Former Governor Mike Huckabee and RCA Records Nashville Recording Artist Chris Young Join CMA Foundation Board of Directors
Press Release – NASHVILLE, TN – February 23, 2018 – The CMA Foundation has elected former Governor Mike Huckabee and RCA Records Nashville recording artist Chris Young to join its 12-member board of directors. Established as the philanthropic arm of the Country Music Association (CMA), the CMA Foundation is committed to improving and sustaining music education programs all across the United States, working to ensure every child has the opportunity to participate in music education.
“As an organization we’ve been able to build a model of giving that is unique and innovative to the field, but most importantly, that model has been the catalyst for creating real impact in music classrooms and programs across the country,” said Joe Galante, chairman of the CMA Foundation. “As we continue to advance social change, it’s incredibly important to continue expanding our executive board of directors with dynamic leaders.”
He added, “Governor Huckabee led an impressive administration while serving the state of Arkansas and his policy experience with education reform is something we are fortunate to be able to learn from.”
Additionally, “Chris Young, a product of music education, brings a strong voice both on and off the stage eager to drive our agenda forward with new ideas and a strategic vision making him an industrious addition to our board.”
Through strategic partnerships, professional development and grant distribution, the CMA Foundation, a nonprofit 501(c)(3), has invested over $20 million in 84 programs across the national public school system, after school programs, summer camps and with community outreach organizations. Guided by the generosity of the Country Music community, proceeds from the annual CMA Fest are used to drive the CMA Foundation’s social impact and unique model of giving.
An avid musician since the age of 11, Governor Mike Huckabee brings with him a legacy career in politics serving as Governor of Arkansas from 1996 to 2007 where he worked tirelessly on education reform. Governing Magazine named him one of its “Public Officials of the Year” for 2005, and TIME magazine honored him as one of the five best governors in America. He served as the Chairman of the National Governors Association as well as the Education Commission of the States, the Southern Governors Association, and the Interstate Oil and Gas Commission. He has been nationally recognized for his advocacy of the arts in education. He ran in 2008 and 2016 for President, finishing second in the Republican primary in 2008. Huckabee is the host of the television show “Huckabee” on TBN each weekend and is a Fox News contributor, New York Times best-selling author of 12 books, and a frequent speaker for corporate, civic, and non-profit groups all over the world.
Chris Young, one of the newest members of the Grand Ole Opry, is coming off his second consecutive studio album to debut at No. 1 on Billboard’s Top Country Albums chart. At the age of 32, the RCA Records Nashville recording artist has 10 No. 1 singles and seven albums to his credit, including the Platinum-certified Neon and 2015’s Gold-certified I’m Comin’ Over, which earned multiple nominations from CMA Awards, ACM Awards, Billboard Music Awards, CMT Music Awards, Grammys and Radio Disney Music Awards and scored three consecutive chart-topping singles. Named “one of his era’s finest traditionalists” by the Associated Press, Chris has quickly become an international ambassador for Country Music, performing to packed houses around the globe and is currently headlining the sold-out “Losing Sleep 2018 World Tour.”
