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-- WITH PHOTO -- TO ENTERTAINMENT, HEALTH, AND RADIO-TELEVISION EDITORS:
Something to sing about: Radio One, gospel music community raises more
than $1.3 million for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital@
MEMPHIS, Tenn., April 9, 2014 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- 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 FortuneShow.
"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.
Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20140409/DC01888
SOURCE ALSAC/St. Jude Children's Research Hospital
-0- 04/09/2014
/CONTACT: Aisha Rogers, (901) 578-1565, Aisha.Rogers@stjude.org
/Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20140409/DC01888
PRN Photo Desk, photodesk@prnewswire.com
/Web Site: http://www.stjude.org
CO: ALSAC/St. Jude Children's Research Hospital
ST: Tennessee
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-- DC01888 --
0000 04/09/2014 17:20:00 EDT http://www.prnewswire.com
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