LIVE!

VOLUNTEER AT A THOMPSON SQUARE EVENT!

Thompson Square is partnering with ChildFund once again in 2013 to encourage concert-goers to sponsor children.

The husband-and-wife duo of Shawna and Keifer Thompson wasted no time making their mark on the country music scene after their 2010 signing with Stoney Creek Records. Their self-titled debut album included the platinum-selling, Billboard number 1 country single "Are You Gonna Kiss Me or Not," a triple winner at the 2011 American Country Awards.

With the impressive collection of accolades that followed, including two GRAMMY nominations, we at ChildFund knew that Thompson Square was fast on the rise when we signed them as our second partner in LIVE! In April of 2012, their Vocal Duo of the Year award from Academy of Country Music confirmed it. Soon after, they won the fan-voted Country Music Television award for Duo Video of the Year. In October, "If I Didn't Have You," the first single from their upcoming sophomore album, became a smash within days. When T2 performed a special preview of the song in Nashville, they donated all proceeds to ChildFund.

And now they're back with us, starting Jan. 17! The duo joins country artist Luke Bryan on his first-ever headlining tour, the "Dirt Road Diaries Tour," which features Thompson Square and newcomers Florida Georgia Line as openers.

Volunteers Needed Audio Adrenaline

VOLUNTEER AT A THOMPSON SQUARE EVENT!

After a seven-year hiatus, Audio Adrenaline kicks off its ChildFund-sponsored tour on March 1, in Morganton, N.C. The Christian rock band formed in the late 1980s and garnered two Grammy awards, multiple Dove Awards and 17 number-one singles. The band regrouped in 2012 with Kevin Max, formerly of dc Talk, as the new lead vocalist and will release a new album, Kings & Queens, on March 12.

With Audio Adrenaline’s large fan base and strong opening acts of Group 1 Crew, Seventh Day Slumber and Manic Drive, the ChildFund LIVE! program is excited to announce its sponsorship of the band’s Kings & Queens tour. Audio Adrenaline’s history of compassion for the poor and reaching out to help those in need is a natural fit for the ChildFund LIVE! program to connect with audiences across the country about child sponsorship and how it changes the lives of children who live in poverty.

We look forward to meeting current and new ChildFund sponsors on the Audio Adrenaline Kings & Queens tour.

Volunteers NeededNeal McCoy

VOLUNTEER AT A NEAL MCCOY EVENT!

Multi-platinum-selling country singer Neal McCoy continues his partnership with ChildFund's LIVE! concert series, playing dates across the U.S. through December ... and helping us share the message of child sponsorship.

Since getting his start in the late '80s, McCoy has produced a dozen albums, a best-of record and several number one hits. His latest record, Twelve, sparked excitement partly because country superstars Blake Shelton and Miranda Lambert were attached to the project, but more so because it marked something of a comeback for McCoy.

All along, he's stayed busy—writing a book, creating a foundation and performing steadily. And his shows, many of them on his 15 USO tours, are a labor of love. McCoy says of his audiences, "They're not fans—they’'re friends, and I want 'em to have a good time."

He now has something new to share with those friends: McCoy sponsors a little boy named John-David in the Philippines, his mother's homeland. He's sure to inspire many of his fans to join him.

Volunteers NeededGirls of Grace

Girls of Grace Event Dates

VOLUNTEER AT A GIRLS OF GRACE EVENT!

Through their 20 years of making music together, the all-female, multi-platinum-selling contemporary Christian group Point of Grace received a lot of fan mail from teenage girls looking to them as role models.

In 2002, all that correspondence inspired an idea: a conference specifically designed for girls in 6th through 12th grades, where they could gather, talk and learn about the concerns that mattered to them most — relationships, friends, guys, social media and choices, and how all of these fit with their faith. As Point of Grace’s Denise Jones says, “At times girls feel like they are the only ones who struggle with certain issues. With a Girls of Grace conference, it gives them the opportunity to come together in a large group and realize that we all have our own struggles, and yet, we are in this together.”

Here’s a “beautiful truth”: These all-girl events present a great opportunity for girls and their mothers to learn about their counterparts living in poverty around the world. The Girls of Grace LIVE! partnership with ChildFund will promote sponsorship of girls in our programs — because girls helping girls is a beautiful thing.

Mary Mary

Fearless. That one word eloquently captures the creative spirit of groundbreaking duo Mary Mary. Ever since siblings Erica and Tina Campbell broke through in 2000 with the pioneering crossover hit “Shackles (Praise You),” the chart-topping sister act has been on a mission: sending uplifting messages through music and words that are relatable to everyone.

Over the last 10 years, Mary Mary has earned three Grammys, two AMAs, an NAACP Image Award and a BET Award. Yet with their tremendous accomplishments, the sisters are quick to point out that they're driven by something far greater: “It's not just about musical achievements, awards, charts and sales,” says Erica. “That's not our guiding light. It's about connecting with people and offering them real hope … hope that, ultimately, changes lives.”

And that's exactly what Mary Mary will do as ChildFund's newest LIVE! artists. By sharing the benefits of child sponsorship with their fans, the pair will encourage others to help change the lives of children around the world.

The Abrams Brothers

The Abrams Brothers are fourth-generation musicians with musical roots reaching back to their great-grandparents. But siblings John and James and their cousin Elijah have been bringing their own distinct sound to the family craft for almost a decade. The trio’s combination of bluegrass, country and folk rock is pushing the Ontario-based trio up the charts.

In addition to being Canadian festival favorites, the Abrams Brothers have racked up an impressive list of accolades. They became the youngest Canadians to perform at the Grand Ole Opry and were named Emerging Artist of the Year at the Canadian Bluegrass Music Awards in 2005. The young musicians also made quite a splash on CMT with videos for their songs “Viva la Vida” and “Mermaid Town.”

In September 2012, the Abrams Brothers released Northern Redemption, their fourth album but their first with all original material. With their new album and abundant youthful ambition, the band is excited to be fulfilling their musical dreams, and ChildFund is thrilled to have the Abrams Brothers among our LIVE! artists.

As they share their generation-spanning musical talents, the Abrams Brothers will also share the message of child sponsorship through ChildFund International — helping more children around the world achieve their own dreams.

Jake Shimabukuro

In his young career, Hawaiian ukulele wizard Jake Shimabukuro has already redefined an under-the-radar instrument and been declared a musical “hero” by Rolling Stone. He has wowed audiences on TV and the web while earning comparisons to Jimi Hendrix and Miles Davis. He has even played for the Queen of England! It is no wonder that he’s already on his way to changing the lives of children in 31 countries.

As one of the newest additions to ChildFund’s LIVE! lineup, Shimabukuro (she-ma-boo-koo-row) will promote child sponsorship while showcasing pieces from his newest album, Grand Ukulele, and his 2011 Peace, Love, Ukulele (which debuted at #1 on the Billboard World Charts). Through spring 2013, Shimabukuro will introduce even more audiences to the magic of the ukulele — and the joys of sponsoring a child.

Texas Tenors

In 2009, the Texas Tenors won the hearts of millions of fans on America’s Got Talent. Their debut album, Country Roots-Classical Sound, showed their commitment to preserving timeless classics and inspirational themes and soared to #1 on both the classical and country charts in 2010.

Fast forward three years later and the humble trio, Marcus Collins, JC Fisher and John Hagen, continue to wow their audiences with a blend of country, gospel, classic and show music, with a new album due in 2012. While their voices and country charm captivate, it is their humor and humble hearts that really shine through.

Since 2009, they have used their recognition to support several organizations that give help and hope to those who need it the most. By encouraging their fans to envision a brighter future and follow their dreams, the Texas Tenors serve as positive role models for many and will continue doing exactly that by joining ChildFund’s LIVE! artists. To help more children around the world fulfill their dreams, the Texas Tenors will share the sponsorship experience with fans at their concerts through December 2012.