COUNTRY CARES FOR ST. JUDE KIDS® HISTORY
- St. Jude Children's Research Hospital® has been actively involved in radio fund raising for more than 30 years. However, it was not until 1989 that the premiere program, Country Cares for
St. Jude Kids,was officially established with the help of Randy Owen, lead singer of the group ALABAMA. Today, with the assistance of Terre Thomas, daughter of St. Jude founder Danny Thomas, the Country Cares radio network embraces more than 200 markets nationwide
- Country Caresis one of the largest fund-raising programs for St. Jude. The first Country Cares event generated more than $1.5 million in pledges during fiscal year 1989/1990 and last fiscal year, pledges exceeded $23 million. Now, St. Jude can share the exciting news that the Country Cares program has surpassed the $200 million mark! This money is generated by events in markets such as Washington, D.C., San Diego, Tampa, Chicago, Dallas, Detroit, Seattle, Boston, Nashville and beyond.
- With the current success and continued growth of the Country Cares program, combined with the popularity of the country radio format, St. Jude has created a radio event that not only benefits the hospital, but also provides a positive program for the radio station, local listening audience, artists, record labels and sponsors.
- Participating stations typically conduct individual two-day radiothons, which are highlighted by
St. Jude patient stories, country artist vignettes, local celebrity appearances and exciting station promotions. The event is designed to be one of station’s biggest promotions of the year. The radiothons are typically held at the radio stations, large shopping malls or other visible venues that allow multiple opportunities for on-site marketing promotions.
- Each January, more than 850 on-air radio personalities, station managers, artists and label representatives attend the Country Cares radio training seminar in Memphis to launch the annual radiothon campaign. This inspirational gathering unites radio station representatives from across the country and teaches them how to organize Country Cares radiothons, as well as gives them the opportunity to meet St. Jude patients. The weekend’s highlight is a closing banquet, which is hosted by Randy Owen and features award-winning country music songwriters performing their hits.
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- St. Jude Children's ResearchHospital is internationally recognized for its pioneering work in finding cures and saving children with cancer and other catastrophic diseases. Founded by late entertainer Danny Thomas and based in Memphis, Tennessee, St. Jude freely shares its discoveries with scientific and medical communities around the world. No family ever pays for treatments not covered by insurance, and families without insurance are never asked to pay. St. Jude is financially supported by ALSAC, its fund-raising organization.
COUNTRY CARES FOR ST. JUDE KIDS®
FACT SHEET
·Country Cares for St. Jude Kids is one of the most successful radio fund-raising events in America. Since the program began in 1989, more than 200 radio stations across the country have raised more than $250 million in pledges for the children of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital®.
·Many country artists have given their names and time to Country Cares through recorded appeals, visits to the children at the hospital or call-ins to radiothons. These stars include Randy Owen, Brooks & Dunn, Kenny Chesney, Brad Paisley, Tim McGraw, Faith Hill, Lonestar, Clint Black, Toby Keith, Reba McEntire, Keith Urban, Buddy Jewell and more.
·All segments of the country music industry – artists, record label representatives, artist managers, publishers, songwriters and radio station staff – participate in the Country Cares program.
·Randy Owen, lead singer of the group ALABAMA, helped launch the Country Cares for St. Jude Kids program after meeting with hospital founder Danny Thomas. Thomas’ daughter, Terre, carries on her father’s Country Cares legacy by assisting with radiothons throughout the year, as well as speaking at the program’s annual training seminar.
·A typical radiothon lasts two days and is highlighted by St. Jude patient stories and country celebrity vignettes, local patient appearances and exciting radio station promotions. Radiothons are typically held at the radio stations, large shopping malls or other populated venues.
·All of the top country music record labels actively support Country Cares, including RCA, BNA, Arista, Asylum, Capitol Nashville, Curb, DreamWorks, MCA, Columbia, Epic-Monument, Lyric Street, Mercury and Warner Bros. Nashville.
·Country music reaches a broad and ever-increasing portion of the American audience. Reports show that nearly 44 million adults listen to Country Radio on a weekly basis. Country Radio reaches more adults than any other format – making it America’s top radio format. Country is the leading radio format in the number of stations as well, with more than 2,120 stations airing country music full-time.
