ACADEMY OF COUNTRY MUSIC AND THE HOME DEPOT® SELECT COUNTRY MUSIC DUO MONTGOMERY GENTRY TO RECEIVE HUMANITARIAN AWARD
ACADEMY OF COUNTRY MUSIC AND THE HOME DEPOT® SELECT COUNTRY MUSIC ARTISTS MONTGOMERY GENTRY TO RECEIVE HUMANITARIAN AWARD HONOR TO BE PRESENTED DURING THE 45th ANNUAL ACADEMY OF COUNTRY MUSIC AWARDS TO AIR LIVE FROM MGM GRAND IN LAS VEGAS ON SUNDAY, APRIL 18 AT 8 P.M. ET/PT ON CBS
ENCINO, Calif. (March 2, 2010) - The Academy of Country Music and The Home Depot® announced today that Columbia Nashville duo MONTGOMERY GENTRY will be the 2010 recipient of the Academy of Country Music/The Home Depot Humanitarian Award, to be presented during the 45th ANNUAL ACADEMY OF COUNTRY MUSIC AWARDS. The show will be broadcast LIVE from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on Sun., April 18, 2010, at 8:00 PM live ET/delayed PT on the CBS Television Network.
In its ninth year, the Humanitarian Award recognizes country music artists who serve others, have a generous spirit and help build the dreams of those in need. Iconic country music duo MONTGOMERY GENTRY have been selected for their ongoing community service and charitable giving of their time and talent.
Eddie Montgomery and Troy Gentry devote their time and energy into making the needs of others a priority. They are active participants in any charitable organizations they support giving their time, talent and treasure. Together, they have strongly served and supported the U.S. military and numerous charitable organizations including the TJ Martell Foundation, which Troy serves as a board member. They also provide their individual time to two deserving philanthropies. Eddie gives his support to Camp Horsin' Around in Lexington, Ky., which provides a camp facility equipped for children with serious, chronic illnesses and physical difficulties. Troy bolsters the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Middle Tennessee.
A visit with Montgomery Gentry has long been the object of many children's wishes at Make-A-Wish of Middle Tennessee which grants the wishes of children who are between two and a half and 18 years old, and have life-threatening medical conditions. The duo puts as much energy and heart into making these experiences as magical and unforgettable for each child as possible. During the last few years, Montgomery Gentry has participated in many fundraising events to benefit the organization and Eddie and Troy together have made many children's wishes come true whether it be a visit, a photo opportunity, a hug or the chance to sing on stage with the duo.
Montgomery Gentry helps raise monies and bring awareness to the needs of several organizations, including:
St. Jude's Research Hospital
Academy of Country Music's Chairman's Ride benefiting ACM Lifting Lives since 2004
USO Tours to the Persian Gulf
Hospice of the Bluegrass and Multiple Myeloma Foundation
David Dickens Melanoma Research Foundation
Leukemia & Lymphoma Society
Patient Advocate Foundation"We can't begin to express how honored we are to learn that we are receiving this award from The Home Depot and the Academy of Country Music," said Troy Gentry. "This isn't something that we ever expected when we started out 10 years ago. We just set out to entertain people and getting the opportunity to help such deserving organizations is just a real honor for us."
"Thanks to everyone out there who has helped us to get where we are today," said Eddie Montgomery. "We just want to make sure we do our part in making the world a little better. It's been awesome to work with organizations like Camp Horsin' Around, the TJ Martell Foundation, Make-A-Wish and especially to all of our American heroes that we've met along the way."
As recipients of the Humanitarian Award, MONTGOMERY GENTRY will receive a KaBOOM! playground built in their honor by The Home Depot and a beautiful crystal trophy designed by Tiffany & Co. during the live CBS telecast. Past recipients of the Humanitarian Award include LeAnn Rimes, Rascal Flatts, Brooks & Dunn, Vince Gill, Neal McCoy, Martina McBride, Lonestar and Reba McEntire.
"Giving back to the communities in which our associates and customers live and work is a core value of The Home Depot," said Frank Bifulco, senior vice president and chief marketing officer at The Home Depot.
"We're proud to recognize Eddie Montgomery and Troy Gentry of Montgomery Gentry for their tireless community service and philanthropy efforts. They put the same soulful energy heard in their songs into their humanitarian activities. They are a living example of the values of charitable giving and community service shared by both The Home Depot and the Academy of Country Music."