Amy Grant is a singer/songwriter by profession and a philanthropist at heart.  In addition to selling over 30 million albums worldwide and becoming one of the most acclaimed and honored artist in pop/contemporary Christian music history, Amy has spent the last 30 years of her career giving away her time, talent, and resources to help promote charities of all kinds, whether they be national organization or small grassroots operations that need a helping hand.

In Amy’s memoir titled “Mosaic..Pieces of My Life So Far,” she writes an entire chapter on philanthropy.  She was raised in a family where giving back was modeled from early on, especially by her very successful and wealthy grandfather, A.M. Burton:
“Life is made of of golden chances, opportunities to do good.  One lost is lost forever.  If we miss doing a kindness to a  friend, we can never do that kindness again.  If we might speak a pleasant word, or offer a bit of worthwhile counsel or advice and fail to do so, we can never have just that opportunity again.  Giving is a way of life.” (from the writings of A.M. Burton 1879-1966).
Amy says she was taught early on in life that if she learned to give money away when her income was small, then the pattern would be established.  If lots of money ever started coming her way, she would be accustomed to passing it around.  And pass it around she has… and will continue to do for as long as she lives.

The list of organizations that have benefited from the generosity of Amy Grant is long and impressive.  It ranges from organizations that focus on medical research and treatment (St. Jude Research Hospital, American Cancer Society, American Heart Association, Woman’s Cancer Research Fund, Sarah Cannon Cancer Center, etc.) to organizaitons that exist to support/encourage people with disabilities or terminal diseases (Challenge America, Make-A-Wish) etc.) to those organizations that exist to support people in need, great and small, here in the US and across the world (The Red Cross, Second Harvest Food Bank, Habitat for Humanity, Compassion International) to organizations that focus on the importance of the arts for the survival and advancement of our culture (The Nashville Symphony, etc.)  And beyond those organizations listed above, all of which have widely recognized name value, Amy is constantly involved with smaller organizations that most people will never hear about but that need the support of someone like her – Metropolitan Ministries, Soles for Souls, Hope Center for Women, Under The Bridge, etc.

For her philanthropic efforts, many organizations have tried to find ways to thank her.  Target Stores and St. Jude worked together to name the entertainment room at the Target House the “Amy Grant Room,” in honor of all she had given back.  Two years ago, at the grand opening of the new symphony hall in Nashville, Amy was surprised on stage with the honor of finding out that the stage has been named “The Amy Grant Performance Stage.”  During her late 1990′s “House of Love” 50+ city tour, Amy partnered with Target Stores to dedicate the proceeds of her concerts in every city to build houses for people in need through Habitat for Humanity.  Over 100 “houses of love” were built across the US.  AS a thank you, Habitat for Humanity built several houses a few miles away from Amy’s home in Nashville and dedicated the street where they were built, “Amy Grant Drive.”  But as much as all of these beautiful tokens of appreciation have meant to Amy, nothing means more to her than knowing her efforts and finances were able to meet the needs of strangers she will never meet.
The charity affiliation list is as long as it is wide.  But the list exists not solely because giving back was something that was instilled in her early on, the list is a direct result of her faith and her deep belief that God uses all of us to be the “helping hand” that another person might be desperately needing.

My attitude and approach to giving cannot be separated from how I view God and, consequently, my fellow man.  Do I believe in God?  Do I believe that my needs are met by God?  And if he can supply my needs, what about everybody else’s?  God provides through people.  Am I willing to be connected to the people in my world, the people at work, the people in my house, the people I encounter in everyday patterns of living?  Am I open to the possibility of my life, my gifts, touching another life?  My life touching another; the domino effect of God’s goodness rippling through so many other lives, is a powerful, far-reaching concept.  Giving never happens by accident; it’s always intentional.  The apostle Paul says, “Remember this:  Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously.  Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. (2 Cor 9:6-7).  All of us want our lives to be meaningful.  The answer to that longing will never be found in a bigger flat-screen television, a new wardrobe, the perfect figure, or a perfect house.  The secret to a life well lived is in giving.  When we give, our lives are touched and changed.” (from “Mosaic…Pieces of My Life So Far)

For over 10 years, Amy has been donating her time and talent to Challenge Aspen (www.challengeaspen.com), an organization that provides recreational, cultural, and competitive experiences for people with disabilities.  It has been an organization very close to her heart.  Several years ago, Challenge Aspen founder, Houston Cowan, recognized the need for the vast number of returning wounded war veterans to have a program that existed to help meet their needs and provide them a chance to return to a “normal life” in spite of their injuries.

Challenge America (www.challengeamerica.com) 2009, hosted by Amy Grant and Vince Gill will be an evening of entertainment with legendary artists and friends Michael McDonald, Alison Krauss, Darius Rucker, Mac McAnally, and Melinda Doolittle, and will help launch the nationwide Challenge America initiative.  The initiative’s mission is to support the development of recreational and occupational programs in willing communities to link new and existing services to better serve injured military and their families.

St. Jude is unlike any other pediatric treatment and research facility. Discoveries made here have completely changed how the world treats children with cancer and other catastrophic diseases. With research and patient care under one roof, St. Jude is where some of today’s most gifted researchers are able to do science more quickly.  A place where cutting-edge research and revolutionary discoveries happen every day and where ALL patients are accepted for treatment without regard to the family’s ability to pay.

AMY GRANT has been a long time supporter of St. Jude.  She has served as a co-chair for the national “St. Jude Dream Home” fundraising campaign and she has given her time, talent and financial support to the Target House at St. Jude, which has an “Amy Grant Entertainment Room,” where families can relax, listen to music or play an instrument, and spend quality time together while a child is a patient at St. Jude.

For more information please visit www.stjude.org

Compassion International exists as a Christian child advocacy ministry that releases children from spiritual, economic, social and physical poverty and enables them to become responsible, fulfilled Christian adults.

Founded by the Rev. Everett Swanson in 1952, Compassion began providing Korean War orphans with food, shelter, education and health care, as well as Christian training.

Today, Compassion helps more than 1 million children in 25 countries.
AMY GRANT has been a long time supporter of Compassion International.  She and her family have sponsored individual children, visited some of their sponsored children in Guatamala, and she has been a vocal advocate of the one-on-one sponsorship program during many of her national tours.  In July 2009, Amy and all of her children traveled to Uganda with Compassion International and saw first hand the work that Compassion is doing for children affected by poverty, HIV-AIDS, and malaria.

For more information please visit www.compassion.com

The Entertainment Industry Foundation harnesses the collective power of the entertainment industry and channels its unique assets to raise awareness and funds for critical health, educational and social issues in order to make a positive impact in our community and throughout the nation.

Amy is partnering with the skin care company, philosophy, to help raise funds for the Entertainment Industry Foundation’s Women’s Cancer Research Funds through the release of the song “She Colors My Day” (all royalties are donated to EIF) and various “She Colors My Day” philosophy products and partnerships.  Amy has had several dear friends struggle with women’s related cancer and as the daughter of a retired radiologist/oncologist, she knows first hand how important research and funding the fight is for all of us.

Please join her in supporting this important campaign by downloading “She Colors My Day” at iTunes .

Since its founding in 1881 by visionary leader Clara Barton, the American Red Cross has been the nation’s premier emergency response organization. As part of a worldwide movement that offers neutral humanitarian care to the victims of war, the American Red Cross distinguishes itself by also aiding victims of devastating natural disasters. Over the years, the organization has expanded its services, always with the aim of preventing and relieving suffering.

Today, in addition to domestic disaster relief, the American Red Cross offers compassionate services in five other areas: community services that help the needy; support and comfort for military members and their families; the collection, processing and distribution of lifesaving blood and blood products; educational programs that promote health and safety; and international relief and development programs.

Several years ago Amy joined the Red Cross Celebrity Counsel to try to help raise awareness for the multi-faceted work the Red Cross does for communities all across America. She is also one of the founding members of the Red Cross Tiffany Circle and in 2009 will be the spokesperson for the Holiday Mail for Heroes program.

Many people are under the misconception that the Red Cross is a federally funded organization.  It is not.  It depends on donations and volunteers from all over.  Every dime and every minute donated make a difference.  For more information please visit www.redcross.org.

Abe’s Garden evolved from the personal experience Michael Shmerling had with his father Dr. Abram C. “Abe” Shmerling. His family watched, essentially helpless, while their loved one suffered for more than 11 years with the disease, finally succumbing in November of 2006. This experience, while devastating, opened their eyes to the dramatic need for a community wholly centered on caring for those sharing this same fate.  Mindful that there is no cure or reliable treatment to prevent or slow the progression of Alzheimer’s disease, the only alternative today is to improve the quality of life for the victims, their families, and caregivers through a campus designed specifically for that purpose.  Since 2005, Michael has led an effort to establish a full continuum of care, best practices community in Nashville to be known as Abe’s Garden.

In recent years, Amy Grant’s family has been impacted by Alzheimer’s disease. They have experienced many of the same challenges of locating appropriate and quality care. When she learned about Abe’s Garden, Amy immediately offered her assistance, and since that time has shared her many gifts to help the Abe’s Garden vision become a reality. With the generous support of Amy’s fans, Abe’s Garden will be constructed in the coming years and begin to serve as a national model of Alzheimer’s care; improving lives and setting standards for the future.

For more information, please visit: www.abesgarden.org