When it was time for Willie Nelson to spread some holiday cheer he knew exactly where to go—his home away from home.
The 74-year-old country crooner wanted to show the town that embraced him before he was famous just how much he cared so he donated $40,000 to area charities.
The city of Vancouver, Washington is the proud recipient of Nelson’s generous holiday gift and government leaders there say the money will be well spent.
For those of you who don’t know, in the late 1950s, Nelson worked as a radio disc jockey for Vancouver station KVAN. It was there that country legend financed and recorded the single “No Place for Me” and sold it to some of his listeners. Following his success in Vancouver, Nelson moved back to his native Texas and then on to Nashville, Tennessee where he garnered national fame.
This summer Nelson retuned to Vancouver to play a series of concerts and promised to share the proceeds from the performances with the city.
Just in time for Christmas Nelson made good on his promise and earlier this week Vancouver received the $40,000 check. A couple of days ago the city gave $15,000 to the Humane Society of Washington and $15,000 to the Boys and Girls Club. According to city leaders, the remaining $10,000 will be used for efforts to make the community more ecologically friendly.
But, Vancouver, Washington is not the only city benefiting from a singing star’s goodwill.
Cincinnati, specifically the city’s Children’s Hospital Medical Center, has something to sing about this Christmas thanks to native son Nick Lachey and the hometown choir he put together.
The former “Newlywed” led his group of amateur singers to a big win on NBC’s “Clash of the Choirs,” and as a result, the hospital was awarded $250,000.
Jessica Simpson’s ex-husband’s choir beat four other choirs led by music celebrities including Patti LaBelle and Michael Bolton. The choirs performed live during four consecutive episodes of the show, which aired earlier this week.
In the end Lachey’s choir came out on top and Cincinnati’s Children’s Hospital Medical Center got an early Christmas present.