Jason Aldean is giving back to his hometown in a big way. The "Lights Come On" singer raised over $700,000 to benefit a children's hospital in Macon, Ga.
On Friday (Aug. 11) Aldean raised $702,209.43 at a charity concert for the Beverly Knight Olson Children's Hospital in Macon, about 80 miles south of Atlanta. This is Aldean's second event to benefit the children's hospital. The Concert for the Kids is the name of the annual charity event. Last year's show raised over half a million dollars.
"We are so very appreciative of Jason's continued support for our patients at Beverly Knight Olson Children's Hospital, Navicent Health," said Ninfa M. Saunders. Saunders is the President and CEO of Navicent Health. "Jason is a hometown hero who is truly giving back to our young patients and their families. We are most appreciative of his commitment to their healing and care."
Before the performance Aldean spent the morning with patients and their families at the hospital. Hospital officials later surprised the singer with Jason Aldean Way, a portion of street that runs in front of the hospital renamed in his honor.
Rick Diamond/Getty Images
"Macon will always be my roots," Aldean said of his philanthropic efforts. "When I moved away to chase music, all I wanted to do was make my family and hometown proud."
He downplayed his own accomplishments to praise the work the hospital is doing, "But, I'm just a singer," he explained. "I'm honored to be able to do do what I do to help raise money, but the doctors and staff are the heroes and are changing these kids lives."
READ MORE: Adorable Little Girl Steals the Spotlight from Jason Aldean
Beverly Knight Olson Children's Hospital in Macon is a nonprofit and the only pediatric hospital in central Georgia. The facility provides services for neonatal intensive care, pediatric critical care as well as general pediatrics.
The money from the benefit concert will go to funding a new building at the hospital. The new building will hopefully be complete in 2019.
