Beverley Mahood to receive 2014 Slaight Music Humanitarian Award

July 3, 2014 (Toronto, ON)  – The Canadian Country Music Association® (CCMA®) announced today that CCMA Award winner Beverley Mahood will receive the 2014 Slaight Music Humanitarian Award.

“Beverley Mahood has long used the stage and her talents to champion causes that need awareness, support and give voice to philanthropic endeavors she cares deeply about,” said Ron Kitchener, Chair of the CCMA Board of Directors. “She effortlessly exudes goodwill, making Beverley a deserving recipient of the Slaight Music Humanitarian Award.”

A successful singer, songwriter, actress, model and television host, Beverley Mahood is the complete package. Beyond being a popular and dynamic entertainer, Mahood has always exemplified an unwavering commitment to humanitarian work. With a passion for community endeavors that nearly rivals her love of music, Mahood’s main calling card is charitable causes that benefit children.

2014 marked Mahood’s 17^th consecutive year co-hosting the Kinsmen Telemiracle, which raises funds for families of children with disabilities and people with special needs within the province of Saskatchewan. Mahood devotes her time to this 20-hour live event annually, often spending up to a week in her home province pre-show to promote and engage the local community. Over $65 million dollars has been raised via the Kinsmen Telemiracle since Mahood began co-hosting, an impressive figure given the province’s one million-person population.

In addition, Mahood is a long-time supporter of Canada’s Food Banks, Corus Feed Kids and Tom Jackson’s The Huron Carole. She is also the national spokesperson for the Pink Mitten Campaign which supports breast cancer research, a role she has happily filled since 2010. There are at least a dozen other organizations and programs she has made time to support over the years.

“As artists, we are blessed with having the privilege of a voice and a stage. With this comes a responsibility to use this privilege so those without a voice can be heard. Children, in particular, need that voice,” noted Beverley Mahood. “I am very fortunate to be involved in meaningful community service with the most dedicated and passionate people. Slaight Music are these kind of people, and the Slaight Humanitarian Award is an honour I will treasure.”

“The Slaight Music Humanitarian Award was created to acknowledge artists such as Beverley Mahood – those who use their music career as a springboard for humanitarian work,” said Gary Slaight, President and CEO of Slaight Communications.  “Beverley’s reputation for being humbly philanthropic precedes her. I want to congratulate her on her tireless efforts, and thank her for being a role model in the music community.”

Beverley Mahood will receive the 2014 Slaight Music Humanitarian Award during a private industry event held during Country Music Week, which takes place September 4 – 7 in Edmonton, Alberta. For more information on the Slaight Music Humanitarian Award, and other CCMA Awards of Achievement, click here.

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About the Canadian Country Music Association® (CCMA®) Established in 1976, the CCMA is a membership-based, not-for-profit organization committed to the promotion and recognition of Canadian country music. Built upon the foundation to educate, elevate and celebrate Canadian talent, the CCMA progressively heralds the spirit, community and creativity that country music fosters through year-round initiatives, culminating every fall with Country Music Week and the Canadian Country Music Association Awards.

About the Slaight Music Humanitarian Award: The CCMA Board of Directors have established an Awards of Achievement recognition program for the purpose of recognizing individuals and events whose contributions to the Canadian country music industry have been deemed as extraordinary.  One of these awards, the Slaight Music Humanitarian Award, recognizes an individual(s) and/or an event(s) that has made an outstanding contribution of time and energy in the support of humanitarian causes through country music in Canada.  This award is currently named the Slaight Music Humanitarian Award in recognition of a generous donation by the Slaight Music Foundation. 

About Slaight Music: Slaight Music was created by Gary Slaight and Derrick Ross in 2011 with a mandate to support the Canadian music community through a variety of initiatives, and to develop Canadian talent via strategic partnerships with industry peers. The company works with artists from across the country and across the musical spectrum, helping to further careers and get great music heard.

Media Contact Sonya Koson Communications Lead, CCMA skoson@ccma.org 416-947-1331 x210