CMA/SESAC Tornado Relief Supply Drive aids seven Middle Tennessee organizations assisting tornado victims
The Country Music Association (CMA) is giving $100k for tornado relief through The Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee’s Emergency Response Fund, which supports affected communities and nonprofits helping victims address ongoing needs. The pledge was made Wednesday, March 11 with strong support from the CMA Board on behalf of its membership base.
“All of us at CMA hurt for our friends and neighbors and our hearts are with those who are suffering,” says Kurt Johnson, CMA Board Chairman and Town Square Media Senior Vice President, Programming. “We always want to be there to help in times of need.”
In addition to the monetary donation, CMA also partnered with SESAC to host a weeklong supply drive at their Music Row offices March 6-13. Receiving donations from more than 100 individuals, the drive resulted in over 20 truckloads of supplies being sent to seven local churches and nonprofits who service affected areas in Davidson, Putnam and Wilson counties. Items collected include bottled water, personal hygiene items, first aid kits, clothes, shoes, diapers, canned food, flashlights, batteries, trash bags, bedding and more.
CMA/SESAC are the latest organizations to assist in clean up efforts following a pair of EF-2 tornadoes that ravaged through Nashville and nearby communities. The twisters killed nearly two dozen people and destroyed at several dozen buildings, including the popular East Nashville venue, The Basement East, leaving only one standing wall, containing a mural displaying “I Believe in Nashville.”
CMT, WSMV-TV and The American Red Cross raised a lot of money for tornado victims during the Rebuilding Tennessee Telethon that aired on March 5th across CMT’s social media platforms. The event raised more than $385k in donations. Country stars, such as Lady Antebellum’s Dave Haywood and Charles Kelley, Cassadee Pope and Nashville’s Sam Palladio were among the celebrities who answered phones from people wanting to donate around the country.
Several stars even contributed large donations. Kid Rock donated $50k and Big Machine CEO Scott Borchetta pitched in $100k. CoreCivic also pledged $25k with WSMV-TV pitching in $10k.
Before the telecast, Taylor Swift donated $1 million to the Middle Tennessee Emergency Response Fund. The country-turned-pop-star considers Nashville her home after relocating from her native Pennsylvania to kick start her career. The singer still owns a mansion in nearby Hendersonville.
Nashville-based Gibson guitars is working to make guitarists affected by storms whole again, providing immediate help by giving a guitar to any musician whose instrument was damaged or destroyed through its charitable organization, Gibson Gives.
