ANDY KIM CHRISTMAS SPECIAL RAISES OVER $190,000 FOR CREW NATION, CAMH GIFT OF LIGHTS AND FOOD BANKS CANADA
Performances included
Andy Kim, Barenaked Ladies, Broken Social Scene, Buffy Sainte-Marie, City and Colour, Glass Tiger & Roch Voisine, Jully Black, Kardinal Offishall, Ron Sexsmith, Sam Roberts, Sarah McLachlan, Serena Ryder & William Prince
The 16th Annual Andy Kim Christmas Special, presented by AIR MILES, which nationally aired on December 19th and December 24th on Citytv, Citytv.com, allowed viewers to donate while watching the special and raised over $190,000* for Crew Nation, CAMH Gift of Lights and Food Banks Canada. AIR MILES also gave viewers the chance to donate Miles towards rewards that directly benefitted Food Banks Canada and raised over $40,000.
“Work is just work unless there is The Purpose. I’m lucky and blessed to have been alongside the inspired who understood helping those in need was paramount during the 2020 Christmas and Holiday Season. Every artist I asked to donate their time and perform a song for our Christmas Special said yes because of the idea of helping others. Whether we do this again or not, I’m thankful to everyone for their time and commitment, and to everyone watching the show at home,” Andy Kim said.
The two-hour music special was broadcast from Toronto’s one and only, El Mocambo on December 19, which reached over 2.5 million viewers and re-aired on Christmas Eve with over 2.3 million Canadians tuning in.
The special was hosted by Sportsnet host and Juno-nominated musician, Tara Slone as well as Cityline host Tracy Moore, and gave Canadians a classic variety entertainment show over the holidays. Performances included some of the country’s most sought-after singer/songwriters and performers: Andy Kim, Barenaked Ladies, Broken Social Scene, Buffy Sainte-Marie, City and Colour, Glass Tiger & Roch Voisine, Jully Black, Kardinal Offishall, Ron Sexsmith, Sam Roberts, Sarah McLachlan, Serena Ryder & William Prince throughout the special.
*$100,000 of the total was donated by The Slaight Family Foundation, which will directly benefit CAMH Gifts of Light. $40,000 will directly benefit Food Banks Canada as a result of AIR MILES collectors. The remaining $50,000 will be distributed equally between Food Banks Canada, the Gifts of Light program at CAMH Foundation, and the Crew Nation at Charities Aid Foundation Canada.
Born in Montreal, Andy Kim was inspired by the Beatles, Hank Williams, Frank Sinatra, Elvis, Buddy Holly, and Bob Dylan. He found fame in New York City at just 16 years old when he wrote How’d We Ever Get This Way?, the first of nine Billboard Top 40 hits, including #1 songs Rock Me Gently and Sugar, Sugar, one of Billboard’s “Greatest Songs of All Time.” A true Canadian son, Andy has been awarded the country’s top industry honour twice, the JUNO Award for outstanding achievements in the record industry, as well as the Indie Award for Favorite Solo Artist in 2005. Andy is a member of the Songwriters Hall of Fame and was inducted into Billboard’s Hit Parade Hall of Fame in 2010. Over his epic career, Andy has sold over 30 million records, with songs covered by music history’s greats, including Wilson Pickett, Tom Jones, Ike & Tina Turner, and Bob Marley. His latest album, It’s Decided, was released in April 2015 on Arts & Crafts to critical acclaim. In May 2016, Andy was inducted into the Canadian Music Hall Of Fame. Andy Kim’s music can be heard in hit series such as Ray Donovan Mindhunters, Divorce and others. In 2018, Andy was inducted into Canada’s Walk Of Fame.
