MEMPHIS, Tennessee., November 17, 2021 / PRNewswire / – Industry Leaders in the Country Music Community Lon helton and Bill Mayne are the 2021 laureates of the prestigious Randy Owen Angels Among Us Award. The award was presented by Alabama singer and Country Cares co-founder Randy Owen, who started the beloved tradition of presenting the award to others who have shown his exceptional spirit and dedication to the rescue mission of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital: Find remedies. Save children.®
Lon helton, whose radio career began in 1971, has used its many leading industry platforms to support St. Jude since the start of the Country Cares for St. Jude Kids program. Helton was one of the earliest and most passionate supporters of St. Jude when he was editor-in-chief of Radio & Records magazine, writing several articles pleading with country radio to increase its involvement in the St. Jude radiothons. As a Country Countdown host United StatesHelton has participated in radio fundraisers and various industry events, urging his national audience to become more involved. Since the inception of Country Aircheck in 2006, it has supported its advocacy for patients in St. Jude with regular editorial content highlighting the important medical advances and successes of the St. Jude Radiothon.
Bill Mayne used his influence in the industry as head of Warner Bros to garner support for the first launch of Country Cares for St. Jude Kids and to increase the interest and participation of all the major record companies on Music Row . Mayne got the first artist to attend the annual St. Jude event in the early ’90s – the late Holly dunn – after that Hill of Faith among many other big stars, who have inspired the tradition and culture of the participation of artists in this event. Mayne then continued his involvement with St. Jude as Executive Director of the Country Radio Broadcasters / Country Radio Seminar from 2009 to 2019, incorporating St. Jude directly into the annual program and encouraging participation in the radiothon program.
This recognition places Helton and Mayne among the nine former recipients, including the namesake Randy Owen. Recipients also include 2020 award winners Florida Georgia Line and Dame Antebellum, Jake owen, Brad Paisley, Darius rucker, Jean Rich, former Deputy General Manager of the ALSAC David McKee (posthumously) and member of the St. Jude Country Cares Advisory Board, Sharon Eave (posthumously). Helton and Mayne also received the 20-Year St. Jude Pioneers Award for their long-standing support of the children of St. Jude.
Cancer is a multi-year, multi-trillion dollar problem, so support from the music community is crucial to helping St. Jude step into his sixth birthday. $ 11.5 billion strategic plan to triple its global investment and impact more than 400,000 children with cancer worldwide each year. St. Jude will not stop until no child dies of cancer.
About St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital®
St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital is leading the world in understanding, treating and overcoming childhood cancer and other deadly diseases. Its objective is clear: To find cures. Save children.® It is the only National Cancer Center designated by the National Cancer Institute and devoted exclusively to children. Treatments invented in St. Jude have helped increase the overall childhood cancer survival rate from 20% to over 80% since the hospital opened over 50 years ago. St. Jude will not stop until no child dies of cancer. St. Jude shares the discoveries he makes, and every child saved at St. Jude means that doctors and scientists around the world can use this knowledge to save thousands more children. Families never receive a bill from St. Jude for treatment, travel, accommodation or food. Visit St. Jude Inspire to discover powerful stories of hope, strength, love and kindness from St. Jude. Join the St. Jude mission by visiting stjude.org, loving St. Jude on Facebook, following Saint Jude the Twitter, Instagram and TIC Tac, and by subscribing to its Youtube channel.
SOURCE ALSAC / St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital
