About Christmas for Kids:
Christmas for Kids was started 25 years ago by a group of professional drivers for Country Music Artists. This state chartered, non-profit organization consists of the entertainer's bus drivers, their families and hundreds of volunteers with a goal to make a happy and joyful time for some special children in the Nashville community.
Christmas for Kids is a two day event which consists of touring the buses of approximately 50 artists and a shopping spree for children from low income families. The organization works year round to raise funds to provide the children with a day of fun, food and a $150 shopping spree. The fund raising events include a special benefit concert featuring Charlie Daniels that is held each year on the Monday before Thanksgiving at the Ryman Auditorium.
The first day that the artist's buses will be available for touring this year, will be from 5 pm to 9 pm at the Wal-mart in Hendersonville, TN on Monday, December 17, 2007. For a small donation the public will be allowed to tour their favorite artist's bus. Artists are invited to come out any time after 5 pm to sign autographs.
On day two, Tuesday, December 18th, the tour buses go to the schools to pick up more than 300 children for a day of fun, food and shopping. Their first stop is a local church in the Hendersonville area where the children have lunch (provided by Garth Brooks) and a photo session with Santa. Then the children board the tour buses again with their adult chaperones and are taken to Wal-mart for their shopping spree made possible from the year round fund raising by this organization.
Christmas for Kids Benefit Concert:
On Monday, November 19, 2007, We (Ashley and Marilyn) were fortunate enough to be able to attend this year's sold out 25th anniversary Christmas for Kids benefit concert with the incredible line up of Chris Young, Rodney Adkins, Phil Vassar, Taylor Swift and veteran Christmas for Kids performer, Charlie Daniels.
Chris Young:
Chris Young opened this year's show performing "Beer or Gasoline" and "You're Gonna Love Me." Next, Chris sang "21 Candles," his upcoming single featured on his sophomore album, which is scheduled to be released the first part of next year. Then, Chris introduced "Getting You Home" as a dedication for those attending with their significant other. He closed with his debut single, "Drinking Me Lonely" which sent the crowd into screams and applause.
It's been an honor to watch Chris Young's growth as an artist from a Nashville Star Contestant, to Nashville Star winner, to current rising Country Music Artist. When we saw his name on the performers list for this year's show, we couldn't wait to hear Chris' amazingly deep baritone traditional voice and Chris didn't disappoint.
After Young's performance Christmas for Kids President, Debbie Lamberson made some announcements to the audience. First she recognized each of this year's sponsors such as Wal-mart, Sun Trust, Bob Parks Realty, 95.5 Wolf Nashville Country radio station as well as several others. These generous sponsors made it possible for all of the concert ticket proceeds to go towards Christmas for Kids allowing the organization to support 374 children this year.
In celebration of the 25th Anniversary a re-mastered Conway Twitty album was made available at the show for $15 with half the price of the album being donated to Christmas for Kids. This is the first time this album has been released in the 14 years since Conway's death. Debbie also shared there will be 70 artist's tour buses participating during the Hendersonville Wal-mart bus tours in December.
