Darius Rucker Teams Up for Blowfish Benefit

Posted by Leigh Durbin on 08/13/2010
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Darius-Rucker
Darius Rucker reunited with his Hootie & the Blowfish bandmates in the band’s home state of South Carolina to participate in the group’s annual Homegrown Roundup.
 
The Homegrown Roundup began in 2003 when the band became concerned about cuts in the state’s education budget. Rucker worried about how these cuts would affect low-income families in his home state.
 
“This is our home,” Rucker said. “Our kids go to school here.”
 
The event includes a performance by the band, as well as free services to prepare children for school. Students are offered everything they might need, from hair cuts to dental exams. More than 40 companies donated school supplies to be distributed, and concert-goers brought donations as well.
 
Rather than criticize the school system, Rucker sticks to his mission.
 
“I’m just trying to make it better,” said the musician.
 
The Homegrown Roundup is one of many of Rucker’s philanthropic projects. He raised nearly $50,000 for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital during the 2010 CMA Music Festival and headlined the Grammy Block Party to benefit flood relief in Nashville.