A group of trucker musicians, including seven former contestants in Overdrive’s Trucker Talent Search, are joining forces with the Truckers Christmas Group, an organization that raises money to help truck drivers and their families in the U.S. and Canada.
Trucker and singer-songwriter Tony Justice and the TTS alumni will work with TCGO to help raise awareness and funds for the 2019 campaign – TCGO’s 12th annual fundraising effort. The former TTS contestants participating are Keith Sampson (2014 winner), Mandi Jo Pinheiro (2018 winner), Taylor Barker (2019 winner), Paul Marhoefer (2015 finalist), Bill Weaver (2015 contestant), Jason Henley (2019 finalist), and Ken Freeman (2019 finalist).
“One of our biggest challenges has been getting the word out to drivers and those in the trucking community about our mission to help them and their families,” said Mark Abraham, president of TCGO. “We’re excited to bring greater awareness for TCGO with this partnership of a phenomenal group of men and women who have established traction in the community.”
TCGO will begin advertising for this year’s campaign on November 18, and the chance to nominate a deserving family will open beginning Nov. 21, with the nomination period closing December 11. Families chosen will be notified by TGCO’s very own Santa Claus Dec. 16-17, 2019. Nominations are made anonymously, and can be done on the organization’s website when the nomination period opens.
To help support the campaign, Weaver released an updated version of his song, “How the Truckers Saved Christmas,” with an intro geared toward TCGO. The song tells the story of Santa Claus’ sleigh being shut down by the DOT on Christmas Eve when truckers come to save the day. The new video can be seen below.
In the first 11 years of the organization’s efforts, more than 150 trucking families have been helped with more than $90,000 raised and distributed.
