ACM's Brooks & Dunn Tribute Raises $1 Million for Tennessee Flood Victims

The Academy of Country Music will make a $1 million endowment to ACM Lifting Lives, which will directly help Middle Tennessee flood victims. The endowment was made on behalf of the artists who participated in the taping of the television special ACM Presents: Brooks & Dunn- The Last Rodeo in Las Vegas in April.
 
Country artists including Brooks & Dunn, Jason Aldean, Kenny Chesney, Faith Hill, Lady Antebellum, Miranda Lambert, Reba McEntire, Tim McGraw, Brad Paisley, Rascal Flatts, Darius Rucker, George Strait, Sugarland, Taylor Swift, Carrie Underwood and Keith Urban all participated in the taping. The special aired on CBS May 23.
 
"These artists generously donated their time and talent for this event," Erin Spahn, Director of ACM Lifting Lives, said in a news release. "We are so thankful to them and we've worked to immediately turn around this endowment to fund programs that will quickly respond to the needs of those affected by the recent flooding in Middle Tennessee."
 
The money will be disbursed into two major endowments. One was presented May 16 by Lady A and Paisley. The $250,000 check was donated to The Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee.
 
The second will go to a new project created last week. Underwood and ACM Lifting Lives announced a new ACM Lifting Lives Temporary Home Fund. The home will provide temporary housing to the flood victims. Underwood also provided a portion of the money to get the project off the ground.
 
"We approached Carrie about how she wanted to use the matching grant she would receive as our 2009 Entertainer of the Year, and she leapt at the chance to help people in need of shelter. Our goals fit perfectly and the Temporary Home Fund was created," Spahn said.
 
If you want to help out ACM Lifting Lives, you can donate to the Temporary Home project by texting 501501 through August 2010. You can also make donations online at www.ACMliftinglives.org.