Alabama’s Randy Owen Recognized At St. Jude Country Cares 30th Anniversary Celebration

Randy Owen, his wife Kelly, ALSAC CEO Richard Shadyac, Jr., St. Jude patient Caleb and his mother Kelly stand by a plaque honoring Owen for his dedication to the life-saving mission of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital during a press conference at the Country Cares seminar

Randy Owen was honored by St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in Memphis recently with a special patient family room dedicated to him in celebration of the 30th anniversary of the Country Cares for St. Jude Kids radio program. Since its inception in 1989, led by Alabama’s Owen, Country Cares has pioneered radio philanthropic fundraising and raised more than $800 million for the lifesaving mission of the hospital.

More than 900 people in the country industry, including radio personalities, artists, executives, label reps and media, gathered in Memphis for special performances and industry-insider events to celebrate the special anniversary. Owen has led the charge to establish St. Jude as the charity of choice for the country industry through his 30-year dedication, and Country Cares is anchored by annual radiothons, comprised of 200 radio stations who share the mission of St. Jude with their listeners through various promotions and programming methods.

“Randy Owen has rallied the country music community like no other for 30 years to make a tremendous difference in helping St. Jude fulfill its lifesaving mission for our patients and their families,” says Richard Shadyac Jr., President and CEO of ALSAC, the fundraising and awareness organization for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. “He is proof, like our founder Danny Thomas was, that one person can make a remarkable difference in this world. With the help of his friends in the country music industry, he was instrumental in starting the Country Cares for St. Jude Kids program, and we are forever indebted to Randy and his family for their years of generosity.”

“The most important thing I’ll ever do, apart from being a father and a husband, is helping children at St. Jude,” said Owen. “Over the past 30 years, I’ve watched children at St. Jude grow up to be happy, healthy adults. This room dedication shows that the country music industry has made a true impact, and I’m glad I could be part of that.”

Following the Country Cares format, St. Jude radio programs now reach beyond country into other genres including gospel, rock and Hispanic platforms, and because of programs like these, families at St. Jude never receive a bill for treatment, travel, housing or food.

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Lorie Hollabaugh

Hollabaugh, a staff writer at MusicRow magazine, has over 20 years of music business experience and has written for publications including American Profile, CMA Close Up, Nashville Arts And Entertainment, The Boot and Country Weekly. She has a Broadcast Journalism and Speech Communication degree from Texas Christian University, (go Horned Frogs), and welcomes your feedback or story ideas at lhollabaugh@musicrow.com.

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