Big Kenny, as well as John Rich, Gretchen Wilson and Cowboy Troy donated 100% of the proceeds from their Nashville performance at the Fontanel Mansion to Operation Finally Home, and surprised the Staff Sargent by bringing him on stage in the middle of their performance to make the announcement.

“This is a wonderful organization I’ve worked with for years. They have a very simple but very important cause,” said Big Kenny, who first approached his touring partners about the idea. “Building a home isnoble, but constructing a home tailored to the needs of a specific injury or disability is one of the things Operation FINALLY HOME really understands and has done well time and again. It’s an honor for us allto have them working with us here in Music City. I’m willing to jump out of a perfectly good plane to raise awareness of the great needs of so many of our returning soldiers!”

Daniel Vargas, a retired U.S. Air Force Technical Sergeant runs Operation FINALLY HOME out of NewBraunfels, Texas. Born out of the Bay Area Builders Association Support Our Troops effort, the programprovides custom-made homes to wounded and disabled veterans as well as to widows of the fallen in aneffort to get their lives back on track.

“For many of our soldiers the real battle begins once they’ve left the hospital and returned home,” saidVargas. “We are committed to helping make sure that these men and women will have the security ofa roof over their heads. This mission is possible only through gifts from donors and sponsors. We aregrateful and proud to have country music stars Big & Rich, Gretchen Wilson and Cowboy Troy support our efforts.”

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Country Superstar Big Kenny: God bless the Lasso family

Author: Will Lewis, Reporter, Will.Lewis@wfmz.com

ALLENTOWN, Pa. -

Country stars Big and Rich were on stage at Coca-Cola Park in Allentown Friday, and the duo was doing-good while entertaining for thousands.

Ten percent of the ticket sales are being donated to the family of slain Freemansburg police officer Robert Lasso.

Before the concert started, people in attendance were told officer Lasso had tickets to attend Friday night’s concert.

Fans said Officer Lasso was there in spirit and were happy to see the group helping his family.

The bright lights and high energy of Big and Rich, Gretchen Wilson and Cowboy Troy rocked Coca-Cola park.

The fans were excited.

“Honestly it’s a night out for us. We work together, it’s just the two of us at work, stressful and we’ve been looking forward to it all week,” said Williams Township resident Holly Schultheis.

Read more and watch the broadcast at the original article here.

On Wednesday, August 17th, Ms. Castle and Ms. Baker will deliver their presentations on the Boone Watershed Partnership and the Tennessee Cancer Coalition, respectively.

This is the second year that the Love Everybody Fund and Dr. Bill Frist’s Hope Through Healing Hands have worked with Dean Randy Wykoff of Eastern Tennessee State University to select two public health scholars  who will be working in rural Appalachian communities to receive the ASPIRE Appalachia Scholarship.

They’re in the process of building a world-class soapbox derby track facility–which is the largest of its kind on the east coast–and they need your help! Check out their website and donate on this page.

On this Tuesday night, July 19th, ESPN will debut an episode of their popular show E-60 about the Soap Box Derby. This documentary feature is set to highlight the phenomenal sport, the town of Culpepper and some dear friends of Big Kenny. Here are some words from friends, Steve, Todd and Michelle:

Progress is being made, and your generous help can keep it going! To stay tuned with the New Life Restoration School, and find out how you can get involved, check out their website. And you can find a detailed writeup of the school and its children here.

In what he considers the backyard to his home  in the Blue Ridge Mountains, Big Kenny personally witnessed the destruction of our beloved Appalachian environment, its effect on clean drinking water and its unique public health issues, in 2010 set up the Alphin Scholarship to Promote the Integration of Research and Environmental Education in Appalachia (ASPIRE Appalachia) Scholarship.

Read more about the 2011 recipients here. Find out about last year’s scholars here, as they report from the field!

Yesterday, Big Kenny and family hosted an incredible party that raised $25,000 for The African Children’s Choir.

The talented young singers were there and performed an amazing 35 minute set that left everyone in attendance in smiles. Here are some photos from the evening:

I’m really moved by the artist Emmanuel Jal, a Sudanese war child, now with a global name and helping his people.  I promise where this guy came from should inspire us all.   As Sudan gets closer to a referendum vote this January, it is going to being trying times for these people who have seen decades of relentless war.

On his website he says,  ”The more we sweat in peace the less we bleed in war” ~ Vijaya Lakshmi Pandit: www.we-want-peace.com Let’s keep this going all the way…tell your friends, DJs and local press…share, tweet, scream and shout we must do everything we can to prevent more pain, in Sudan, and the world.

I’m sharing and screaming,  the more people who are aware of this global hot spot the more of chance we have to keep peace for these people.  I’ve personally seen enough of the effects of war in my life.   I continue to be moved by people like Emmanuel and people like Sister Gloria White Hammond and Sara Rial of My Sister’s Keeperwww.mskeeper.org .  You’ll recall MSKeeper as the organization we helped to build the Kunyuk School For Girls in Akon, Sudan.  They have and continue to work relentlessly to educate and empower the women of the country whom we all believe will be the coming peace makers.  It’s no doubt a continue battle of will.

I recently read in a Bob Lefsetz blog:

Somehow our country has been turned topsy-turvy.  A patriot is one who asks no questions, always beams sunnily and says “my country, love it or leave it.”  But a true patriot is one who questions the status quo, who agitates for something better.

And I responded to him:

Bob,

Loved your thoughts on patriotism.  Does seem like we are becoming a country mired in our own self preservation,  when the reality is the only thing that divides us these days is what we choose to believe and the depth of our faith that sustains what we choose to believe.

I was really inspired by this video that my friend Greg Scholl just sent me.  I think you’ll dig it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g1ZEJWVSiEI

Emmanuel Jal, a rapper who is a Sudanese war child turned activist.  Cool fellow.    I love the idea of education as a preference to war.   I love the idea of Peace on Earth, good will towards all men.

Love Everybody,

bk

On Thursday, Big Kenny, alongside Special Olympics Utah CEO Glenn Lanham and Utah Attorney General Mark Shurtleff, rappelled from the 24th floor of The Grand America Hotel wearing a Love Everybody embellished superhero cape to celebrate being a part of the organization’s events.

“I am thrilled to have my lifelong friend Big Kenny here; his passionate spirit of encouragement and strength resonates with everyone,” Glenn Lanham said.

Kenny also participated in the Special Olympics afternoon parade, where immediately following, he let fans board his tour bus and ride with him to the sound check for his show that evening.

Big Kenny’s Love Everybody Traveling Musical Medicine Show headlined The State Room to a packed house to raise funds to directly benefit the athletes of the Special Olympics Utah.

Mark Shurtleff tweeted,”@BigKennyTV THANK YOU BK from Utah cops and the Special Olympians who will benefit from your sponsorship. Keep spreading the LOVE big buddy!”

Click the thumbnails below to view some pictures of Big Kenny from “The Edge”.