Friday, August 10, 2012

MDA Show of Strength!


MDA SHOW OF STRENGTH™ FEATURES STARSTUDDED
TALENT, FOCUSES ON FAMILIES
 

Scheduled to appear: Carrie Underwood, Pitbull, Will.i.am featuring Eva
Simons, Carole King, Paula Abdul, All-American Rejects, Big Bad Voodoo
Daddy, B.o.B, Brandy, Luke Bryan, Gavin DeGraw, Hot Chelle Rae,
Karmin, Tim McGraw, Alanis Morissette, Khloe Kardashian Odom,
OneRepublic and more!

The annual Labor Day weekend tradition continues with a new team at
the helm and a renewed energy to bring America great entertainment along with heartfelt
‘stories of strength’ from the show’s true stars – MDA’s families

TUCSON, Ariz., Aug. 9, 2012
Carrie Underwood, Pitbull, Will.i.am and Carole King are set
to headline the Muscular Dystrophy Association’s Labor Day weekend entertainment special –
now called
MDA SHOW of STRENGTH.

The show, featuring more than a dozen of today’s top entertainers, also will include
inspirational “stories of strength” about families affected by muscular dystrophy and related
diseases.

“We couldn’t be more excited about the show and the incredible talent we have lined up
this year,” said MDA Interim President Valerie Cwik, M.D. “MDA is in business to save and
enhance lives. Our show will both entertain and urge the American public to answer the call to
support critically important research and services for more than a million Americans affected by
neuromuscular diseases.”

MDA SHOW of STRENGTH, a three-hour prime-time broadcast special, will air on
Sunday, Sept. 2, 8 p.m. ET, 7 p.m. CT. The show will include performances and celebrity
appearances from Hollywood, Nashville and New York.

In addition to Carrie Underwood, Pitbull, Will.i.am and Carole King, the following stars
also are scheduled to appear: All-American Rejects, Big Bad Voodoo Daddy, B.o.B, Brandy,
Luke Bryan, Gavin DeGraw, Hot Chelle Rae, Karmin, Alanis Morissette, OneRepublic, Eva
Simons, Paula Abdul, Max Adler, Jann Carl, Diana DeGarmo, Lou Ferrigno, Benji Madden, Joel
Madden, Jesse McCartney, Tim McGraw, The Miz, Nancy O’Dell, Khloe Kardashian Odom,
Alison Sweeney, Ace Young and more.

The show will be broadcast over MDA’s “Love Network” of almost 150 television
stations across the country and streamed from mda.org. Local cutaways in each market will
feature area families, sponsors and MDA service programs. For a list of stations, visit
mda.org/showofstrength/love-network.

“This year’s show gives everyone involved a unique opportunity,” said MDA SHOW of
STRENGTH Executive Producer RAC Clark. “We have a chance to tell a series of compelling
stories about MDA families while delivering quality entertainment. In doing so, we can raise
public awareness of MDA’s long-standing mission of help for today and hope for tomorrow.”
Clark is a longtime executive producer of the “Academy of Country Music (ACM)
Awards” and the son of the late Dick Clark.

“RAC has a history and knack for making shows and events successful, and MDA
SHOW of STRENGTH will benefit from his talent,” said Pete Fisher, vice president and general
manager of the Grand Ole Opry. “MDA is in good hands with RAC. He’s done a phenomenal
job with the ACM Awards and has helped continue country music’s growth and popularity. He’s
connected with the biggest names in the business.”

Through the years, MDA’s iconic fundraising show has presented some of TV’s most
memorable moments. What started as a 21½-hour Labor Day weekend telethon was shortened to
six hours in 2011 in response to changing television viewing habits.

“The broadcasting and entertainment industries have experienced dramatic change; as a
result, our show has changed with it,” said MDA Executive Vice President of Business
Development Kevin Moran. “But our cause remains the same and our commitment to our
families is unwavering. MDA has assembled an outstanding team focused on putting together a
jammed-packed, three-hour special that drives home our mission and inspires our audience to
contribute generously.”

Joining Clark as co-producers are Los Angeles-based entertainment professionals
Suzanne Bender and Debbie Williams, a popular TV stage director. Some of Bender’s current
credits include the “Golden Globes,” “American Idol,” the “Academy of Country Music
Awards” and “America’s Got Talent.” Williams’ credits also include the “Golden Globes,”
“American Idol,” the “Academy of Country Music Awards,” as well as the “Academy Awards”
and the “MTV Video Music Awards.”

“Suzanne and Debbie are the best in the business. Having worked with them and having
seen their results, I know they’re a tremendous asset to this MDA team,” Clark said. “We’re all
invested in this cause – we’re going to deliver a fabulous show this Labor Day weekend.”
 

Stories of Strength

Six “stories of strength” will be told from the individuals’ and families’ perspectives.
They include MDA’s new National Goodwill Ambassador Bryson Foster, a spunky 12-year-old
who envisions a future as an NFL quarterback; Veronica Nino, a 45-year-old mother of three
who is fighting for one more day with her family after being diagnosed with ALS (amyotrophic
lateral sclerosis or Lou Gehrig’s disease); and a teacher affected by spinal muscular atrophy
(SMA) who credits MDA summer camp with giving her the confidence to pursue and achieve
her dreams.

“I live independently, I work and have my own home — all of that is because of MDA,”
said Angela Wrigglesworth during her show profile shoot in Houston.
The complete list of profiles includes: Veronica Nino, 45, of Friendswood, Texas; Angela
Wrigglesworth, 35, of Houston; Kennedy Healy, 17, of Omaha, Neb.; Latondra Chappell, 14, of
Charlotte, N.C.; MDA National Goodwill Ambassador Bryson Foster, 12, of Concord, N.C.; and
Justin Moy, 12, of Concord, Mass.

Learn more about all the MDA SHOW of STRENGTH profile families at
mda.org/showofstrength.

“Of the utmost importance is that our show audience be introduced to the incredible
individuals and families served by the Association,” Cwik said. “Their stories of strength are
what inspire all of us at MDA to seek out and fund the most promising research in muscle
disease, and to improve their daily lives through our services programs and advocacy efforts.”


About MDA


MDA is the nonprofit health agency dedicated to finding treatments and cures for
muscular dystrophy, ALS and related diseases by funding worldwide research. The Association
also provides comprehensive health care and support services, advocacy and education.
In addition to funding some 300 research projects worldwide, MDA maintains a national
network of 200 medical clinics; facilitates hundreds of support groups for families affected by
neuromuscular diseases; and provides local summer camp opportunities for thousands of
youngsters living with progressive muscle diseases.
For more information, visit mda.org and follow us on Facebook
at facebook.com/MDAnational and Twitter @MDAnews.
For information on the rich history of the telethon, visit mda.org/about/telethon-history.
- MDA -
Contact: Roxan Olivas, MDA Vice President – Public Relations, (520) 529-5317,
rolivas@mdausa.org