ACADEMY OF COUNTRY MUSIC AND THE HOME DEPOT® SELECT COUNTRY MUSIC ARTIST LEANN RIMES TO RECEIVE HUMANITARIAN AWARD
The Academy of Country Music, dick clark productions and The Home Depot® selected multi-platinum country music artist LEANN RIMES to be the 2009 recipient of the Academy of Country Music/The Home Depot Humanitarian Award, which was presented during the 44th Annual Academy of Country Music Awards at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on Sun., April 5, 2009.
In its eighth year, the Humanitarian Award recognizes country music artists who serve others, have a generous spirit and help build the dreams of those in need. Female vocalist Rimes was selected by a special blue-ribbon committee comprised of executives in the country music industry and philanthropic leaders for her ongoing community service and charitable giving of her time and talent.
Rimes has made giving back a priority in her career and has been particularly devoted to children's causes. She previously served as the International Spokesperson for Children's Miracle Network, which secures top-flight medical care for sick kids, and has generously supported Camp C.O.P.E., a service that teaches the children of wounded veterans to deal with their parents' altered lives.
In 2007, Rimes partnered with Kellogg to draw attention to disabled veterans when she was featured on patriotic cereal boxes. She recorded the song "I Want You With Me" for this project and donated all proceeds from the song to the cause.
Rimes also financed construction of the LeAnn Rimes Adventure Gym at the Vanderbilt Children's Hospital in Nashville by contributing royalties from her 2000 hit single, "I Need You." Additionally, she is an ardent supporter of the Nashville Humane Association and continues to speak out on the need for the compassionate treatment of animals. Rimes has previously been honored with the International Entertainment Buyers Association Humanitarian Award and Redbook magazine's Strength and Spirit Award, for her distinguished record of charitable achievements.
"I feel blessed to be able to help," said Rimes. "I strive to be actively involved in my community with my time and my heart, and I've been touched by the spirit and bravery of those I have encountered along the way. I'm honored that The Home Depot and the Academy have chosen to recognize my work and spread awareness of the worthy causes that inspire me."
As the recipient of the Humanitarian Award, LeAnn received a beautiful crystal trophy designed by Tiffany & Co. during the live CBS telecast. She was also honored with a playground donated by The Home Depot and their national nonprofit partner KaBOOM!, which envisions a great place to play within walking distance of every child in America. LeAnn joined volunteers from The Home Depot and community members on Oct. 7, 2009, to build the playground at the Spring Valley Apartments in Murfreesboro, Tenn. Past recipients of the Humanitarian Award include Rascal Flatts, Brooks & Dunn, Vince Gill, Neal McCoy, Martina McBride, Lonestar and Reba McEntire.
"Philanthropy and giving back are core values at The Home Depot and something we share with the country music community," said Frank Bifulco, senior vice president and chief marketing officer at The Home Depot. "We're honored to recognize LeAnn for her long-standing dedication to helping those in need and raising awareness for the causes she supports. She represents the values of charitable giving and community service held by both The Home Depot and the Academy of Country Music."
RASCAL FLATTS NAMED 2008 HUMANITARIAN AWARD WINNER
RASCAL FLATTS is the 2008 recipient of the Academy of Country Music/The Home Depot® Humanitarian Award, which was presented during the 43rd Annual Academy of Country Music Awards on May 18th.
In its seventh year, the Humanitarian Award recognizes country music artists who serve others, have a generous spirit and help build the dreams of those in need. The members of Rascal Flatts--Jay DeMarcus, Gary LeVox and Joe Don Rooney---were selected by a special blue-ribbon committee comprised of executives in the country music industry as well as local and national philanthropic leaders. The band was recognized for its ongoing community service, which includes donating time and money to the Make-A-Wish Foundation, the Monroe Carell, Jr., Children's Hospital at Vanderbilt and the Red Cross National Celebrity Cabinet.
"We have been blessed with some incredible successes in our career the past couple of years," said Rooney. "The most rewarding thing for us is the opportunity to give back to our communities. We'd like to thank The Home Depot and the Academy for recognizing us in such a humbling way."
As the recipient of the Humanitarian Award, Rascal Flatts received beautiful crystal trophies designed by Tiffany & Co. during the live CBS telecast. They were also honored with a playground donated by The Home Depot and the company's national nonprofit partner KaBOOM!, which envisions a great place to play within walking distance of every child in America. The members of Rascal Flatts rolled up their sleeves and joined volunteers from The Home Depot, KaBOOM! and the community of Birmingham, Alabama, to build a playground there on Oct. 15, 2008, at Princeton Alternative Elementary School.
"The Humanitarian Award embodies the kind of giving spirit that the Academy strives to foster within the industry," said Bob Romeo, executive director of the Academy of Country Music. "The selfless giving to others by artists like Rascal Flatts helps bring that spirit to life, and makes us so proud to be part of the country music community."
"Philanthropy and giving back are embedded in The Home Depot culture and are at the core of the Humanitarian Award," said John Ross, vice president of advertising for The Home Depot. "The members of Rascal Flatts show a true dedication to charitable giving and community service and exemplify the values represented by both The Home Depot and the Academy of Country Music. We are proud to recognize them for their contributions and impact on improving our local communities."
Past recipients of the ACM/The Home Depot Humanitarian Award include Brooks & Dunn, Vince Gill, Lonestar, Martina McBride, Neal McCoy and Reba McEntire.
RASCAL FLATTS is the 2008 recipient of the Academy of Country Music/The Home Depot Humanitarian Award, which was presented during the 43rd Annual Academy of Country Music Awards on May 18th.
In its seventh year, the Humanitarian Award recognizes country music artists who serve others, have a generous spirit and help build the dreams of those in need. The members of Rascal Flatts - Jay DeMarcus, Gary LeVox and Joe Don Rooney - were selected by a special blue-ribbon committee comprised of executives in the country music industry as well as local and national philanthropic leaders for their ongoing community service and charitable giving of their time and talent.
"We have been blessed with some incredible successes in our career the past couple of years," said Rooney. "The most rewarding thing for us is the opportunity to give back to our communities. We'd like to thank The Home Depot and the Academy for recognizing us in such a humbling way."
As the recipient of the Humanitarian Award, Rascal Flatts received beautiful crystal trophies designed by Tiffany & Co. during the live CBS telecast. They were also honored with a playground donated by The Home Depot and the Company's national nonprofit partner KaBOOM!, which envisions a great place to play within walking distance of every child in America. The members of Rascal Flatts rolled up their sleeves and joined volunteeres from The Home Depot, KaBOOM! and the community of Birmingham, Alabama, to build a playground there on Oct. 15, 2008, at Princeton Alternative Elementary School. Past recipients of the Humanitarian Award include Brooks & Dunn, Vince Gill, Lonestar, Martina McBride, Neal McCoy and Reba McEntire.
"The Humanitarian Award embodies the kind of giving spirit that the Academy strives to foster within the industry," said Bob Romeo, executive director of the Academy of Country Music. "The selfless giving to others by artists like Rascal Flatts helps bring that spirit to life, and makes us so proud to be part of the country music community."
"Philanthropy and giving back are embedded in The Home Depot culture and are at the core of the Humanitarian Award," said John Ross, vice president of advertising for The Home Depot. "The members of Rascal Flatts show a true dedication to charitable giving and community service and exemplify the values represented by both The Home Depot and the Academy of Country Music. We are proud to recognize them for their contributions and impact on improving our local communities."
2007 RECIPIENTS BROOKS & DUNN
Country music superstars Kix Brooks and Ronnie Dunn of multi-platinum duo BROOKS & DUNN were the 2007 recipients of the Academy of Country Music/The Home Depot Humanitarian Award, which was presented during the 42nd ANNUAL ACADEMY OF COUNTRY MUSIC AWARDS ceremony, broadcast live on CBS May 15, 2007, from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.
"Over the years, Kix and Ronnie have done so much to help others. But what strikes me about them is that they do it with joy and laughter," said Gayle Holcomb, former chairman of the board of directors. "The Academy often uses the phrase 'Party for a Cause.' These two guys take a party wherever they go and others feel their burdens are lighter because of it."
On Oct. 25, 2007, Kix and Ronnie joined volunteers from The Home Depot to construct two new KaBOOM! playgrounds on the same day--one is Kix's hometown, Shreveport, La., and one is Ronnie's adopted hometown of Nashville.
2006 RECIPIENT VINCE GILL
Congratulations to Vince Gill! Vince received The ACM Home Depot Humanitarian Award during the live broadcast of the 41st Academy of Country Music Awards on CBS in 2006. Vince joined volunteers from The Home Depot and the surrounding community to construct a new KaBOOM! playground in one day at the relocated campus of the International School of Louisiana (ISL) in New Orleans on September 25, 2006.
The ACM Home Depot Humanitarian Award is a distinctive honor created to recognize an artist or group in the country music industry who is committed to serving others, has a generosity of spirit and a dedication to helping build the dreams of those in need. Past recipients of the award include Reba McEntire, Lonestar, Martina McBride and Neal McCoy.