July 2, 2007 — Alabama's Randy Owen was honored for his involvement with St. Jude's Children's Research Hospital during a gala marking the organization's 50th anniversary and celebrating the life of its founder, Danny Thomas.
Danny's son, Tony, presented Randy with the Founder's Award, an honor he said his father only handed out on very special occasions. Randy helped start the Country Cares for St. Jude Kids program in 1989 after meeting Danny, and the program has become one of the most successful radio fundraising events in the country, garnering more than $310 million in pledges for the hospital.
In accepting the award, Randy acknowledged the fans of country music, the men and women of country radio and the country music industry for embracing Danny's dream. "Danny Thomas was such a special person," he said. "I didn't have the chance to know him as well as some of you, but it shows you how a good man can inspire you in just a brief time."
Danny's son, Tony, presented Randy with the Founder's Award, an honor he said his father only handed out on very special occasions. Randy helped start the Country Cares for St. Jude Kids program in 1989 after meeting Danny, and the program has become one of the most successful radio fundraising events in the country, garnering more than $310 million in pledges for the hospital.
In accepting the award, Randy acknowledged the fans of country music, the men and women of country radio and the country music industry for embracing Danny's dream. "Danny Thomas was such a special person," he said. "I didn't have the chance to know him as well as some of you, but it shows you how a good man can inspire you in just a brief time."
