2018 Christmas 4 Kids Concert at the Ryman Auditorium. Shenandoah, Restless Heart, Darryl Worley, Mitchell Tenpenny, Halfway to Hazard and Sandra Lynn were on the bill. TG Sheppard and Kelly Lang hosted the show.
Christmas 4 Kids is a not-for-profit organization that has been in existence for over three decades. Each year, the organization provides hundreds of underprivileged children in Middle Tennessee with their very own Christmas shopping spree. The funds generated by the Ryman concert and Tour Bus Show/Artist Meet and Greet event, are used to give over 400 children from 29 different schools, a day-long shopping excursion.
The special day consists of a chauffeured trip from their school aboard an entertainer’s luxury tour bus, dinner, and a party hosted by Santa and Mrs. Claus. To wrap up the day, the tour buses journey to the Hendersonville, Tennessee Walmart where the children receive a brand new winter coat, and $150.00 to spend however they choose.
A personal note: I have participated in Christmas 4 Kids for a number of years, accompanying groups of kids at the Tour Bus Show and the shopping spree at Walmart. It is a real eye-opener to see how needy many of these children are but it is also very rewarding. If you’d like to know more about volunteering as a chaperone, visit the Christmas 4 Kids website. I would love for you to join me there this Christmas!
Michael Ray’s Wrigley Cares helps shelter animals
Michael Ray is a true animal lover. Inspired by his rescue dog Wrigley, in October 2017, Michael launched a special initiative, Wrigley Cares: Helping Animals In Need.
“Wrigley is a huge part of my life – she’s on the road with us and she’s there for all the major moments,” he said. “She changed my life and I’m hoping we can change the lives of other shelter dogs by lending a helping hand.”
Earlier this month, he launched a week-long pet supply drive in partnership with the Nashville Humane Association. Fans, friends and community members donated food, blankets, towels and more to help support the pets displaced by Hurricane Michael. The drive culminated in a special on-site appearance at Nashville Humane on November 9. A truck was then dispatched to his native Florida, where it will distribute the provisions to shelters in need.
Wrigley Cares provides financial and medical support for rescue animals, service pets and more. Over the span of last year’s headlining “Get To You” Tour, Ray collected more than 100k meals for shelter animals. If, like me, you are an animal lover and would like to know more about Wrigley Cares, click here.
Here’s a video of Michael talking about how he set up the Wrigley Cares Foundation and creating his own line of Puma shoes to benefit the Foundation.
Charlie Daniels reaches out to veterans
Charlie Daniels is both a true patriot and a proud supporter of members of the United States military. In 2014, Charlie launched The Journey Home Project with his long-time manager, David Corlew. The Project’s mission is to connect donors with veterans’ organizations that do the most good for returning servicemen and women. The objective is for military personnel to return, to rehabilitate and to reintegrate.
As the Project’s website states: “We go beyond the problem, and make every effort to identify the organization or organizations that are best suited for the needs of the soldier. The Journey home for the soldier and his family is not an easy one, but one that’s very attainable with a strong team and combined vision. The Journey Home Project was founded to bring awareness and support to those who are a part of a soldiers journey home.”
The Holidays can be a particularly difficult time for veterans. The Journey Home Project aims to find ways to ease those difficulties. To find out more or to donate, go here. You can visit the Project’s Facebook page here.
Many other country artists are also donating their time, talent and cash to worthy projects that inspire them. In turn, they inspire us to follow their lead.
Preshias Harris is a music journalist and music career development consultant with the emphasis on new and aspiring artists and songwriters. Her book, ‘The College of Songology 101: The Singer/Songwriter’s Need to Know Reference Handbook’ is available at www.collegeofsongology.com Follow her blog at www.nashvillemusicline.com