Points of Light, a global nonprofit dedicated to accelerating people-powered change, today named Garth Brooks the recipient of The Inaugural George H.W. Bush Points of Light Award for Caring and Compassion – created to honor outstanding individuals who advance solutions to the world’s toughest challenges and exemplify the extraordinary traits of its late founder and the 41st president of the United States, George H.W. Bush.
Brooks will be recognized for his caring and compassion at The George H.W. Bush Points of Light Awards Gala on Thursday, Sept. 26, at the Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum in New York City.
“Garth is one of our generation’s true singer and songwriter legends – but what many people aren’t aware of, is Garth’s commitment and passion for creating viable change in communities across America,” said Neil Bush, chairman of Points of Light. “My father always admired the way Garth used his visibility to support and lift up those in need. And much like my father, Garth is a true humanitarian whose generosity comes from his empathetic compassion for others.”
“The fact that this award is a reflection of 41, his beloved Barbara, and the work they believed in is the greatest honor,” said Garth Brooks. “An award is only as good as its recipient – my hope and goal is to make the Bush family and the Honorary Chairs proud that Garth Brooks is the first name on this award for caring and compassion.”
In 1999, Brooks co-founded the innovative Teammates for Kids Foundation, which converts sports statistics into dollars. Teammates for Kids is funded by professional athletes who generously donate based on performance levels in their sport. To date, the foundation has grown to include nearly 5,000 professional athletes to generate funds for children’s charities, focusing on children’s health, education and inner-city outreach, and through building Child Life Zones, supporting youth athletic programs.
Alongside wife Trisha Yearwood, Brooks has also volunteered with Habitat For Humanity for more than a decade. Most recently, Brooks and Yearwood spent a week working with a crew to help build 41 homes in the community of Mishawaka, Indiana, at the 35th Annual Habitat for Humanity Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter Work Project. In 2016, Brooks and Yearwood were named the inaugural Habitat Humanitarians alongside President Jimmy Carter and former First Lady Rosalynn Carter, recognizing their work as tireless champions of the need for decent, affordable shelter in the U.S. and around the world.
“In these extraordinary times, people are looking for the inspiration, creativity and energy to make change,” said Natalye Paquin, president and CEO of Points of Light. “President George H.W. Bush believed in the transformative power of service and in the ability of one individual to make a significant difference. These principles have guided Points of Light for nearly 30 years, and that is why we are launching an annual series of awards that recognizes individuals worldwide with an extended, significant, and impactful history of service. We believe that what we celebrate is a reflection of what we value, and we are pleased to celebrate Garth Brooks’ contributions to improving humanity with this inaugural award.”
Presidents George W. Bush, Jimmy Carter, Bill Clinton and Barack Obama are serving as honorary chairs of The George H.W. Bush Points of Light Awards Gala. Lauren Bush Lauren, granddaughter of President Bush and founder and CEO of FEED, and Ray Chambers, founding chairman of the Points of Light Foundation, are the co-chairs of the Awards Gala.
Through its Global Network, Points of Light activates millions of volunteers annually who contribute tens of millions of hours of service. Every contribution to Points of Light and to The George H.W. Bush Points of Light Awards supports the organization’s general mission to inspire, equip and mobilize people to take action that lifts individuals and changes communities. This includes working in partnership with organizations and individuals to build a society where it is easy to do good and impossible to sit on the sidelines. We are defining a new kind of civic engagement for the 21st century, one that calls on people to give their time, talents, voice and resources to build a brighter future for all.
For more information on The George H.W. Bush Points of Light Awards Gala, please visit www.pointsoflight.org/bushawardsgala.
