NASHVILLE MUSIC GARDEN’S FIRST EVER “COUNTRY MUSIC BLOOMS ONLINE AUCTION” RAISES FUNDS TO HELP KEEP NASHVILLE BEAUTIFUL

NASHVILLE, Tenn. –The Nashville Music Garden’s first-ever “Country Music Blooms Online Auction,” which launched on Black Friday, November 25 and continued through Monday, December 5, raised more than $15,000, to help sustain the garden and continue to help keep Nashville beautiful. All proceeds from the auction benefit the Nashville Music Garden Fund of The Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee, which endows the future care and support of the garden so the community, Country music fans and visitors to the city can enjoy it for generations to come.

 

The auction, which featured a unique selection of celebrity-owned items – straight from the closets of Country music’s finest – was held on eBay so that garden and country music enthusiasts from across the world could have the opportunity to acquire one-of-a-kind items from their favorite celebrities. Bidders across the globe from the United Kingdom to Thailand, as well as across the United States, from New York to Florida and from California to Massachusetts, bid vigorously throughout the auction. In the end, the lucky winners landed exceptional holiday gifts for the country music lovers in their lives and incomparable keepsakes for their own collections. The auction certainly encouraged the holiday spirit and generous supporters helped the Nashville Music Garden exceed fundraising goals. “With the success of the auction, thanks to the incredible generosity and support of the bidders and the celebrities who donated items, the Nashville Music Garden will continue to grow and thrive,” said Ellen Lehman, president of The Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee.

The success of the inaugural auction is undoubtedly the result of the thoughtful donations of many esteemed country legends and hot contemporary stars, who not only graciously donated priceless personal keepsakes and treasured memorabilia, but who also helped promote their items as well. These include: Barbara Mandrell, Brenda Lee, Brooks & Dunn, Carrie Underwood, Christian Kane, Danny Gokey, Darryl Worley, Darius Rucker, Faith Hill, Keith Urban, Kenny Chesney, Kristen Chenoweth, Lady Antebellum, LeAnn Rimes, Little Jimmy Dickens, Love and Theft, Manuel, Martina McBride, Miranda Lambert Pam Tillis, Sara Evans, Scotty McCreery, Sugarland, Tim McGraw, Tennessee Titans running back Chris Johnson, Zac Brown Band and many more.

 

The auction was also made possible by the extra support offered by Anderson Design Group and Spirit of Nashville, Fontanel Mansion & Farm, Jaime Dudney,  RFD-TV, Tessa Atkins, The Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee, The Country Network (TCN) , and by all of those who bid on items.

Artists Join Together To Benefit The Southeast Tornado & Flood Victims

Artists Join Together To Benefit The Southeast Tornado & Flood Victims
Somebody Cares for the Southeast Disaster Relief Benefit airs Sunday, May 22nd on FamilyNet

“The true character of a man or woman is made manifest through times of challenge.
Thank you to each of who have proven the substance of your character”
–Doug Stringer, Founder & President of Somebody Cares

Hendersonville, TN (May 19, 2011) – That character was displayed when Christian and Country music artists came together Tuesday afternoon to lend their voices to the Somebody Cares for the Southeast Disaster Relief Benefit Special, hosted by Gary Chapman. The two-hour special, collectively produced by Daywind Records, New Day Distribution, FamilyNet and NorthStar studios, was created to raise funds for Somebody Cares, a Christian organization that works hand in hand with the Red Cross, FEMA, the Salvation Army and others. They currently have teams in Alabama, Mississippi, Tennessee and Virginia assisting with everything from serving meals, removing debris and providing counseling. All of the artists, as well as the behind-the-scenes staff and crew, donated their time and talents to raise money for this organization, and in turn, make a difference to those affected by the deadly tornadoes.
Artists such as Danny Gokey, Michael English, Ray Stevens, Rachael Lampa, Karen Peck & New River, Montell Jordan and many others came out to support this great cause. For some, the reason they chose to participate in this benefit was a personal one. The accapella group, Committed, winner of NBC’s The Sing Off, were displaced from their homes in Huntsville, Alabama in the days following the storms. Lora Poore of the up-and-coming group, Faith 3, witnessed the storm’s devastation first-hand when the only part of the house remaining was the interior closet she and her family were in. These stories, and many more, will be included in the special, as these artists convey to viewers just how many families were personally affected by the storms.
“Today, I had the pleasure of interfacing with some who many would consider celebrity, yet who were willing to become part of something bigger than themselves to bring hope to those who have suffered so much in the recent tornado and flood stricken areas of our nation,” shares Doug Stringer, Founder and President of Somebody Cares America. “Their investment to participate in the Somebody Cares for the Southeast Disaster Relief Special was filled with moments of authentic compassion filled with emotion and, at times, tears. The sacrifice of their time will help to bring attention and awareness to the ongoing needs, even when most of the media shifts to other news stories. It will help to leverage and empower organizations and churches in their communities to continue to be a tangible expression of Christ love.”

The benefit special will initially air on FamilyNet on Sunday, May 22nd at 7:00 pm ET, and will continue to air repeatedly on FamilyNet, American Life Network, and other Christian networks. Check www.familynet.com or www.comstarmedia.com for more information on those airings.

To donate to this cause, simply text the word “icare” to 37284, or log onto www.somebodycares.org. You will be able to donate any amount, and it is all 100 % tax deductable. All of the proceeds go directly to Somebody Cares® to help the victims of this disaster.