Big Kenny Alphin of Big & Rich and his wife, Christiev, left Nashville for Akon, Sudan, last Thursday to take medical and school supplies, musical instruments, clothing and building tools to the Kunyuk School for Girls.
The school has held a deep place in their hearts over the last year. They originally donated money to the school at Kenny's No. 1 party for the song "Last Dollar," which was recorded by Tim McGraw. At the time there were 250 girls enrolled at the school and their classroom consisted of a chalkboard nailed into a Baobab tree. Enrollment at the school has since increased to 1000.
"When I first learned of the school it was through Reverend and physician, Gloria White Hammond, of Boston," Kenny says. "Today there are over one thousand girls at the school as the horrific conflicts continue in the north and Darfur, leaving most of these children orphaned."
At his own expense, Kenny chartered a cargo plane to take the 25 crates of supplies to the area. In addition, he will be performing for the children with friend and fellow musician Damien Horne.
"Whether they are abused across the street or across an ocean, all people deserve freedom and basic human rights," he says. "I would spend every nickel I could get my hands on to help these people. It is the worst humanitarian crisis on our earth and it is time we did something to stop it."