PEDIGREE Foundation will host The Love of Dogs Benefit Concert featuring country artists Runaway June on October 5th, 2022 at The Factory at Franklin (230 Franklin Rd, Franklin, TN 37064).

The event, hosted by Storme Warren (SiriusXM The Highway) and Larissa Wohl (Great American Media & WKRN News 2), will feature a cocktail reception, delicious BBQ buffet dinner, a silent and LIVE auction with a chance to win fabulous trips and autographed celebrity memorabilia. After dinner, attendees will enjoy a special night of music with country artists Runaway June.

Runaway June is comprised of Stevie Woodward (lead vocals/guitar/harmonica/ piano), Natalie Stovall (vocals/fiddle/guitar), and Jennifer Wayne (vocals/guitar). The trio’s “inescapable talent” (AXS.com) is multiplied by their seamlessly rich, organic harmonies and fiery, western-rooted bluegrass sound, earning them recognition as Billboard’s “Next Hot Trend in Country Music” and CMT’s “Next Women of Country” just to name a few. The event will raise much-needed funds for PEDIGREE Foundation grants program that supports organizations across the country that help dogs in need find loving homes, a cause near to their hearts.

“Shelters and rescues across the country are facing unprecedented capacity issues with over 350,000 pets currently waiting for their forever homes,” said Kimberly Wise, President of PEDIGREE Foundation. “Fundraising events like The Love of Dogs Benefit Concert help us increase our grant funding to support these organizations, making a difference in the lives of dogs and making steps toward our ambition to end pet homelessness.”

PEDIGREE Foundation goal is to support shelter and rescue organizations across the nation that are focused primarily on supporting fostering, matching, behavior and transport programs, as well as disaster relief while ultimately helping dogs in need find their forever homes.  In 2021, PEDIGREE Foundation awarded more than $760,000 in grants to shelter and rescue programs. These funds helped nearly 118,000 dogs find their forever homes.

The annual fundraising events provide significant funding for their annual grant budget. These funds help transform adoption rates and support shelters and rescues with big-impact ideas. The goal for this year’s event is to provide $1 million in grants and help 125,000 dogs in need.

Current sponsors include ProAmpac, Silgan, ID Logistics, Plastic Packaging Technologies, Tennessee Titans, Kobrand Wine & Spirits and DET Distributing.

Sponsorships are still available in addition to a limited number of tables and tickets that have just been released. For more information about the event, sponsorship, and tickets, please visit the ticketing website. 

PEDIGREE Foundation, a philanthropic organization that helps dogs find their forever homes, will host “The Love of Dogs” Benefit Concert on Wednesday, May 17th at 6:00pm at Marathon Music Works (1402 Clinton St, Nashville, TN 37203).

The concert event will hosted by syndicated country radio personality Shawn Parr and will include a cocktail reception, dinner, and exciting live/silent auction that will be followed by a Special Musical Performance by Marty Stuart and his Fabulous Superlatives - all to benefit PEDIGREE Foundation and its shelter and Rescue grants program.

Marty Stuart is a Country Music Hall of Famer, five-time Grammy-winner, and AMA Lifetime Achievement honoree. Stuart will release his new album, Altitude, just two days after the event on May 19th via Snakefarm. This is his first new album in more than six years. Late last year, Marty Stuart and his Fabulous Superlatives were inducted into the Musicians Hall of Fame and he celebrated his 50th year in Nashville and 30th anniversary as a Grand Ole Opry member.

PEDIGREE Foundation’s goal is to support shelter and rescue organizations across the nation that are focused on increasing dog adoption, primarily through fostering, matching, behavior and transport programs, as well as disaster relief to support impacted shelter communities during a natural disaster.

“We are thrilled to have Marty Stuart and His Fabulous Superlatives join us for our benefit concert celebrating our 15 years of supporting the incredible work of these shelters and rescues across the country,” said Deb Fair, Executive Director of PEDIGREE Foundation. “This event raises much-needed funds for our annual grant budget and we cannot do it alone. We are thankful to our generous sponsors, donors, and the community for supporting the work we do. We hope they’ll join us on May 17th as well.”

Across the U.S., there are 1.3 million estimated stray dogs, many of which are searching for their forever homes. The foundation is actively working to find a solution to the problem. Through grant programs, donations, and fundraising events like these, the foundation supports organizations that save the lives of dogs that would otherwise be lost. Since its inception in 2008, PEDIGREE Foundation has awarded more than 6,100 grants, amounting to $11.7 million to organizations that share the goal of ending pet homelessness and helping dogs find their forever homes. In 2022, PEDIGREE Foundation helped 66,000 dogs through $1 million in grants.

The event is sponsored by: Double Wood Farm, Silgan, Transcontinental Holding Corp, Winpak, Tyson Ingredient Solutions Group, ProAmpac, ID Logistics, Atlantic Packaging, Nutra Blend LLC, Tennessee Titans, and Amcor Flexibles.

Limited tickets and ticket packages are on sale now. For more information about the event and tickets, please visit the website.

PEDIGREE Foundation will host a special Writers Round at The Listening Room Cafe in Nashville, TN on October 8, 2023 (12:00pm doors open/lunch | 2:00p - 3:00pm show) to raise funds for shelters and rescues to help increase dog adoption.

The “Dogtober” event, sponsored by Pinnacle Bank, is part of a year-long celebration of the 15th Birthday of PEDIGREE Foundation in 2023 – that’s 105 in dog years! Singer-songwriters Jillian Cardarelli, Levi Hummon, Tina Parol and Jonathan Sherwood are set to perform and share stories-behind-the-songs. In addition, the event will be co-hosted by Danielle Breezy, WKRN’s Chief Meteorologist and Joe Breezy, WKRN’s Local on 2 and Mix 92.9. (see bios below)

Nearly 3.1 million dogs end up in shelters and rescues every year, and nearly half never find a home. The goal of PEDIGREE Foundation is to support shelter and rescue organizations across the nation that are focused primarily on supporting fostering, behavior and transport programs, as well as disaster relief while ultimately helping dogs in need find a loving home. Overcapacity challenges - particularly of large dogs in need of adoption and fostering - behavior training and staff resources continue to be major concerns this year. Donor support is making a difference as PEDIGREE Foundation focuses on transport, foster and behavior training – proven solutions to get more dogs into forever homes and reduce shelter capacity issues.

As shelters face these critical challenges again this year, PEDIGREE Foundation continues to demonstrate its commitment to supporting the animal welfare community through its annual grant programs.

“We are so excited to continue to celebrate 15 years of giving through PEDIGREE Foundation with this songwriters event,” said Deb Fair, Executive Director of PEDIGREE Foundation. “Events like this help us raise more funds to support shelters and rescues, such as the $30,000 in support that we recently provided to Greater Good Charities’ Good Flights program to help transport shelter animals out of Maui.”

In 2022, PEDIGREE Foundation awarded more than $1 million in grants across shelter and rescue programs in the U.S. and Canada, helping more than 66,000 dogs find their forever homes. With 2022’s grant announcement, PEDIGREE Foundation has provided more than 6,100 grants totaling $11.7 million since its inception in 2008. PEDIGREE Foundation also expanded funding of programs to Canada with the launch of the PEDIGREE Foundation Canadian Grant Program, providing $100k CAD to Canadian shelters and rescue organizations in need.

Tickets to the October 8th event are $25 and on sale now at www.listeningroomcafe.com.

Sponsorships are available by contacting LEGACY PR & Events at 615-669-6058 or Tresa@Legacy-PR.com.

For more information about PEDIGREE Foundation, please visit PEDIGREEFoundation.org

The music community gathered yesterday afternoon at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum’s Ford Theater for a Celebration of Life for one of their own, Will Jennings, who passed away on September 6, 2024 in his home in Tyler, TX at the age of 80.  

Jennings was one of the most revered songwriters of his generation, penning an extraordinary number of timelessly beloved songs for an eclectic range of musical icons like Eric Clapton, Steve Winwood, Whitney Houston, Roy Orbison, B.B. King, Celine Dion and Tim McGraw to name a few.

The Celebration of Life was a poignant and joyful reflection of Jennings' monumental contributions to music, featuring highlights of his career with personal testimonies from fellow songwriters, artists, and friends who spoke about his kindness, creativity, and impact on the music industry. Performances of some of Jennings' most beloved songs followed, with artists who had worked alongside him offering renditions of his classics that spanned decades. Special guest appearances and performances included Rodney Crowell, Vince Gill, Amy Grant, Emmylou Harris, Wendy Moten and Lilly Winwood (daughter of Steve Winwood).  

A particularly touching moment during the event was a video from Steve Winwood, honoring his friend Will Jennings as he spoke about a particular piece of music that Jennings would always play for him. Winwood recalled a particular time, about 10 years ago, when he then sang this melody to Jennings. Winwood said he will always remember that moment and he will always remember Will.

Jennings was widely recognized for his extraordinary songwriting ability and his impact on the world of music, crafting songs that have resonated with generations of listeners from country to pop. Born in Kilgore Texas, and relocated to Tyler, Texas as a child, Jennings primarily loved the iconic blues songs influenced by B.B. King. He recognized that he couldn’t make a living writing three-chord songs about the Blues, so he studied poetry and earned degrees that landed him a job as an Associate Professor of English and French literature at the University of Wisconsin. Jennings’ love of music overwhelmed his desire to teach, and he eventually decided to move to Nashville to write songs. That move caught the attention of music publisher Lance Freed, who signed Jennings to a publishing deal in 1974. In 2023, Lance Freed, All Clear Music and Fuji Music Group acquired 100% interest in the publishing rights and writer’s share to Jennings’ entire catalog of music.

“On behalf of everyone at Sheltered Music, we have gathered among some of the industry’s top talent to recognize and celebrate Will's incredible life and legacy,” said Darrell Franklin, SVP at Sheltered Music Publishing. “Will wasn’t just a master of words, but he wrote songs for the common man. He understood that language and spoke to their hearts. His work will undoubtedly continue to inspire songwriters and music lovers for generations to come."

It was Jennings’ work with Clapton on the timeless classic “Tears in Heaven” that catapulted him to global recognition. The song, written in the wake of Clapton’s tragic loss of his son, not only became an international hit but also won multiple Grammy Awards, including Song of the Year. Jennings' biggest hit remains the 1997's Titanic theme "My Heart Will Go On." The song, written by Jennings and composer James Horner and sung by Celine Dion, earned numerous Oscars, Grammys and Golden Globes, becoming the most-played radio hit in history according to the Songwriter Hall of Fame.

He’s been called the greatest American lyricist of the late 20th century with numerous recognizable hits including “Up Where We Belong,” "Can’t We Go On Together,” "I’ll Never Love This Way Again,” "People Alone,” “Back in the High Life Again,” “My Father’s Eyes,” “Free Fallin,” “While You See a Chance,” “Please Remember Me,” “Where Are You Christmas,” "Somewhere in the Night,” and “Street Life.” Jennings also co-wrote "Higher Love" with Steve Winwood, which landed on Billboard’s Hot 100 as a # 1 song. 

Jennings received numerous Golden Globe Awards and two songs, “My Heart Will Go On” and “Up Where We Belong,” both received Academy Awards along with an additional four songs that were nominated for Song of the Year by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences. His resume also includes awards of recognition including inductions into both the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame, the prestigious Songwriters Hall of Fame in New York and The Texas Songwriters Hall of Fame in Austin, Texas.

In addition to his songwriting achievements, Jennings’ impact extended beyond the music itself. His advocacy for songwriters’ rights and his involvement in mentoring younger generations of musicians left an indelible mark on the industry. His passing marked the end of an era, but his timeless songs will remain a testament to his extraordinary talent. Will Jennings legacy lives on through his music, his influence, and the memories shared by those who were fortunate enough to know him and work alongside him.

Will Jennings is survived by his wife of 59 years, the former Carole Thurman and by two sisters, Joyce and Gloria.