Before heading out on the Australian leg of “The Speed of Now Tour,” Keith Urban visited a handful of Nashville-based charities, presenting each with donations to recognize their work.
The contributions included $50,000 to both The Nashville Food Project, which brings people together to provide food in order to alleviate hunger across the city, and Thistle Farms, which provides healing and hope for women survivors of trafficking, prostitution, and addiction. The Music Health Alliance, who provides advocacy and access to life-saving healthcare resources for music professionals, received $100,000. An Urban family donation of $50,000 was also made to Vanderbilt Breast Cancer Research.
“Keith Urban’s contribution and passion for Music Health Alliance helps our organization, and the people who work tirelessly on our behalf, to provide funds for life-saving healthcare advocacy and resources that serve vulnerable music makers facing healthcare challenges,” says Tatum Hauck Allsep, Founder and CEO of Music Alliance. “He’s always supported our community and for that we are so appreciative.”
“This gift from Keith Urban will help so many of our neighbors get the food they want and need,” The Nashville Food Project’s CEO C.J. Sentell adds. “With this generous donation, we can share more than 15,000 meals and provide seeds, tools, and supplies for 100 families to grow their own food in 2023. We are grateful to Keith Urban and others like him who make this work possible every day!”
“We are overcome with gratitude at this gift from Mr. Urban, which will help Thistle Farms light the way for even more women survivors of commercial sex trafficking and exploitation,” Tasha Kennard, CEO of Thistle Farms, shares. “25 years ago, we pioneered a unique two-year residential program in Nashville which incorporates free, trauma-informed care and a supportive community while providing meaningful employment. This gift paves the way for the next woman on the streets who is searching for a way home to find the love and safety she deserves.”
“I have a deep-seated respect and feeling of gratitude for the work that all of these organizations do to make people’s lives more manageable,” Urban explains. “Their commitment to community, what they do for Nashville, and for others across the country, is not only inspiring, but it shows how much we can accomplish when working together.”
The donations are the result of Urban’s participation in this year’s Cantor Charity Day, during which he raised the monies donated by Cantor on his behalf. To date, Charity Day has raised over $192 million for charitable causes around the world, and since its inception the Cantor Fitzgerald Relief Fund has raised and distributed over $369 million.