Breaking News: Garth Raises $5 Million for Middle Tennessee

Gifts from the record-breaking Garth Brooks concert series at Bridgestone Arena, spearheaded by Brooks and Trisha Yearwood, total $5 million to support Tennessee flood recovery through The Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee. To-date, The Community Foundation has collected $4.35 million of the $5 million from it’s concert sales or from amounts pledged toward this effort.
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The nine sold-out concerts, which were held December 16-22, 2010, represent a collaborative effort of organizers and countless volunteers from across the community who donated their time and talent to make the unprecedented series happen. “Our community is indebted to Garth Brooks for not only providing nine amazing concerts and bringing thousands of people to Music City, but for the amazing generosity he has shown for flood victims who are rebuilding their lives,” said Ellen Lehman, president of The Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee.

 “Playing music has never felt better or ever felt more right...I am really honored to have been a part of this happening,” said Brooks.

The Community Foundation has designated proceeds from the concerts to The River Fund, the charitable fund established within The Community Foundation by Brooks to help provide aid for flood victims through grants to nonprofit organizations. Grant allocations totaling $1.37 million from The River Fund have been made for Davidson County flood relief to Hands On Nashville, The United Methodist Committee on Relief – Tennessee Conference (UMCOR), and The Community Resource Center.

$659,500 has been allocated for a home rebuilding partnership spearheaded by Hands On Nashville, an organization instrumental in flood relief, to streamline home rebuilding efforts for flood victims in case management. This collaboration will serve all areas of Davidson County, consolidating rebuilding project supervision, construction material acquisition and delivery, and communications with other long-term recovery resources. Organizations participating in this partnership include Westminster Presbyterian Church, West Nashville Flood Recovery Network and Southeast Nashville Flood Recovery, among others.

$200,000 has been allocated for The United Methodist Committee on Relief – Tennessee Conference to continue its work to provide help to flood victims for needs which will otherwise be left unmet.

$514,795 has been allocated for The Community Resource Center, which will work to provide new household furnishings like couches, end tables, coffee tables, and more for flood victims.

Grants from The River Fund are being made to nonprofits serving flood victims in the flood affected counties of Tennessee. The Community Foundation and its volunteers are working with county-based long-term recovery committees to identify continuing need and the best ways to support flood victims. Grants from The River Fund will be made over time, ensuring the optimal management of charitable resources to help the maximum number of flood victims.

There are several flood relief funds within The Community Foundation, including The River Fund, the Metro Nashville Disaster Response Fund and the Tennessee Emergency Response Fund. More information is available online at www.cfmt.org.