A Star-Studded Night Raises 1.7 Million Dollars For Zac Brown's Non-Profit Camp Southern Ground

ATLANTA, Dec. 8, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- On Friday, December 1st, multi-platinum GRAMMY award-winning artist Zac Brown, of Zac Brown Band, hosted a intimate benefit for his non-profit passion project, Camp Southern Ground, at a private home in Atlanta's Buckhead neighborhood. The second annual Evening to Remember fundraiser raised $1.7 million for the camp located in Fayetteville, GA.

"Shelly and I are thrilled to have raised such a substantial amount for Camp Southern Ground. We're always humbled by the generosity of our friends, supporters and the Atlanta community," said Brown.

Camp Southern Ground stretches across more than 400 acres and serves children ages 7-17, from all socioeconomic backgrounds, races and religions, with activities to challenge, educate and inspire campers. As an inclusive camp, Camp Southern Ground brings together typically developing children, children with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD), learning and attention issues, social or emotional challenges, and those with family members serving in the military.

"We were blown away by the outpouring of support and generosity from the Atlanta community and beyond. Most of the funds raised will help us to build the first residential lodge with 128 beds which will enable our first season of summer camp starting in June," said Mike Dobbs, President and CEO of Camp Southern Ground.

For the second year, the event was hosted by Stacey and Don Leebern III, of Georgia Crown Distributors and was attended and supported by Honorary Chairs, Lisa and John Novak and Jessi and James Freeman. Sponsors and guest members in attendance from the Atlanta Falcons, Atlanta Hawks, the Weiss Family, CAA, Cambria, Atlanta Kitchens, Advance BioEnergy, Mercedes-Benz, Serling, Rooks, Hunter, Mckoy & Worob, Giles and Sherra Bowman Family Fund, The Arthur M. Blank Family of Businesses, Macdermid, Wendy Barton, Laura Turner Seydel, and Florence Hall Edwards.

This year also boasted a star-studded guest list featuring Chef Emeril Lagasse, collaborating with Zac Brown Band Executive Chef Rusty Hamlin on a delicious New Orleans style cuisine dinner. Special support from Austin Stowell, and Avengers star Chris Hemsworth. Stowell, who appears alongside Chris Hemsworth in 2018's 12 Strong produced by Jerry Bruckheimer, served as emcee for the evening. Both provide additional contributions to the Live Auction. Then Zac Brown Band took the stage to close the night with an exclusive performance to celebrate another successful year for Camp Southern Ground.

ABOUT CAMP SOUTHERN GROUND

Mission-driven, Camp Southern Ground offers children a world-class campus in a beautiful natural setting, with groundbreaking programs that inspire children to magnify their gifts, enhance their perspectives of self, empower them to overcome limitations, and spread love to impact their world. With state-of-the-art buildings and outdoor spaces, Camp Southern Ground is a one-of-a-kind place of learning and growth designed with children of diverse abilities and skill sets in mind, and will become a timeless institution that is the cornerstone of research and innovation. Camp Southern Ground is registered non-profit, 501(c)(3).

ABOUT ZAC BROWN BAND

Billboard calls Zac Brown Band "one of the biggest success stories….over the past decade."  The three-time GRAMMY-winning multi-platinum artists have had five consecutive albums reach the top 10 of the Billboard 200 and four consecutive albums debut at #1 on Billboard's Country Albums chart. To date, the group has sold more than 25 million singles and eight million albums. They have achieved 15 #1 radio singles and are the second act to top both the country and active rock formats. They have developed a reputation with critics and fans alike for a live show marked by strong musicianship that defy genre boundaries.

The band's latest album, 'WELCOME HOME,' a return to their classic sound, was produced by GRAMMY-winning producer Dave Cobb and In the Arena Productions. Rolling Stone praised the album's "southern storytelling, rootsy instrumentation and the sonic swell of eight bandmates who, once again, are firing on the same cylinder." The No. 1 triumph of 'WELCOME HOME' follows three platinum-selling albums ('Uncaged,' 'You Get What You Give,' and 'JEKYLL + HYDE'), the 5x-platinum 'The Foundation,' and their 2013 project, 'The Grohl Sessions Vol. 1.'

Zac Brown Band played to more than a million fans in 2017 and over five million fans in the last five years. Massive, sold-out stadium shows at Denver's Coors Field and Chicago's Wrigley Field anchored the 50-market 'WELCOME HOME Tour, which saw a 40% increase in ticket sales over the previous year.

The band is represented by CAA, public relations firm Shore Fire Media and digital marketing agency Total Assault. Additional information can be found at http://www.zacbrownband.com/.

SOURCE Southern Ground