Award-winning country music singer, songwriter and producer John Rich – winner of this year’s season of NBC’s Celebrity Apprentice – hosted ThanksUSA’s 2011 Benefit Concert at DAR Constitution Hall in Washington, D.C., on November 14, 2011.
Also performing at this year’s festivities were fiddler Andy Leftwich, and Texas and Nashville singer-songwriters Lucas Hoge, Leslie Satcher and Monty Holmes. NBC4 Washington’s Jim Handly served as the concert’s master of ceremonies.
This year’s Benefit Concert in the nation’s capital honored the love, sacrifice and need of military families in the U.S., which has inspired ThanksUSA’s core mission and commitments over the past six years.
Since its inception in 2005, ThanksUSA, a non-profit organization, has mobilized Americans of all ages to thank the men and women serving in the U.S. armed forces, and to raise money for need-based college, technical and vocational school scholarships for the children and spouses of active-duty service members. Through federal funding, corporate donations and individual contributions, ThanksUSA complements a variety of additional scholarship opportunities, including the G.I. Bill and other scholarships for military children and spouses that are offered by other organizations.
“I’m excited to host ThanksUSA’s celebration of military families this year, and I’m happy to be supporting such a tremendous cause,” said John Rich. “It’s important to remember every day, every month, every year the sacrifices made by so many of our fellow Americans who serve in our armed forces, as well as the loved ones of those who serve.”
“I am thrilled with the wonderful array of Nashville’s best talent donating their time to honor the troops and to support ThanksUSA’s military family scholarships,” said ThanksUSA Chairman and CEO Bob Okun, “especially this close to Veterans Day.”
