JO DEE MESSINA RAISES OVER $30,000 FOR HARVEST HANDS

DATE:       DECEMBER 7, 2009

FROM:      TODD BRODGINSKI/MITCH SCHNEIDER/ANGELA VILLANUEVA

 JO DEE MESSINA
RAISES OVER $30,000
FOR HARVEST HANDS

Pictured: Jo Dee Messina with the Harvest Hands Board of Directors, Concert Organizers and some Harvest Hands Kids prior to the Dec. 5th benefit concert

Country superstar JO DEE MESSINA helped raise over $30,000 this past Saturday for Harvest Hands in South Nashville.

JO DEE performed two very special shows this past weekend–alongside youth and children’s choirs–at the Brentwood United Methodist Church in Nashville partnering with Harvest Hands Community Development Corporation (CDC), a non-profit, faith-based organization in South Nashville (http://www.harvesthandscdc.com/). With two shows, JO DEE performed for 3,000 fans, not including the 1,200 which watched the show via UStream online.  The show included songs from JO DEE’s Christmas album, A JOYFUL NOISE, such as “Silver Bells,” “The Christmas Song” and “Let It Snow.” The evening performance is available for viewing online–and will be throughout the end of December–at www.JoDeeMessina.com/harvesthands. Fans are still welcome to make donations and t-shirts are available for purchase as well.

“[Directors] Brian and Courtney Hicks are angels walking the face of this earth.  What they do with Harvest Hands must make God smile,” says JO DEE. “I feel blessed to be able to use my gift of voice so that they can continue, not only to change lives by ‘doing,’ but by being an example to the rest of us on how to truly make a difference."

This Thursday, December 10 JO DEE will perform at Green's Grocery in Leiper's Fork, TN to benefit the Montessori School of Franklin (http://www.montessorifranklin.org/). Montessori School of Franklin is a community of children, parents and staff dedicated to following the development of the whole child. While practicing grace and courtesy, the child directs his/her day and has lessons in practical life, sensorial, math, language, science, music, and cultural activities. Beginning at 6:30pm, the event will also include performances from Ron Block (of Alison Krauss and Union Station), Allen Shamblin and Julie Lee. Tickets are available now for $125 per person which includes food and drink.  A live auction will also be held. For tickets please call 615-794-0567.

JO DEE, who has nine #1 country singles to her credit and sold over five million albums, is preparing for the release of her new single, “That’s God,” out next month. This will advance her first album in five years, UNMISTAKABLE, due in the spring on Curb.  The album, which marks her fifth studio album, shows that JO DEE has fully come into her own as a songwriter and producer–she co-produced the whole album–and isn’t afraid to show her true colors. 

For more information, check out JO DEE online:
http://www.jodeemessina.com/
http://www.myspace.com/jodeemessina
http://www.facebook.com/jodeemessina
http://twitter.com/jodeemessina

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