Holston United Methodist Home for Children Dedicates New Facility to Rodney Atkins
CMT INSIDER BROADCAST
CMT Insider's special on Rodney Atkins and the Holston Home dedication will air on Saturday, August 29th at 1:30 PM Easter and on Sunday, August 30th at 11 AM Eastern.
EXCLUSIVE VIDEO FOOTAGE
Fan club members can Take a peek at exclusive video footage of his performance at the home on Rodney TV Exclusive. Not a fan club member? Become one today!
Read all about the dedication of the home below:
RODNEY ATKINS HONORED WITH THE "RODNEY ATKINS YOUTH HOME"
Holston United Methodist Home for Children
Dedicates New Facility to Their "Poster Boy"
Nashville, Tenn (August 21, 2009) -- To Holston Home, the newborn in
their care was named "Jimmy Holston." To Margaret and
Allan Atkins, he became their son Rodney. Today, country music
star Rodney Atkins is to the staff, children and Director Charles
Hutchinson, "Our poster boy for Hope."
Atkins returned to his first home in Greenville, Tennessee this week
to help celebrate their newly renovated campus. He spent part of the
day performing a special acoustic concert, signing autographs and
getting to know the children one on one. Atkins also
participated in the official ribbon cutting ceremony in which the "Rodney
Atkins Youth Home" was named and dedicated. He wrapped up the
day's events with a tour of the new buildings.
"This is absolutely one of the greatest things of my life,"
says Atkins. "This isn't a career achievement. This is a life
achievement. Just to have the opportunity to try and positively
affect those kids' lives is wonderful. I am so thankful for the
folks at Holston Home and their hard work. They absolutely are
some of the greatest people alive. It's really hard to express
how grateful I am to be a part of Holston's mission."
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Atkins, who was adopted from Holston Home when he
was a baby, has been a strong supporter of the children's home for
some time. He became a major spokesperson for the Greeneville-based
home that serves children unable to live with their families as well
as becoming the celebrity spokesperson for the National Council For
Adoption.
At his concerts nationwide, Atkins frequently talks about Holston
Home and what it has meant to his life. The music star also takes
time when he is able to visit the campus and meet with the children
and young people there. He was instrumental in securing a grant from
the Academy of Country Music and Lifting Lives that provided guitars
and music lessons to the Holston Home kids.
"So many people worked on this project and have showed these kids what unconditional love is," Atkins said. "I'm proud to be a part of something that shows kids that."
Be sure to catch the Holston Home tour with Atkins' airing on CMT Insider August 29 and 30th.
The ministry of Holston Home began in 1895 when a single woman took a step of faith and founded an orphanage in Northeast Tennessee. From those early beginnings, the "Home" has grown to serve more than 400 children and their families on any given day with family service centers located throughout East Tennessee and Southwest Virginia.
Atkins released It's America, the follow-up CD to platinum-selling If You're Going Through Hell, earlier this year. It's America debuted at #3 on the country charts and produced Atkins 5th Number One single with the title track. For touring and other news on Rodney, visit www.rodneyatkins.com.