(Nashville, TN – Feb. 24, 2010) On Wednesday, Feb. 24, Country Radio Broadcasters, Inc. handed out its 2010 Artist Humanitarian, Radio Humanitarian and Tom Rivers Humanitarian Awards at CRS 2010.
This year’s CRB Artist Humanitarian Award was presented to Trace Adkins. Since 2002, Adkins has worked closely with the Food Allergy & Anaphylaxis Network (FAAN), the world’s largest nonprofit organization dedicated to educating others about potentially life-threatening food allergies. Adkins’ daughter, Brianna, was diagnosed with severe food allergies when she was nine months old. Adkins became a National Spokesperson for FAAN in 2005 and has also served as the organization’s Honorary Chair. The Country singer appeared on “The Celebrity Apprentice” in 2008 in an effort to raise money for the foundation and co-sponsored legislation with U.S. Senators Lamar Alexander and Bob Corker that would help schools protect the more than 2.2 million children nationwide who suffer from food allergies.
In 1990, CRB instituted the Artist Humanitarian Award, which was first presented during CRS-21. Past honorees include Brad Paisley, Brooks & Dunn, Garth Brooks, Charlie Daniels and Kenny Rogers. Last year’s recipient, Randy Owen, presented Adkins with the award on Wednesday morning at the Artist and Radio Humanitarian Awards Presentation during CRS.
The CRB Radio Humanitarian Awards, sponsored by Radio Ink, are presented to full-time Country radio stations for their efforts to improve the quality of life for communities they serve. The 2010 awards are presented to stations in three categories: Large (markets 1-50), Medium (markets 51-130), and Small (markets 131+) for public service performed November 1, 2008 – December 31, 2009.
Large Market Winner: 97.3 WGH, Norfolk-Hampton Roads, Va.
Eagle 97.3 has been a part of the Country Cares For St. Jude Kids program for the past 18 years. Each year, the station partners with the Center for Child and Family Services to raise funding with the “Country for Kids Concert” and also serves as an integral part in many local homecoming celebrations for troops returning from deployment around the world. The station is also involved with the Susan G. Komen programs, Feed the Hungry Union Mission, March of Dimes, Hampton Roads Crimeline and countless other community service programs to benefit their community.
Medium Market Winner: 103.7 KXKT, Omaha, Neb.
KXKT KAT 103.7 has been an integral part of the Omaha community for more than 16 years. With the help of their loyal listeners, they raised more than 1.3 million dollars for more than 50 different charities. Their involvement provides major funding for Children’s Hospital of Omaha, The Salvation Army, The Foodbank for the Heartland, Nebraska Organ Recovery Program, YMCA, Toys for Tots, Heart Association, The Nebraska Children’s home and many more.
Small Market Winner: 99.9 WKSF, Asheville, NC
99.9 WKSF Kiss Country gives back to their listeners and local charities by raising funds for Mission Children’s Hospital, Toys For Tots, Western Carolina Rescue Mission, Local Hospice, The Tye Blanton Foundation, Humane Society, The First Life Organization, March of Dimes, and many more. In 2009, they contributed to more than 70 charities, raising more than 1 million dollars.
This year’s Tom Rivers Humanitarian Award went to George G. Beasley, noted radio broadcaster, educator and founder of Beasley Broadcast Group, Inc. Located in Naples, Fla., Beasley Broadcast Group owns and operates 42 radio stations in 11 large and mid-sized markets, including five markets with Country-formatted stations. Beasley was inducted into the North Carolina Association of Broadcasters Hall of Fame in 1998 after receiving the prestigious Distinguished Broadcaster of North Carolina Award. In 2003, he received the Broadcast Pioneer Award from the Broadcasters Foundation and was recently honored with the addition of the George G. Beasley Broadcasting Complex to the Appalachian State University campus in Boone, NC. Prior to his radio career, Beasley was a schoolteacher, principal and 16-year member of the Wayne County Board of Education in Goldsboro, NC.
The intent of the Tom Rivers Humanitarian Award, given at the discretion of the Country Radio Broadcasters Board of Directors, is to recognize an individual in the Country Radio industry who has displayed a magnanimous spirit of caring and generosity in service to their community. The award is given when the board feels an individual, through outstanding service, warrants the recognition.
