Kenny Chesney has a strong bond with the folks in Boston and Foxborough, Mass. So much so that he intentionally makes room to play Gillette Stadium during his tours, often closing out his trek at the football stadium. So it makes sense that when he set out to help those in need, he thought of the places near and dear to his heart.
The country superstar wrapped his successful Sun Goes Down Tour up late last month, capping off his run with a record-breaking string of back-to-back shows at Gillette Stadium. On the Friday before his three-night stint, he partnered with his charitable foundation to make a series of donations that will now allow a handful of non-profit organizations to make a greater impact on their communities.
Quietly Donates Over $1 Million To Massachusetts-Based Organizations
Giving may be a part of Chesney’s character, but boasting about it certainly is not, and he chose to remain quiet about his generous gift. And while he said very little about his offering, what he gave was big. In fact, according to MassLive.com, Chesney’s donation, spread across various organizations in Massachusetts, totaled more than $1 Million.
“Kenny loves the people of who’ve been such a part of the Gillette experience over all these years,” a spokesperson for Chesney told MassLive. “As someone who likes to quietly give back to enrich others’ lives, this is his way of spreading the love and saying thank you for everything that’s made all these stadium shows so special. To him, it’s a gift for others, not something he wants to talk about.”
Donations Were Issued To Police & Fire Departments, Animal Shelters And Hospitals
Aside from public records showing that Chesney gave $100,000 each to the Foxborough police and fire departments, the exact amount of donations remains unclear. However, some of the organizations that received money from the “Take Her Home” singer include Music & Youth, the Animal Rescue League of Boston, the Worcester Animal Rescue League, and the Boston Medical Center. Representatives from those organizations have stepped forward to share how they plan on using the money to benefit their respective causes.
According to its webpage, Music & Youth partners with “youth development organizations serving under-resourced urban communities.” The money they receive helps provide those organizations with “accessible, sustainable, high-quality music programs, so every young person can experience the magic of music.”
Gary Eichhorn, the organization’s CEO, told MassLive.com they will use their funds for support materials, training, and equipment upgrades.
“We are always needing to upgrade the technology as music has gone more tech,” he said, per MassLive.com, adding that receiving the call for the donation “was a very nice surprise. It was a nice start to the weekend. I am a big fan of [Kenny Chesney’s] music.”
Chesney Shares A Special Connection With The Animal Rescue And Boston Medical Center
The Animal Rescue League, which has locations in Boston, Dedham, and Brewster, was surprised with their substantial funds. Jackie Smith, the Boston location’s vice president of development, said they intend to use the money for two reasons — to put “pets and people together” and to fund an initiative that helps “keep pets out of shelters.”
Chesney’s connection with the Worcester Animal Rescue League and the Boston Medical Center runs deep.
“We were contacted by his team, who needed help relocating dogs that were in shelters there,” Kristin Mullins, executive director of the Worcester Animal Rescue League, recalled the time she assisted Chesney during a double round of hurricanes that hit the U.S. Virgin Islands in 2017.
“That started a wonderful partnership,” she said.
Chesney, who was able to house 50 dogs during hurricane tragedy thanks to Mullins, paid it forward, this time handing over a donation to the Worcester Animal Rescue League, which currently has experienced an uptick in rescued animals that have a “significant need” for medical attention.
“We will use this money to help get our animals healthy,” Mullins promised.
As for Boston Medical Center, Chesney’s relationship with them dates back to 2013, when he toured the establishment following the bombing at the Boston Marathon.
Of the donation, Susie Posner-Jones, chief development officer for the medical center, said, “We are super grateful that [Kenny Chesney] continues to invest in this fund,” adding that the money will go toward helping patients with significant injuries and those who need help paying for physical therapy or prosthetics.
Chesney’s Sun Goes Down Tour wrapped on Aug. 25 after a weekend run of shows at Gillette Stadium. The tour went to support his 20th studio album, Born, which debuted on March 22.
