COLD SPRING, Ky., April 18,
2015 /PRNewswire/ -- On April
18, DAV (Disabled American Veterans) participated in the
Cracker Barrel OId Country Store Country Checkers
Challenge™, alongside twelve country music celebrities
and USO (United Service Organizations). The event was held as part
of the 3rd Annual ACM Party for a Cause Festival at
Globe Life Park in Arlington,
Texas.
Country music star Thomas Rhett
led the DAV team, along with country music entertainers
Rhett Akins, Dan + Shay,
Danielle Bradbery, Scotty McCreery and Cassadee Pope, taking on
USO's team led by Kellie Pickler
alongside Lauren Alaina,
Chase Bryant, Kristian Bush, Love & Theft and Jamie Lynn Spears. The human checkers game was
played on a life-sized checkerboard and DAV Lifetime Member,
retired Army Sergeant Joe Washam,
played on behalf of DAV.
"I was severely injured while deployed in Iraq, with 3rd degree burns over
40% of my body," said Washam. "DAV was crucial in helping me access
my VA benefits, which has been such a huge to me and my family.
It's been an honor to represent DAV in this event and hopefully
inspire other veterans who need help and don't know where to
turn."
Through a $35,000 donation from
Cracker Barrel, ACM Lifting Lives® made a $10,000 donation to DAV, the beneficiary of
Thomas Rhett's second place team.
USO received a $25,000 donation as
the winning team.
"For many years Cracker Barrel has celebrated the spirit of
music through our exclusive music program. The Country Checkers
Challenge partnership with the ACM provided us with a great
opportunity to recognize two military organizations—the USO and
DAV," said Chris Ciavarra, senior
vice president of marketing for Cracker Barrel Old Country
Store. "We are delighted to honor these non-profit
organizations through donations to help them continue the great
work they do across the nation in support of active and retired
military servicemen and women and our disabled veterans."
"This generous donation will help us to continue to provide free
support programs and benefits assistance for our heroes who fought
for our way of life," said Marc
Burgess, DAV National Adjutant. "DAV is excited to have a
strong partner with Cracker Barrel. Their commitment to the men and
women who serve is unwavering and it's been our pleasure to work
with them throughout this event."
DAV is one of the largest and oldest veteran service
organizations, with 1.2 million members and 1,300 local chapters,
serving all veterans from all eras and their families. In 2014, DAV
represented more than 340,000 claims for earned benefits for
veterans. To learn more, please
visit www.DAV.org.
About DAV:
DAV empowers veterans to lead
high-quality lives with respect and dignity. It is dedicated to a
single purpose: fulfilling our promises to the men and women who
served. DAV does this by ensuring that veterans and their families
can access the full range of benefits available to them; fighting
for the interests of America's injured heroes on Capitol Hill;
connecting veterans and their families with employment resources
and educating the public about the great sacrifices and needs of
veterans transitioning back to civilian life. DAV, a non-profit
organization with 1.2 million members, was founded in 1920 and
chartered by the U. S. Congress in 1932. Learn more at
www.dav.org.
About Cracker Barrel Old Country Store, Inc.:
Cracker Barrel Old Country Store, Inc. provides a friendly
home-away-from-home in its old country stores and restaurants.
Guests are cared for like family while relaxing and enjoying real
home-style food and shopping that's surprisingly unique, genuinely
fun and reminiscent of America's country heritage…all at a fair
price. The restaurant serves up delicious, home-style country food
such as meatloaf and homemade chicken n' dumplins as well as its
made-from-scratch biscuits using an old family recipe. The
authentic old country retail store is fun to shop and offers unique
gifts and self-indulgences. Cracker Barrel Old Country Store, Inc.
was established in 1969 in Lebanon,
Tenn. and operates 634 company-owned locations in 42 states.
Every Cracker Barrel Old Country Store® location is open seven days
a week with hours Sunday through Thursday, 6
a.m. – 10 p.m., and Friday and
Saturday, 6 a.m. - 11 p.m. For more
information, visit crackerbarrel.com.
About the Academy of Country Music Awards:
The 50th
Academy of Country Music Awards is dedicated to honoring and
showcasing the biggest names and emerging talent in the country
music industry. The show is produced for television by dick
clark productions and will broadcast LIVE from AT&T Stadium in
Arlington, TX on Sunday, April 19, 2015 at 8:00 PM live ET/delayed PT on the CBS Television
Network. Allen Shapiro, Mike Mahan, R.A.
Clark, Barry Adelman and
Mark Bracco are executive
producers. Bob Romeo is
executive producer for the Academy of Country Music.
About ACM Lifting Lives®:
ACM Lifting Lives® is the philanthropic arm of the Academy of
Country Music dedicated to improving lives through the power of
music. Through partnerships with artists and strong ties in the
music industry, ACM Lifting Lives develops and funds music-related
therapy and education programs, and serves members of the community
who face unexpected hardships through its Diane Holcomb Emergency
Relief Fund. Through generous donations and the support of artists
and fans, ACM Lifting Lives is able to fund everything from
disaster relief and helping communities in need, to music education
in schools and music camps for those with disabilities, to
supporting programs that use music therapy as a means to help our
veterans and wounded warriors, while providing grants to help them
ease back into life. For more information, please
visit www.ACMLiftingLives.org.
Contact: Sarah Goodling,
410-626-0805 or sgoodling@crosbymarketing.com
Steven Wilson, 859-442-2046 or
swilson@davmail.org
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SOURCE DAV