Country music's Lady Antebellum link up with UNHCR to help refugee children

NASHVILLE, United States, December 3 (UNHCR) - The multi Grammy Award-winning country music trio, Lady Antebellum, is joining forces with UNHCR to help millions of refugee children around the world.

The partnership with the UN refugee agency is part of a philanthropic initiative launched by Lady Antebellum on Monday in Nashville, Tennessee, the home of country music. LadyAID was created to bring awareness to and generate support for children in need locally, nationally and globally.

"Individually we are committed to various causes but we can do a lot more to raise awareness and money together," said band member Charles Kelley.

The seven-time Grammy Award-winning trio chose UNHCR as one of their two LadyAID global partners because they want to help children affected by persecution and conflict. The other partner, myLifespeaks, helps orphans with special needs in Haiti.

UNHCR helps more than 10 million refugees worldwide as well as millions displaced within their own countries - more than half are aged under 18 years. "In the face of these needs, Lady Antebellum's support is hugely appreciated by UNHCR," said Alison Tilbe, head of UNHCR's goodwill ambassador programme.

Lady Antebellum singer-songwriter Hillary Scott, who began her international humanitarian work after the devastating 2010 earthquake in Haiti, said she was excited at the thought of visiting UNHCR field operations. The agency currently is facing an unprecedented number of emergency operations, including Syria, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Mali and Sudan/South Sudan.

"We wanted to find a way to help those around the world and this is one of the ways we can do it. We're blessed with this platform and people do listen to what we say," Scott stressed. "There are children all over the world who are suffering because they don't have the resources to get the help they need," she added.

"My heart has specifically been led to the children of Haiti. By partnering with organizations like UNHCR and Children's Miracle Network Hospitals, we've already seen children be given access to medical care they wouldn't otherwise have in their country. It's so inspiring, and anything we can do to help that cause, we're going to do."

Lady Antebellum was formed by Scott, Kelley and Dave Haywood in 2006 and released their first single in 2007. Two years later, their self-titled first album was certified platinum for selling more than 1 million copies in the United States. Since then, they have won seven Grammy Awards and multiple other prizes for their music.

LadyAID will also generate funds and awareness for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital and Monroe Carell Jr. Children's Hospital at a local level in Tennessee, and for the Children's Miracle Network Hospitals at a national level.

By Charity Tooze in Nashville, United States