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30 Years of Caring
Country's love song to St. Jude
Country Cares is the brainchild of Randy Owen and his friends in Country music who felt a deep need to give something of themselves in return for what Country has allowed them to become....Country Cares thus was born in Country and really is Country caring.
Sincerely,
Danny Thomas
In a 1990 letter to country radio asking for its support.
Country music fans love duets, and those famed pairings have produced some classics. But the best duet of all may be the one the genre has been singing for three decades with St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.
If you’re telling the story of Country Cares — one of the most successful fundraising campaigns in radio history — you have to turn the dial to 103.7. San Diego’s KSON has raised millions for St. Jude and created unforgettable memories.
This year St. Jude is celebrating the 30th anniversary of Country Cares, which began after Danny Thomas approached Alabama lead singer Randy Owen. The result is nothing less than one of country music’s greatest hits ever.
St. Jude Honors Alabama’s Randy Owen with Room Dedication
Country Cares for St. Jude Kids®, one of the most successful fundraising campaigns in radio history at more than $800 million over 30 years, began when Alabama lead singer Randy Owen challenged the country community to rally around St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.
The hospital honored that commitment Friday by dedicating a patient family room to Owen and his family. The dedication came as more than 900 members of the country music industry, including artists, radio personalities and label representatives, gathered at St. Jude for the annual Country Cares Seminar. Fundraising is built around annual radiothons at some 200 country stations around the country.
Owen, who was recruited to lead Country Cares by St. Jude founder Danny Thomas, has said supporting St. Jude is “probably the most important thing I’ll ever do, except being a daddy and a husband.”
“He is proof, like our founder Danny Thomas was, that one person can make a difference,” said Richard Shadyac Jr., President and CEO of ALSAC, the fundraising and awareness organization for St. Jude. “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.”
Jake Owen receives 2019 Randy Owen Angels Among Us Award
Jake Owen says country music careers should be about more than greatest hits. They should also be about the good you do.
The country star was honored Saturday night for the good he does for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. He received the 2019 Randy Owen Angels Among Us Award during the 30th anniversary celebration of the Country Cares for St. Jude Kids® program, which has raised more than $800 million for the hospital and is one of the most successful fundraising programs in radio history.
“It’s not just singing songs for people and entertaining. It’s what we do with the platform that we’ve so luckily been given, honestly,” Owen said. “How do you help people? How do you give back?
“I know that by being an example and being a leader in that, hopefully others will follow. That’s what I was taught by guys like Randy (Owen, Country Cares co-founder and Alabama lead singer) and so many others that have come before me.”
He received the award from Randy Owen and Richard Shadyac Jr., President and CEO of ALSAC, the fundraising and awareness organization for St. Jude. Former winners include country stars Darius Rucker and Brad Paisley.
Jake Owen has supported St. Jude for more than 13 years. He’s visited with patients and families at the hospital, participated in radiothons live and by phone, provided auction items and performed in Rucker’s Darius and Friends Show benefitting St. Jude.
He also hosts an annual Hometown Benefit in Vero Beach, Fla., that donates to St. Jude through his recently created foundation.
“I just love the fact that they’re presenting a place for families to come and not have to worry anymore. They can find help here,” he said of St. Jude, where families never receive a bill for treatment, travel, housing or food. “There are so many families out that don’t know what to do, they don’t know how to get answers. They don’t have the money.”
After receiving the award, Jake Owen joined Randy Owen, Clint Black and Michael Ray, singing songs and telling stories during the annual Songwriters’ Dinner. That event capped the Country Music Seminar, which bought more than 900 members of the country music industry, including artists, radio personalities and label representatives, to St. Jude to learn more about the hospital and how to aid its cause.
