Garth Brooks benefit concert series prompts Toys for Tots donation
More than 14,000 toys donated for Toys for Tots will be delivered Sunday afternoon at Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena, where Oklahoma music megastar Garth Brooks is continuing a series of nine benefit concerts through Wednesday.
A Toys for Tots donation center was stationed in front of the venue when Brooks began the series with two shows Thursday night, according to CMT.com. The massive donation was organized by Ray Carolin, one of the singer’s friends who previously served as vice president of the Arizona chapter of the NFL Alumni Association.
After Brooks’ assistant contacted him, Carolin contacted Spalding Sporting Goods, which responded by donating 14,616 toys that will arrive with Santa Claus at the arena. The U.S. Marines will deliver the toys to deserving children just in time for Christmas.
As the concert series launched Thursday night, a multigenerational crowd sang along as the Owasso resident and his band blew through his biggest hits, including “Friends in Low Places,” “The Thunder Rolls” and “The Dance.”
Brooks hadn’t played an arena show in Music City since 1998, but most fans stayed standing for the 90-minute hit parade. Brooks’ wife, Trisha Yearwood, and pal Steve Wariner joined Brooks on stage for a few songs each, according to the Associated Press.
Proceeds from the concert are being donated to the Community Relief Foundation of Middle Tennessee for continuing relief efforts after May’s devastating flooding.
-BAM
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