While at a tour stop in Aiken, South Carolina, Big Kenny spoke with the area’s South Aiken High School about the tragedy in Darfur, sharing his own experiences in the country and encouraging the 250 plus students and teachers in attendance to educate themselves and spread the message. The students were part of South Aiken High School’s STAND (Students Taking Action Now: Darfur) organization, a part of the Genocide Intervention Network, and had written numerous letters requesting Kenny speak to their school.
His visit was covered by local CBS affiliate WRDW News 12 First and The Aiken Standard. A brief video of Big Kenny's 2009 trip to Sudan can by viewed here. Kenny spoke about the genocide and abuse affecting the Sudanese people. He shared stories from his 2007 and 2009 visits, showed students his Akon, Sudan, documentary, answered questions from the audience and performed a selection of songs. "It's crazy. We really appreciate [that] he's using his celebrity status to really promote this issue and make change for the better and promote awareness for it," said South Aiken student Lauren Key, WRDW reports. "It shows even country singers and little kids like us all agree that this is a problem that needs to be taken care of," said South Aiken student Pedro Lopez-de-Victoria, WRDW reports. "It's good to see so many high school students that give a whoot about people all over the world," says Kenny. Big Kenny made his first trip to Sudan in 2007 accompanied by members of My Sisters Keeper, a non-profit organization focused on assisting, protecting and advocating for the women of southern Sudan, with hopes of shining a light 45km south of the war zone in Darfur. He returned in 2009 with three planes carrying 18 teachers and doctors, as well as school supplies and pharmaceuticals to help combat the Cholera epidemic. In June of this year, Kenny finished building the Kunyuk School for Girls which now boasts over 550 registered girls given their first chance at an education.
He documented his first journey on film, and since debuting it at the Nashville Film Festival in 2008, has utilized the film to spread awareness of the cause. In recognition of his efforts, the Save Darfur Coalition named him their December 2008 “Darfur Hero.” “Around the world, in every language, music is the common denominator,” Kenny says. “Share the music, share the love. Get out there and throw around as much love as you can. Come bearing a light and shine it all around.” Songs on Kenny's new album, The Quiet Times of a Rock and Roll Farm Boy, reflect his philanthropic work and his desire to share the love. As his first single, "Long After I'm Gone," goes, "...the love I leave and my wildest dreams will live on, long after I'm gone." ABOUT BIG KENNY: As one half of the genre-bending super duo Big & Rich, "Big Kenny" Alphin sold in excess of five million albums, opened sold-out stadium tours for Kenny Chesney, hit the amphitheaters with Tim McGraw, graced the covers of Entertainment Weekly, Billboard, Country Weekly and was featured in such venerable magazines as Rolling Stone, People and many others. Big & Rich has been a mainstay on national TV having performed on every late night talk show, morning show and all things in between. Also an accomplished songwriter, Big Kenny was named the BMI Songwriter of the Year in 2005, and has written several top 10 hits for artists such as Tim McGraw ("Last Dollar Fly Away"), Gretchen Wilson ("Here For The Party") and Jason Aldean ("Hicktown" and "Amarillo Sky"). Big Kenny's philanthropic efforts extend to the Southern region of Sudan, where he helped build the Kunyuk School for Girls in Akon in 2008, and to the American Appalachians, where he works to end mountaintop removal coal mining. His Love Everybody organization is a fledgling foundation that is generating good will throughout the community. His debut single from his Glotown/Love Everybody, LLC label is “Long After I'm Gone,” from his November 10 release, The Quiet Times of a Rock and Roll Farm Boy. |
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