CMT ONE COUNTRY AND COX COMMUNICATIONS RESTOCK LOCAL BOYS & GIRLS CLUB OF AMERICA IN NEW ORLEANS
12/05/06
CMT ONE COUNTRY AND COX COMMUNICATIONS RESTOCK LOCAL BOYS & GIRLS CLUB OF AMERICA IN NEW ORLEANS
Rising Country Star, Kellie Pickler to perform at Culmination Event on December 16
NASHVILLE – December 5, 2006 – After joining forces to refurbish the NFL YET Boys & Girls Club of New Orleans that suffered tremendous damage due to Hurricane Katrina, CMT One Country and Cox Communications will present donations collected across the U.S. during a culmination event at the club on Saturday, December 16. BNA Nashville recording artist and American Idol alum, Kellie Pickler, will perform as part of this day-long community event that will be emceed by CMT Radio correspondent and Miss America 2004, Ericka Dunlap, and will include an appearance by Miss America 2006 Jennifer .
Focusing on select markets, CMT and Cox Communications held collection drives during the summer to restock specific rooms within the New Orleans club. Events in Tulsa, Okla.; Hampton Roads, Va.; Las Vegas, Nev.; and Hartford, Conn. each contributed to the success of this campaign that will replenish lost supplies in the education, game, art and music rooms of this club.
“CMT One Country is thrilled to partner with Cox on such an important initiative and involve our audience all over the country,” said Lucia Folk, director of public affairs, CMT. “This drive embodies the spirit of CMT One Country that everyone has the ability to make a difference in the community by giving back.”
“We’re delighted to partner with CMT in restoring the NFL YET Boys and Girls Club in New Orleans, and appreciate the networks’ support of our community and our national partner, the Boys and Girls Clubs of America,” said Ellen East, vice president of communications and public affairs, Cox Communications. “We are grateful for the generosity of Cox communities and employees around the country, who donated the many items this club needed to rebuild after Hurricane Katrina. Having a safe and productive place to go after school is critical for all children, and we’re proud that Cox has the opportunity to provide advanced learning environments in clubs across the country.
"We are truly grateful to CMT and Cox Communications for their joint effort to help refurbish the NFL YET Boys & Girls Club in New Orleans so severely damaged in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina," said Roxanne Spillett, Boys & Girls Club of America president.
"The multi-city collection drives this past summer raised vital funds to replenish the education, computer and music rooms of the Club, while increasing awareness about the needs of all our Clubs that were damaged throughout the Gulf region."
The day long culmination event will be an opportunity for the families in this New Orleans’ community to enjoy the new resources this club has to offer as well as to promote membership at this newly re-opened club with an afternoon carnival complete with fair games, booths presented by the Police Athletic League and other local health services, along with healthy versions of fair. After Pickler’s performance and the donation presentations, local musicians will also be invited on-stage to perform.
Kellie Pickler hit instant stardom in 2006 when she was chosen to appear on season 5 of American Idol. This Small Town Girl, as her BNA Nashville debut album is aptly named, first stepped foot on a plane for her flight to Hollywood as an American Idol finalist. Since that time, the 20-year-old from Albermarle, N.C. has been busy fine tuning a career as more than American Idol alum. Upon signing her record deal with BNA Nashville, Pickler moved to Nashville, saw her first album debut at no. 1 on the country album charts and continues to see success as her single, “Red High Heels,” climbs up the charts.
Cox Communications, a Fortune 500 company, is a multi-service broadband communications and entertainment company with more than 5.9 million total residential and commercial customers. Cox offers an array of advanced digital video, high-speed Internet and telephony services over its own nationwide IP network. Cox Business Services is a full-service, facilities-based provider of communications solutions for commercial customers, providing high-speed Internet, voice and long-distance services, as well as data and video transport services for small to large-sized businesses. Cox Media offers national and local cable advertising in traditional spot and new media formats, along with promotional opportunities and production services. More information about the services of Cox Communications, a wholly owned subsidiary of Cox Enterprises, is available at www.cox.com, www.coxbusiness.com, and www.coxmedia.com.
Boys & Girls Clubs of America (www.bgca.org) comprises a national network of more than 3,900 neighborhood-based facilities annually serving some 4.6 million young people, primarily from disadvantaged circumstances. Known as “The Positive Place for Kids,” the Clubs provide guidance-oriented character development programs on a daily basis for children 6-18 years old, conducted by a full-time professional staff. Key Boys & Girls Club programs emphasize character and leadership development, education and career development, health and life skills, the arts, sports, fitness and recreation.
CMT One Country, CMT's pro-social initiative, was launched in the fall of 2005 to promote civic participation and inspire CMT viewers to take action and bring about important change in their communities. CMT ONE COUNTRY partners include America’s Second Harvest, Boys & Girls Clubs of America, Habitat for Humanity, Hands On Network and the USO (United Service Organizations). Led by Advisory Board members President Jimmy Carter, Maya Angelou and General Colin Powell, whose combined service to America is legendary, CMTONECOUNTRY.com aims to offer tools to help anyone start making a difference immediately. CMT, America’s No. 1 country music network, carries original programming, specials, and live concerts and events, as well as a mix of videos by established country music artists and new cutting-edge acts, including world premiere exclusive videos. Founded March 6, 1983, CMT, owned and operated by MTV Networks, reaches more than 83 million households in the United States. Go to country music’s biggest web site at www.CMT.com.
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PRESS CONTACTS:
CMT:
Natasha Powell
615.335.8412
natasha.powell@cmt.com
Cox Communications:
Stephanie Davis
404.843.7872
Stephanie.davis2@cox.com
BGCA:
Jan Still-Lindeman
404.487.5739
jslindeman@bgca.org
