St. Jude Children's Research Hospital® Announces Sheryl Crow as Ambassador for Music Gives to St. Jude Kids

Ticketmaster showcases program during summer ticket promotion

MEMPHIS, Tenn., July 26, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- GRAMMY® award-winning artist Sheryl Crow is trailblazing a new music campaign called Music Gives to St. Jude Kids, which mobilizes the music industry – artists, fans, record companies and sponsors - to raise funds that will support the lifesaving work of St. Jude Children's Research Hospital®, one of the world's premier centers for the research and treatment of pediatric cancer and other catastrophic childhood diseases.

Moved by her visits to the hospital, her own battle with cancer and her role as a mom, Sheryl is helping Music Gives to St. Jude Kids rise to the top of the charts and feels grateful that a place like St. Jude exists to help children who are dealing with deadly diseases like cancer.

"A cancer diagnosis is a complete and total show stopper that leaves a family feeling completely helpless," said Crow. "By uniting the music industry through Music Gives, we are going to help give these families hope by raising funds for St. Jude, a place that is on the cutting edge of cancer research and always looking for a cure."

Music Gives to St. Jude Kids unites artists and their fans to get involved and support St. Jude through a variety of opportunities including concert promotions, text to donate messages, social media and a range of other fundraising opportunities. To help launch the program, Ticketmaster and Live Nation are showcasing the program by running a summer promotion that provides consumers the option to select an add-on donation to St. Jude for select events beginning July 26 through August 22. Fans selecting an add-on donation on Ticketmaster.com or livenation.com will have 100% of their donation go to St. Jude.

In addition to Crow, musical groups Kings of Leon and Stone Temple Pilots have joined Music Gives, with more artists to be announced in the near future.

Music Gives to St. Jude Kids engages fans in the lifesaving work of St. Jude in a variety of ways including:

• Let your favorite artist know you care.
  • Donate in your favorite Music Gives artist's name at the Music Gives to St. Jude Kids website.
• Keep the music on repeat.
  • Become a monthly Partner in Hope for St. Jude.
• File sharing allowed!
  • Share Music Gives to St. Jude Kids exclusive content with your friends and family through social media.

St. Jude has enjoyed the support of the music industry since the hospital's beginnings in 1962 when St. Jude founder Danny Thomas called on the support of entertainers such as Frank Sinatra, Elvis Presley and Ray Charles and later enlisted ALABAMA frontman Randy Owen. Since then, dozens of artists and musicians have visited the hospital in support of the St. Jude mission.

The campaign is the brainchild of Danny's grandson, musician Jason Thomas Gordon, and builds upon this rich history by cultivating a new era of musicians and fans to join the fight against childhood cancer.

"St. Jude is a part of my blood in the same way that music has always been. To bring them together is a great feeling," said Gordon. "You always hear people say how music saved their life. A band or a song changed them, healed them in some way. Well, this is that expression being manifest in a very physical way. This is music truly saving lives."

Visit the newly launched Music Gives to St. Jude Kids website for behind the scenes video from Sheryl's recent visit to the hospital, free music downloads, special offerings and more information about the artists supporting this program. Be sure to also "like" St. Jude on Facebook and follow @StJude on Twitter for the latest updates. Get involved today, visit www.stjude.org/musicgives.

About St. Jude Children's Research Hospital

St. Jude Children's Research Hospital is internationally recognized for its pioneering work in finding cures and saving children with cancer and other catastrophic diseases. St. Jude is the first and only pediatric cancer center to be designated as a Comprehensive Cancer Center by the National Cancer Institute. Founded by late entertainer Danny Thomas and based in Memphis, Tenn., St. Jude freely shares its discoveries with scientific and medical communities around the world. St. Jude is the only pediatric cancer research center where families never pay for treatment not covered by insurance. No child is ever denied treatment because of the family's inability to pay. St. Jude is financially supported by ALSAC, its fundraising organization. For more information, go to www.stjude.org and follow St. Jude on www.facebook.com/stjude and www.twitter.com/stjude.

SOURCE St. Jude Children's Research Hospital