NEWS

Nashville, Tenn. (September 20, 2011) -- Country Singer Jeff Bates wishes everyone could stare hunger and poverty in the face the way he recently did.  Bates spent a week in Colombia, visiting communities Compassion International helps.

“There are children out there who are hungry, without medical care and who will never be able to go to school and get an education to help them better themselves,” Bates says of the unspeakable conditions he saw Colombian children living in.  “It breaks my heart, tortures my soul, haunts my spirit and mind and makes it hard to sleep at night.”

Bates sponsors a child through Compassion International. “Compassion ensures these children are fed, clothed, have medical and dental care, that they receive love, attention and an education.”

Bates recorded two albums for RCA between 2003 and 2006.  During that time he charted several songs including the top-10 hit, The Love Song.  After leaving RCA, Bates signed with Black River Music Group, for whom he recorded two albums.

Jeff Bates is the latest Country artist to embrace Compassion International since it reached out to Country Music earlier this year.  Other country artists include 90’s hit maker John Berry, Marty Raybon, former lead singer of the group, Shenandoah, and BNA Records’ all-girl group, The Lunabelles.

“Country artists and their fans have always had big hearts, especially for children,” says Zane King, Artist Relations Regional Director for Compassion International.  “I have no doubt Country fans will go to the mat for these starving children.”

“It makes me so proud to work with Compassion International,” Bates adds.  “Together we will eradicate hunger and poverty and help change the world for the better, one mind, one soul and one heart at a time.”

ABOUT COMPASSION INTERNATIONAL:
Compassion International is the world's largest Christian child development organization that permanently releases children from poverty. Founded in 1952, Compassion successfully tackles global poverty one child at a time, serving more than 1.2 million children in 26 of the world's poorest countries. Recognizing that poverty is more than a lack of money, Compassion works through local churches to holistically address the individual physical, economic, educational and spiritual needs of children - enabling them to thrive, not just survive. Compassion has been awarded ten consecutive, four-star ratings by Charity Navigator, America's largest charity evaluator.