Something to sing about: Radio One,
gospel music community
raises more than $1.3 million for St.
Jude Children’s Research Hospital®
Celebrity supporters Yolanda Adams and
James Fortune inspire support for St. Jude kids
MEMPHIS, Tenn. (April 9, 2014) –
Radio One’s network of stations, along with celebrity radio
hosts Yolanda Adams and James Fortune, have something
special to sing about. On April 3, they partnered with other
inspirational music stations to raise more than $1.3 million
for kids fighting cancer, sickle cell and other deadly
diseases at St.
Jude Children’s Research Hospital® during
the seventh annual
Radio Cares for St. Jude Kids® national
radio broadcast.
Radio One, a diversified media company with
54 broadcast stations in 16 markets, a syndication business,
an online platform and a cable network – all of which
primarily target African-American and urban listeners – is
the top supporter of the annual
radio fundraising event.
By sharing St. Jude patient family stories
and highlights of breakthroughs in research and treatment at
St. Jude, radio partners continue to share the hospital’s
mission and generate awareness and support for the
lifesaving work being done there. Since 2008, the event has
raised more than $8 million in cash and pledges. Grammy
Award-winning gospel artist Yolanda Adams kicked off the
celebration at 6 a.m. ET on the Yolanda
Adams Morning Show, while Grammy Award-nominated music
artist James Fortune wrapped up the radiothon at 11 p.m. ET
with special coverage on
The James Fortune Show.
“The St. Jude mission of finding cures and
saving the precious lives of children battling cancer and
other deadly diseases is one our audiences and staff can
truly stand behind,” said Yolanda Adams. “As a mom, a
believer and gospel artist, I am moved and know I am blessed
simply by hearing the testimonies of those families who
teach us the importance of celebrating life’s special
moments – every day – for tomorrow
is not promised.”
Adams is referring to children like Phoenix
who joined other patients to share their St. Jude
experiences with listeners across the country. Diagnosed
with retinoblastoma, a cancer of the eye, Phoenix is
currently being treated at St. Jude, but that hasn’t slowed
him down. He’s an energetic toddler who loves to sing and
dance.
“Gospel music’s message of faith and
inspiration go hand-in-hand with the lifesaving work of St.
Jude in providing help and hope to some of the world’s
sickest children fighting for their lives,” said Richard
Shadyac Jr., CEO of ALSAC/ St. Jude Children’s Research
Hospital. “Thank you to Radio One, all of the volunteers,
celebrity supporters and loyal listeners across the country
for their continued support. Because of them, we are truly
making a difference in the lives of kids everywhere.”
St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital is
leading the way the world understands, treats and defeats
childhood cancer. Thanks to the support of individual
contributions through events like Radio Cares for St. Jude
Kids, families never receive a bill from St. Jude for
treatment, travel, housing or food, so families can focus on
what matters most – helping their child live.
This year’s event welcomed support from
groups and celebrity music artists, including: Pastor
Shirley Caesar, VaShawn Mitchell, Jason Nelson, Erica
Campbell, Isaac Carree, Tasha Cobbs, Latice Crawford, James
Murphy, Angie Stone, Raheem DeVaughan, Earnest Pugh, Canton
Jones, Monica Lisa Stevenson, Jackie Griffin, mother of NFL
Redskins quarterback Robert Griffin, and Black Girls Run! –
who all volunteered their time at Radio One affiliate
stations across the country answering phones from callers
pledging to become St. Jude Partners
in Hope.
Nationally syndicated radio host Tom Joyner
added his voice to this year’s event, along with Radio One
Urban AC stations in Cincinnati, Dallas and St. Louis, Mo.
Emmis Broadcasting’s WLIB in New York and WTHB in Augusta,
Ga., are among other stations that participated in the
national fundraising effort.
To learn more visit stjude.org or stjuderadio.org.
About St. Jude Children’s
Research Hospital®
St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital is
leading the way the world understands, treats and defeats
childhood cancer and other deadly diseases. St. Jude has the
world’s best survival rates for the most aggressive
childhood cancers, and treatments invented at St. Jude have
helped push the overall childhood cancer survival rate from
20 percent to 80 percent since we opened more than 50 years
ago. St. Jude is working to drive the overall survival rate
for childhood cancer to 90 percent in the next decade. St.
Jude freely shares the breakthroughs we make, and every
child saved at St. Jude means doctors and scientists
worldwide can use that knowledge to save thousands more
children. Families never receive a bill from St. Jude for
treatment, travel, housing or food – because all a family
should worry about is helping their child live. Join the St.
Jude mission by visiting stjude.org or
following St. Jude on facebook.com/stjude and twitter.com/stjude.
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