The annual Songwriters' Dinner at the Country Cares for St. Jude Kids® seminar celebrated 20 years of country music's dedication to the children of St. Jude, as well as the unwavering devotion of Randy Owen.
Owen, a member of the Country Music Hall of Fame who spearheaded the founding of Country Cares, was honored with a special award for his 20 years of commitment to helping St. Jude.
The award presented to him featured a likeness of Owen and commemorated his dedication and passion to the children of St. Jude. Owen stood speechless in front of the award, finally acknowledging the standing ovation by pointing back at the crowd, his indication that any award belonged to everyone involved in Country Cares. David L. McKee, chief operating officer and interim CEO of ALSAC, presented the award to Owen and explained that two plaques were made. One was Owen's to keep; the other will remain at St. Jude "so everyone will know what you did," said McKee. The award was created by artist Bill Rains.
Also receiving special recognition at the program were the Country Cares pioneers who first heeded Owen's call to action: Gene Bridges, Rhubarb Jones, Don Langford, Barry Mardit, Greg Fowler, Joe Galante, Lon Helton and Bill Mayne. The first Country Cares event was designed as a nationally syndicated radiothon and it raised more than $1 million for St. Jude. But these pioneers knew the country music industry and its fans were eager to do more, and the program was taken to individual, local markets. Today, Country Cares has become one of the most successful radio fundraising programs in the country.
Helping to shepherd those early efforts was McKee and in honor of his leadership and unyielding belief in what Country Cares could accomplish, he was presented with the first "Champion's Award" at the Songwriters' Dinner. In announcing and presenting the award, Owen strongly emphasized the reason for the award: to "create, nurture and continue" the Country Cares program and for "never giving up and never giving in."
In accepting the award, McKee recalled a colleague from 20 years ago who didn't see the value of pursuing Country Cares. But McKee said he knew that with Owen on board and the commitment of the country radio stations, fans and artists that the program would be a success.
Rounding out the honors at the dinner was recognition for those radio stations that have been partners with Country Cares since its start 20 years ago. Those stations are: WQYK of Tampa, Fla.; WKAK of Albany, Ga.; WSTH of Columbus, Ga.; WKKT of Charlotte, N.C.; WKML of Fayetteville, N.C.; WPAP of Panama City, Fla.; WDEN of Macon, Ga.; WAMZ of Louisville, Ken.; WTCR of Huntington, W.V.; WWMS of Tupelo, Miss.; KHLS of Blytheville, Ark.; KAMS of Thayer, Mo.; WGKX of Memphis; WIL of St. Louis; KCLR of Columbia, Mo.; KEZS of Cape Girardeau, Mo.; WUSY of Chattanooga, Tenn.; WSIX of Nashville; WIVK of Knoxville, Tenn.; WFMB of Springfield, Ill.; KXKZ of Ruston, La.; KMDL of Lafayette, La.; KSON of San Diego; KMPS of Seattle, and KDRK of Spokane.
