Country Superstar Tim McGraw Headlines Concert To Benefit University Of Maryland Children's Hospital

BALTIMORE, Oct. 24, 2015 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Nearly 2,000 people attended a concert tonight by country music superstar Tim McGraw to support patients and programs at the University of Maryland Children's Hospital (UMCH). McGraw, a Grammy-winning artist who has sold 40 million records worldwide, performed signature favorites – including his inspirational chart-topping "Live Like You Were Dying" – at the benefit concert at the Joseph Meyerhoff Symphony Hall. Before the show, McGraw visited with several patients at UMCH and their families.

Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan, former Ravens linebacker Ray Lewis, and UMCH patients and their families also made guest appearances at the concert. Kool & the Gang, who recently celebrated 50 years together, played at an after-party at Mt. Royal Station at the Maryland Institute College of Art (MICA). 

"We are enormously grateful for Tim McGraw's help in raising funds and shining a spotlight on the amazing work the University of Maryland Children's Hospital does every day to care for critically and chronically ill children throughout Maryland and the region," says Robert A. Chrencik, president and chief executive officer of the University of Maryland Medical System (UMMS).

"We're very pleased that so many people came out tonight to see Tim – and our other special guests – and to support the University of Maryland Children's Hospital," Mr. Chrencik says.

UMCH is a specialty hospital within the University of Maryland Medical Center (UMMC), the flagship academic medical center of UMMS, which includes 12 hospitals and health systems across Maryland.

Two UMCH patients, Desiriah "Desi" Brown, 5½, and Logan Reich, 13, took part in the program before the concert. Desi is currently being treated for neuroblastoma, a type of childhood cancer, and Logan had surgery to repair a severely fractured arm that he injured in a trampoline mishap.  Logan was initially treated at University of Maryland St. Joseph Medical Center before being transferred to the UM Children's Hospital.

The lead sponsor for tonight's concert is Whiting-Turner.

The University of Maryland Medical System (UMMS) Foundation presented tonight's concert and after-party. To learn more about how you can support the work of the Foundation, and the Children's Hospital, please visit www.ummsfoundation.org

University of Maryland Children's Hospital

The University of Maryland Children's Hospital (UMCH) is recognized throughout Maryland and the mid-Atlantic region as a resource for critically and chronically ill children. UMCH physicians and staff excel in combining state-of-the-art medicine with family-centered care. More than 100 physicians specialize in understanding how to treat conditions and diseases in children, including congenital heart conditions, asthma, epilepsy and gastrointestinal disorders. The neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) provides the highest level of care to the tiniest newborns. To learn more about UMCH, please visit http://umm.edu/programs/childrens.

Entertainers and Special Guests

Tim McGraw
Tim McGraw has sold more than 40 million records worldwide and dominated the charts with 36 #1 singles. He's won three Grammy Awards, 16 Academy of Country Music Awards, 14 Country Music Association Awards, 10 American Music Awards, three People's Choice Awards and numerous other honors. The two-time GRAMMY-nominated "Meanwhile Back at Mama's" marked Tim's 54th career Top Ten Hit off his latest album, SUNDOWN HEAVEN TOWN (Big Machine Records). The project also produced the #1 "Shotgun Rider" and current single "Diamond Rings and Old Barstools" featuring Tim's cousin, Catherine Dunn. His critically acclaimed acting skills were highlighted in the award winning films Friday Night Lights, The Blind Side and most recently in Disney's Tomorrowland.

Governor Larry Hogan
Governor Larry Hogan was elected as the 62^nd governor of Maryland in November of 2014. His race was called the biggest upset victory in the entire nation. Although he was outspent by $16 million - by more than 5-1 - in a state that was only 26% Republican, Hogan's grassroots campaign won by a landslide in 20 out of 23 counties of the state – carrying them by more than a 35 percentage point margin.

Governor Hogan became only the second Republican elected governor of Maryland, in nearly 50 years. He was the first resident of Anne Arundel County elected governor in more than a hundred years. And Hogan is the first governor in Maryland history ever elected using public financing and campaign spending limits. In his first legislative session as governor, Hogan provided record funding for education, pushed for tax relief for families, small businesses and retirees. He pushed reform for charter schools and negotiated one of the biggest environmental achievements for cleaning up the Chesapeake Bay in history. 

The state budget under Hogan has the lowest rate of growth in spending in 40 years, and for the first time in a decade Maryland has tax cuts, instead of tax hikes. The Baltimore Sun recently named Governor Larry Hogan as "Marylander of the Year."

Ray Lewis
Ray Lewis is widely considered to be one of the most dominant defensive players in the history of the NFL. Lewis led the Baltimore Ravens to victory in Super Bowl XXXV (where he was named Super Bowl MVP) and again in Super Bowl XLVII, in what would be the final game of his career. Two time NFL Defensive Player of the Year (2000 and 2003), he's played in 228 games including 11 playoff games. Today, Lewis devotes his time to being a father, businessman, community activist as well as an analyst for the NFL on ESPN.

Kool & the Gang
Kool & the Gang has sold over 70 million albums worldwide and influenced the music of three generations. Thanks to songs like "Celebration," "Cherish," "Jungle Boogie," "Summer Madness" and "Open Sesame," they've earned two Grammy Awards, seven American Music Awards, 25 Top Ten R&B hits, nine Top Ten Pop hits and 31 gold and platinum albums. Kool & the Gang has performed continuously for the past 43 years, longer than any R&B group in history. Their bulletproof funk and jazzy arrangements have also made them the most sampled band of all time.

Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20151024/280224

SOURCE University of Maryland Medical System

Related Links

http://www.ummsfoundation.org