VERO BEACH — Vero Beach native Jake Owen wrapped up a hugely successful national tour with a special event in his hometown. More than 6,200 patrons attended the sold out Jake Owen Foundation benefit concert featuring special guests Florida Georgia Line.
The seventh annual concert continued its successful history of increasing awareness and raising revenues for the Foundations’ mission to assist youth nationwide through St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital and in Indian River County through Autism Speaks and the Mardy Fish Foundation.
In 2012, the Jake Owen Foundation will also make donations to two new local charities, Hibiscus Children’s Center and Homeless Family Center.
In total, the event raised more than $125,000 for St. Jude and other charities.
The Jake Owen Foundation benefit concert began with a performance from Republic Nashville duo Florida Georgia Line. Florida Georgia Line, one of country’s hottest new acts, wowed the crowd with tracks from their first studio album, “Here’s to the Good Times,” including the smash hit No. 1 single “Cruise.”
Jake Owen then took the stage and delivered a high-energy performance, opening his act with “The One That Got Away,” his third consecutive No. 1 single.
Owen went on to perform many of his crowd favorite hit singles, including “Alone With You,” “Barefoot Blue Jean Night,” “Eight Second Ride,” and “Yee Haw.”
In attendance at the concert was Owen’s wife Lacey Buchanan, to whom he proposed on stage last year at the sixth annual Jake Owen Concert to the surprise and delight of attendees. Owen and Buchanan married in May and celebrated the birth of their daughter in November.
“It’s great to be back in my hometown once again, raising money for these worthy causes. Helping kids in need through St. Jude and other charities is my passion, and I want to thank our sponsors and the Vero Beach community for their support,” explained Owen.
The evening was filled with entertainment, beginning with a Concert VIP Reception which hosted 200 sponsors and guests.
The auction raised additional funds for the Jake Owen Foundation, featuring fantastic memorabilia and experiences including guitars autographed by Jake Owen, Florida Georgia Line, and Miranda Lambert, a trip to a performance on Jason Aldean’s 2013 Night Train Tour with Jake Owen, Luke Bryan and Thomas Rhett, and lower level tickets to Taylor Swift’s The Red Tour in Miami.
The raffle and Jake Owen merchandise also raised revenues for the foundation.
Founded in 2010, the Jake Owen Foundation was created to offer its support on a national level to children battling cancer and other childhood diseases while also lending its support to youth organizations and various charities in Owen’s hometown area of Indian River County, FL., including Autism Speaks and the Mardy Fish Foundation.
Through Jake’s association within the country music community, he has had the opportunity to visit children and families at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in Memphis, TN., who are benefiting from the extensive research and patient-care the hospital provides.
Once a patient is accepted, St. Jude covers all the medical costs beyond those covered by insurance, and families without insurance are never asked to pay.
St. Jude also provides transportation, lodging, and meals for one parent and child.
The Jake Owen Foundation would like to thank its sponsors for their continued support. The official venue sponsor is Vero Beach Sports Village. Official sponsors are Clear Channel – WAVE 92.7 and OLDIES 103.7, Proctor Construction, SpringHill Suites by Marriott, Sunshine Patio, and Vero Beach Magazine.