Concert Benefits Hospitalized Children

Children's Miracle Network
Tuesday, 26 March 2002

Jessica Andrews and Diamond Rio Performances at Marriott Concert for Kids to be Broadcast as Televised Fund Raiser to help Children's Miracle Network

Academy of Country Music Award winner Jessica Andrews and six-time Vocal Group of the Year winners Diamond Rio will headline the Children's Miracle Network Concert for Kids tonight at Disney's Coronado Springs Convention Center. Sponsored by Marriott, the concert is being produced for television and will air the weekend of June 1 and 2 as part of the annual "Children's Miracle Network Celebration" on syndicated stations throughout North America.

Among those attending the concert are 64 children—one from every state and Canadian province—who have been treated at one of the 170 Children's Miracle Network children's hospitals. Each of these children has overcome a personal battle with a disease, injury or birth defect and has been selected to serve as an ambassador for the 17 million children treated each year at Children's Miracle Network hospitals.

The youthful Andrews took the Top New Female Vocalist award at the 2000 ACM Awards. Recent success with her second album, Who I Am (released Feb. 27, 2001, on DreamWorks Records), is an effect of months on the road with country titans Tim McGraw, Trisha Yearwood and Faith Hill.

In just 10 years, Diamond Rio has won a total of six Vocal Group of the Year awards from the Academy of Country Music and the Country Music Association. Combining bluegrass harmonies with a driving beat and some of the most outstanding solo instrumental work this side of Chet Atkins, they have developed one of the most unique sounds in country music history. The band has had 19 top-ten country hits.

"We perform hundreds of shows every year," said Dan Truman, the band's keyboardist. "But doing this one for kids in children's hospitals across the country was really something special. We hope that, through our music, we can be of some influence to help better their lives in some small way."

Andrews will be coming to Orlando from her hometown of Huntingdon, Tenn. where she recently held a benefit acoustic concert to help with cancer research. The cause is very important to her because her grandfather died of lung cancer. She says she also looks forward to helping out the cause of Children's Miracle Network. "It's all about priorities. When you have a chance to help children in need, you take that chance every time," said Andrews. "I'm just thrilled to share the stage with Diamond Rio and see what we can do to help."

The concert, closed to the public, will be from 7:00 - 10:00 p.m. in the Coronado Ballroom at Disney's Coronado Springs Resort. It is sponsored by Marriott International, the leading worldwide hospitality company with nearly 2,500 lodging properties located in all 50 states and 65 countries worldwide. In 20 years as a sponsor of Children's Miracle Network, Marriott has raised $30 million for children's hospitals.

About Children's Miracle Network

Now in its 20th year, Children's Miracle Network is a non-profit organization dedicated to helping children by raising funds and awareness for 170 children's hospitals throughout North America. Each year these non-profit hospitals help 17 million children battle diseases, injuries and birth defects of every kind. Learn more about them on the web by visiting www.cmn.org.

For more information, or to contact Children's Miracle Network, see their website at: www.cmn.org