Fan-Voted Award Honors Philanthropic Country Stars, Provides Much-Needed Community Playgrounds For Deserving Areas
WINNER TO BE ANNOUNCED DURING THE 39th ANNUAL ACADEMY OF COUNTRY MUSIC AWARDS TO AIR LIVE FROM THE MANDALAY BAY RESORT & CASINO IN LAS VEGAS WEDNESDAY, MAY 26th AT 8:00 PM ET/PT ON CBS
BURBANK, CA (March 10, 2004) - Nominations for the Academy of Country Music / Home Depot Humanitarian Award were announced this morning in conjunction with the nominees for the 39TH ANNUAL ACADEMY OF COUNTRY MUSIC AWARDS.
Now in its third year, the Academy of Country Music / Home Depot Humanitarian Award is the first "fan-voted" award in the Academy's history. The Academy has chosen Charlie Daniels, Martina McBride and Brad Paisley as the artists who best exemplify the dedication to helping others in need that is central to the spirit of the award. Country fans will pick the winner themselves by voting at www.homedepot.com/acm. Voting begins today and will continue through the second hour of the telecast on May 26th.
The recipient of the Academy of Country Music / Home Depot Humanitarian Award will receive a beautiful crystal trophy designed by Tiffany & Co., and will have a community playground built in a city of their choice through the efforts of The Home Depot and KaBOOM!, a non-profit organization that brings together volunteers to build much-needed playgrounds in one-day "barn raising" construction events. The partnership to recognize charitable work between the Academy of Country Music and The Home Depot developed from their shared vision of "Helping to Build The Country's Future."
THE NOMINEES
During a career that has spanned nearly six decades, Charlie Daniels has found plenty of time to help those in need. A partial list of his numerous contributions to charitable causes includes The Charlie Daniels Golf Classic and The Charlie Daniels Celebrity Golf Classic & Angelus Concert, two long-running events that have raised approximately $1 million each for their respective charities; as well as work to benefit TJ Martell Foundation; Franklin Graham's Prison Ministry; The Jason Foundation; and The St. Jude Children's Research Hospital in Memphis, Tennessee.
No celebrity name is more synonymous with the fight against domestic violence than Martina McBride, currently the Spokesperson for the National Domestic Violence Hotline (NDVH). Her songs such as "Independence Day," "A Broken Wing," "Love's the Only House" and "Concrete Angel" have become not only memorable musical statements, but resounding social commentaries as well. But her work has not stopped with the music - while spokesperson for both the National Network To End Domestic Violence and Tulsa Domestic Violence And Intervention Services, Martina has distributed information at her concerts about the warning signs of abuse, recorded numerous PSAs and held benefit performances. Some of the many other charitable organizations she has supported include ChildHelp USA, YWCA, Make A Difference Day, Prevent Child Abuse America, The American Red Cross and Safe Haven, a 24-hour family shelter in Nashville, Tennessee.
Country sensation Brad Paisley is relatively new on the scene, but that hasn't stopped him from already making significant contributions to philanthropic causes. He has spearheaded the creation of both The Brad Paisley Foundation (which benefits charities in the Upper Ohio Valley of West Virginia and Eastern Ohio, near his hometown of Glen Dale, West Virginia) and The Brad Paisley Celebrity Invitational Fishing Tournament (which benefits the St. Jude Children's Research Hospital), and additionally has supported a host of charities, including the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research, and Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD). In March of this year, Paisley's work was honored by the Country Radio Broadcasters, Inc., which presented him with their 2004 Artist Humanitarian Award.
The winner will receive the award during the ACADEMY OF COUNTRY MUSIC AWARDS, to be broadcast LIVE from the Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino in Las Vegas on Wednesday, May 26th, 2004 at 8:00 PM ET/PT on CBS. Country music legend Reba McEntire, herself a recipient of the Academy of Country Music / Home Depot Humanitarian Award, will host.
The ACADEMY OF COUNTRY MUSIC AWARDS will be broadcast LIVE on CBS Wednesday, May 26th, 2004 at 8:00 p.m. ET/PT.
