Canadian Country Music Association's Humanitarian Award Gets Cash Bump From Slaight Music

By Aaron Brophy 2/10/16 | www.samaritanmag.com

Gord Bamford congratulates then-MusiCounts president Allan Reid for winning the 2015 Slaight Family Humanitarian Award — photo credit: CCMA
Country music may be all about hurtin' songs, but thanks to a $150,000 donation to the Canadian Country Music Association (CCMA) from Slaight Music in support of its humanitarian award, five chartitable music acts over the next five years are going to get to do some additional healin'.

Given naming rights, the Slaight Music Humanitarian Award is given out each year at CCMA's Canadian Country Music Awards to recognize "individuals and/or events that have made an outstanding contribution of time and energy in the support of humanitarian causes through country music in Canada."

The Slaight Music commitment is a renewal of an existing agreement which began in 2011 with the CCMA, which is a not-for-profit organization committed to the promotion and recognition of Canadian country music. For each upcoming year's Humanitarian Award winner, Slaight Music will give the CCMA $20,000 towards its initiatives and a separate $10,000 towards the recipient individual or organization's charity of choice.

Recent winners of the Slaight Music Humanitarian Award include the music education charity MusiCounts (2015), Beverley Mahood (2014), Adam Gregory (2013), Tenille (2012) and Johnny Reid (2011).

(Full disclosure: Samaritanmag receives financial assistance from Slaight Family Foundation).

The money will help some of its most noble members continue to do what they do.

"The core of the CCMA resides on the laurels of educating, elevating and celebrating Canadian country music. The Slaight Music Humanitarian Award enables us to elevate the humanitarian efforts of some of our illustrious members, and celebrate their worthy charitable causes," said Don Green, president of the CCMA, in a press statement. "On behalf of the CCMA, I cannot express the gratitude we have for the Slaight Music Foundation, for enabling us to help those making a difference, both on the stage and off."

Slaight Music, which works with Canadian artists in various genres to further careers, wanted to support those who help others. The Slaight family is a hugely philanthropic Toronto-based family, whose patriarch, Allan, built a broadcasting empire.

"We are pleased to continue our relationship with the CCMA in celebrating artists and organizations that donate their time and energy in raising funds to improve the lives of others," said Gary Slaight, president and CEO of Slaight Communications, in a statement.

To nominate an individual for the Slaight Music Humanitarian Award, or to review other CCMA Awards of Achievement, visit ccma.org. Nominations for the Slaight Music Humanitarian Award are being accepted until May 13, 2016. The Humanitarian Award will be presented Sept. 10, 2016 as part of Country Music Week in London, Ontario.

A list of CCMA's Humanitarian Award winners, to-date:

Wayne Rostad (1989)
Gary Fjellgaard (1990)
Carroll Baker (1991)
John Allen Cameron (1992)
“A Song for Brent” (1993)
Joan Kennedy (1995)
Tom Jackson (1996)
Michelle Wright (1997)
Paul Brandt (1998)
September 11th Benefit Concert (2002)
Say Hay! Benefit Concerts (2003)
Terry Kelly (2005)
George Canyon (2008)
Gord Bamford (2010)
Johnny Reid (2011)
Tenille (2012)
Adam Gregory (2013)
Beverley Mahood (2014)
MusiCounts (2015)

Mens Flynit Trainers

* Samaritanmag.com is an online magazine covering the good deeds of individuals, charities and businesses.