Inaugural Event Will Benefit Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children and T.J. Martell Foundation
New York, NY - (January 31, 2012) - Music fans will converge on Orlando this March to take part in a memorable concert event while supporting the battle against cancer.
The first-ever Music for Champions concert will take place on Monday, March 19, 2012 at Hard Rock Live Orlando. Proceeds from the concert will jointly benefit Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children and T.J. Martell Foundation for Leukemia, Cancer and AIDS Research. The concert will kick off the 2012 Arnold Palmer Invitational Presented by MasterCard.
Headlining the concert will be Grammy Award®-winning country music super group Rascal Flatts, and the night will also feature at least one major international music act. An announcement of additional acts is expected in the coming weeks.
Music for Champions is a high-profile, festive event that will feature a magical evening of performances. The concert will bring celebrities together with business, medical, music and sports industry executives to raise awareness and funds for innovative cancer research. The evening will also feature a live auction of unique, one-of-a-kind items.
The concert will begin at 7:30 P.M., with doors opening to general ticket holders at 6:30 P.M. Sponsorships are on sale now, with packages beginning at $1,500; individual tickets will start at $50, and will go on sale Friday, February 3 at 10:00 P.M. EST. Concert, ticket, and sponsorship information is available atwww.MusicForChampions.com.
For more information, please contact the T.J. Martell Foundation at (646) 841-1394 or visitwww.TJMartellFoundation.org.
ABOUT ARNOLD PALMER HOSPITAL FOR CHILDREN
In just over two decades, Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children has risen from a community hospital serving Central Florida to an internationally-known health care institution, now ranked as one of the country's "Best Children's Hospitals" by U.S. News & World Report. Arnold Palmer Hospital partners with MD Anderson Cancer Center Orlando to provide highly focused expertise and individual attention to critically ill children from around the state of Florida. Since 1995, our pediatric oncology and hematology doctors have cared for children diagnosed with a variety of cancer and blood disorders, including leukemia, central nervous system cancers, bone tumors, Hodgkin's Disease, lymphoma, sickle cell disease and hemophilia. Increasingly, our clinicians are joining forces with researchers around the country and here in Orlando to perform research and develop innovative cancer treatments and protocols. Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children is committed to the ongoing process of discovery and innovation and proud to be the newest member of the T.J. Martell Foundation family.
ABOUT THE T.J. MARTELL FOUNDATION
Founded in 1975, the T. J. Martell Foundation is the music industry's largest foundation that funds innovative medical research focused on finding cures for leukemia, cancer and AIDS. The Foundation supports creative early-stage research projects aimed at developing more effective clinical treatments for patients, which otherwise might not be funded.
The Foundation began with a promise music industry executive Tony Martell made to his son, T.J. who was diagnosed with leukemia in 1973. T.J. asked his father to raise a million dollars so no one else would have to experience suffering as he did; his father agreed. Two years later, T.J. died and Tony honored his promise to his beloved son. A fundraising event in T.J.'s memory raised $50,000 towards that promise. With the help of friends in the music industry, Tony Martell founded the T.J. Martell Foundation for Leukemia, Cancer and AIDS research in 1975. Since then, the Foundation has raised over $250 million. In 2012 the Foundation will fund research projects at 11 institutions around the country including Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children.
ABOUT ARNOLD PALMER INVITATIONAL PRESENTED BY MASTERCARD
The Arnold Palmer Invitational Presented by MasterCard will hold its 34th annual tournament March 19-25, 2012. The Arnold Palmer Invitational Presented by MasterCard is one of Central Florida's signature events, a premier sporting event and a highlight of the PGA TOUR, attracting some of the greatest talent in golf. The entire event is overseen and directed by one of the game's all-time greats – Arnold Palmer. Proceeds from the tournament benefit Arnold Palmer Medical Center, including Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children and Winnie Palmer Hospital for Women & Babies.
ABOUT RASCAL FLATTS
Rascal Flatts debuted their last studio album, Nothing Like This, on Big Machine Records in the fall of 2010 at #1 on the Country album sales chart and became one of only four country acts to debut six consecutive studio albums at #1. Since their musical debut in 2000, the band has sold over 20 million albums and 25 million digital downloads and delivered 13 #1 singles to the top of the charts. The band is the most awarded country group of the past decade with over 40 trophies from the American Country Awards, Academy of Country Music Awards, American Music Awards, Country Music Association Awards, People's Choice Awards and more. In 2011, they were the most played country group at country radio.