Cris Ritchie | Hazard Herald
Chad Warrix presented funds to the Buckhorn Children’s Center Monday during a presentation at City Hall. To date, more than $500,000 have been donated to the center.
Warrix also presented $10,000 to Kentucky State Police Trooper Tony Watts to benefit Trooper Island.
The Community Foundation for Appalachian Kentucky also received $10,000. Pictured from left to right: Chad Warrix, Robin Gabbard, Danny Maggard, Josh White, Gerry Roll, and Janet Smith.
A fourth check was presented to represenatives of the Kentucky Music Hall of Fame for $10,000.
HAZARD – Several organizations this week were officially named the benefactors of this year’s Crockettsville Charity Concert and Trail Ride, with thousands of dollars going to benefit worthy causes in Kentucky.
Chad Warrix, formerly of Halfway to Hazard, was on hand at City Hall Monday to present checks for thousands of dollars each to four separate organizations. Warrix and David Tolliver, also formerly of Halfway to Hazard, were the force behind the first charity concert and trail ride in 2008.
The first four concerts raised money exclusively for Buckhorn Children’s Center, though as the event grew, Warrix explained, organizers decided to also grow the number of organizations that would benefit from the concert and trailride’s proceeds.
“It’s amazing, this money is actually helping people right in the communities where we’re from, and that’s what we want,” said Warrix, a native of Breathitt County. “I am very adamant about making sure the money stays in this region.”
Warrix was joined at City Hall this week by Janet Smith, who in one of her many community efforts helps organize the concert and trail ride each year, and Josh White, Warrix’s manager who also formed the Concerts for a Cause charity.
Recognized during Monday’s presentation was the Buckhorn Children’s Center, where to date more than half a million dollars have been raised as a direct result of the concert and trail ride over the past five years. Also receiving $10,000 each was the Community Foundation of Appalachian Kentucky in Chavies, Kentucky State Police’s Trooper Island, and the Kentucky Music Hall of Fame.
Warrix said that he ultimately hopes people will see this effort and encourage others to do the same to benefit their neighbors here in Eastern Kentucky.
“We’re going to do our best to help everybody that we can, and I just encourage everyone here to be contagious with your passion for community, and get out and encourage people to give back,” Warrix said, adding that any donation, whether it be one dollar or 50 cents, is important. “Any kind of donation is so impactful in this type of economy, and especially in this area.”
Janet Smith also announced during Monday’s presentation that this year’s tornado relief telethon on WYMT-TV raised more than $212,000 that went to help families and small businesses get back on their feet in areas like West Liberty. Warrix also played a large role in that telethon, and noted that such a large figure is indicative of this region’s willingness to help people.
“That goes hand-in-hand with the Crockettsville event,” he said, “and shows you the community effort of this area.”
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