Bamford raises funds for charity
Posted By CORINNE SZEPESI
Posted 5 months ago
CORINNE SZEPESI
Media Relations
Gord Bamford and a who’s who of Canadian Country Music artists generated $170,000 for four central Alberta charities in early August, through the newly founded Gord Bamford Charitable Foundation.
Bamford, along with George Canyon, Aaron Pritchett, Duane Steele, Jake Matthews, and a host of other talented artists banded together at the Lacombe Memorial Centre Aug. 6, to kick off the second annual event.
Double the amount
“Our goal for this year was to raise $75,000, since we raised $63,000 in 2008. When they told me we had generated $170,000 from the tournament, I was speechless.
“And it’s emotional too, because the money is going to four great causes: The Big Brothers and Big Sisters, Lacombe Accessible Park Society, Lacombe Athletic Park and the Ronald McDonald House Red Deer Project,” said Bamford.
“You’re only as good as the people you surround yourself with and this result proves that we had an incredible team. And we had a lot of fun pulling all the pieces into place,” he said.
The event began Thursday evening with a silent and live auction, which included signed guitars from George Strait, Taylor Swift and the talented Bamford himself.
Those in attendance were treated to a star-studded concert with performances from Canyon, Pritchett, Steele and Matthews.
Nashville record producer and songwriter Byron Hill was in atten-dance to sing “Fool Hearted Memory,” “Born Country” and “Size Matters,” all songs he wrote for George Strait, Alabama and Joe Nichols.
Bamford closed off the evening with “Little Guy,” a song he wrote for his son. It recently garnered Bamford three CCMA award nominations for Single of the Year, Songwriter of the Year, and CMT Video of the Year.
Top talent
Bamford has also been nominated as Male Artist of the Year.
Aug. 8 was spent at the Lacombe Golf and Country Club, where 152 golfers headed out for the golf tournament. CMT Canada and Casey Clarke filmed the Chevy Top 20, capturing the days’ antics, camaraderie and generosity.
The CMT Chevy Top 20 aired the week of Aug. 28.
“We look forward to supporting four other charities next year. I can only say that we’ve set the bar high.
“It was truly all made possible by the support of many generous sponsors, along with my good friends in the country music business,” said Bamford after the show.
