ENCINO, CA. (Top40 Charts/ Academy of Country Music) - The Academy of Country
Music and The Home Depot announced today that multi-platinum country music group RASCAL FLATTS will be the 2008 recipient of the Academy of Country Music/The Home Depot Humanitarian Award, to be presented during the 43rd ANNUAL ACADEMY OF COUNTRY MUSIC AWARDS ceremony honoring country music's best and hottest emerging talent. The show will be broadcast LIVE from the MGM Grand Garden
Arena in Las
Vegas on Sunday, May 18, 2008 at 8:00 PM live ET/delayed PT on the CBS Television Network.
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 will receive a beautiful crystal trophy designed by Tiffany & Co. during the live CBS telecast. They will also be 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 playground will be built by The Home Depot volunteers and community members in the city of RASCAL FLATTS choice. Past recipients of the Humanitarian Award include Brooks & Dunn, Vince Gill, Lonestar, Martina McBride, Neal McCoy and Reba McEntire.
"The Humantarian 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."
THE RECIPIENTS
Rascal Flatts is a multi-platinum selling vocal group whose current album "Still Feels Good" was one of Billboard's largest country album debuts of 2007. The band has become a major supporter of the Monroe Carell Jr. Children's Hospital at Vanderbilt, a non-profit teaching and research hospital in Nashville that provides a place to hope and a place to heal for children and their families. The hospital is ranked as one of the 10 best children's hospitals and is in the top 10 for pediatric cancer care in the nation, offering comprehensive services to more than 100,000 patients each year. RASCAL FLATTS has donated more than $2.2 million of the proceeds from their Nashville concerts to the hospital, spearheading the largest fundraising donation in the hospital's history in addition to hosting a Disney-themed party and concert for the children every year. They are also involved with the Make-A-Wish Foundation and the Red Cross National Celebrity Cabinet.
