ACM Lifting Lives partners with Musicians On Call to launch regular
Bedside Performance Program with Sunrise Health in Las Vegas in 2018
Musicians On Call (MOC), a nonprofit that brings live and recorded music to the bedsides of patients in healthcare facilities, has received a $150,000 grant from ACM Lifting Lives®, the philanthropic arm of the Academy of Country Music, to bring its Bedside Performance Program to patients, families and caregivers in Las Vegas. Musicians On Call’s Bedside Performance Program brings live, in-room performances by Volunteer Musicians to patients undergoing treatment or unable to leave their beds. Since 1999, Musicians On Call has performed for over 625,000 patients, families and caregivers in 17 major markets across the country. This will be the first ongoing Musicians On Call programming taking place in Las Vegas at Sunrise Health System hospitals.
Musicians On Call has teamed up with the ACM Lifting Lives to formally launch the new program leading up to the 53rd Academy of Country Music Awards™, which takes place in Las Vegas on April 15. The launch will be celebrated with hospital visits from country recording artists to be announced, as well as at select ACM Party for a Cause events.
The partnership follows Musicians On Call’s impactful Las Vegas emergency response to the Route 91 Harvest festival tragedy. One week after the tragedy, Musicians On Call brought members of the country music community, Charles Esten, Michael Ray, The Railers, Brandon Ray and Filmore to visit hospitals including Sunrise Hospital and Medical Center in Las Vegas to bring joy through music in a time of need. Sunrise Hospital is a member of Sunrise Health System. Together with MountainView Hospital and Southern Hills Hospital and Medical Center, the Sunrise Health facilities cared for 230 Route 91 victims.
“When we arrived in Las Vegas the week after the tragic shooting last October, we wanted to bring some of our volunteers from Nashville to show the Las Vegas community and these music fans that they had the love and support of the country music community, “ said Pete Griffin, President of Musicians On Call. “After spending time with these patients, families, caregivers and first responders, we fell in love with Las Vegas, and the strength and resilience of this community. While we didn’t have regular programs in Las Vegas at the time, we knew after that trip we needed to start. Thanks to the groundbreaking support and generosity of our longtime partners at ACM Lifting Lives, that dream has become a reality and I’m honored to work with them to bring more joy and healing to this community for years to come.”
Before the formal launch, supporters of the healing power of music in the Las Vegas community are invited to apply as Volunteer Musicians or Volunteer Guides, trained hospital volunteers who escort the Volunteer Musicians room-to-room. To get involved, visit www.musiciansoncall.org.