February 13, 2018

Keith Urban and Memorial Community Partner, NetJets, join annual benefit concert

Keith Urban and Memorial Community Partner, NetJets, join annual benefit concert

Private concert event benefits the Memorial Tournament Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at Nationwide Children’s Hospital

Dublin, Ohio – Officials of the Memorial Tournament presented by Nationwide announced today the details of its 2018 benefit concert, including the addition of NetJets as the concert’s newest partner and four-time Grammy Award winning singer-songwriter Keith Urban as the headline artist.

NetJets presents Keith Urban at the IGS Energy Benefit Concert presented by City of Dublin is a private concert event that will benefit the Nicklaus Children’s Health Care Foundation and Nationwide Children’s Hospital alliance. Proceeds will support the Memorial Tournament Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) at Nationwide Children’s.

“Columbus is NetJets’ hometown and we are so pleased to support the miraculous work at Nationwide Children’s Hospital by giving our community the chance to be entertained by one of the greatest stars in country music—Keith Urban,” said Pat Gallagher, EVP of Sales and Marketing, NetJets. “We fly the world’s most notable travelers to destinations around the globe, and it’s wonderful when we can use those connections to support organizations making a real difference.”

With the continued support of IGS Energy, now entering its ninth year as the benefit concert’s title sponsor, and City of Dublin who has backed the event from its inception in 2007, the benefit concert has raised nearly $700,000 for Nationwide Children’s.

“Community and corporate support for the benefit concert has been tremendous through the years,” said executive director of the Memorial, Dan Sullivan. “The commitment of IGS Energy and City of Dublin has been instrumental in our mission to raise charitable funds for Nationwide Children’s Hospital, and, we could not be more excited to welcome NetJets as the concert’s newest partner. The addition of NetJets as our newest partner will allow the benefit concert to increase its support of the Hospital and secure marquee entertainment like Keith Urban.”

The 12th annual benefit concert will be held Friday, May 18, at EXPRESS LIVE! in Columbus. Doors open at 6 p.m. EDT. For more information, please visit www.mtbenefitconcert.com or call (614) 355-5400.

In June 2010, a charitable alliance was announced among the Memorial Tournament presented by Nationwide, Nationwide Children’s Hospital and Nicklaus Children’s Health Care Foundation for the benefit and advancement of pediatric care. With this aligned vision, all proceeds of the concert directly benefit the young patients served each day by the Memorial Tournament NICU at Nationwide Children’s.

Advancing newborn critical care in the Memorial Tournament NICU is already evident with its family-centered environment that provides the highest quality of medical care for premature and sick infants. As part of the largest neonatal network in the country, the Memorial Tournament NICU is comprised of rigorously trained neonatologists, advanced practice nurses and therapists who utilize an interdisciplinary care approach to diagnose and treat patients suffering from complications of prematurity, complex birth defects, respiratory distress and metabolic diseases. This combined expertise makes the Memorial Tournament NICU at Nationwide Children’s one of the finest in the nation.

The 2018 Memorial Tournament presented by Nationwide is scheduled for May 28 – June 3 at Muirfield Village Golf Club. The public may call the Tournament Ticket Office 9 a.m.-5 p.m. weekdays at 877-MTBADGE (877-682-2343) or visit www.memorialbadges.com to purchase badges. Youths 18 and under receive complimentary admission with a ticketed adult throughout Tournament week. Daily practice round tickets for Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday are also available. The cost is $35 and they are valid for all three practice-round days.

About Keith Urban: GRAFFITI U, the brand-new album from GRAMMY Award winner Keith Urban is set to be released this year in conjunction with his “GRAFFITI U WORLD TOUR 2018,” which will debut in St. Louis on June 15^th.  The album will be Urban’s ninth and follows one of the most successful releases of his career, 2016’s RIPCORD.

Urban’s current single “Female,” written by Ross Copperman, Shane McAnally and Nicolle Galyon, is a song that he “felt compelled to record and share,” even while working on GRAFFITI U.  “The song is pure heart and soul,” said Urban upon its release this past November.

Just months prior to the release of “Female,” Urban’s RIPCORD produced five #1’s including his 23^rd career #1 with the “The Fighter. ”   The album was certified platinum, making him the second artist to achieve that status in 2016 and “Blue Ain’t Your Color” won Best Song at the 2017 CMA Awards and Favorite Country Song at the American Music Awards, where he also collected trophies for Favorite Country Album and Favorite Male Country Artist.

The release of RIPCORD marked the second time that one of his albums debuted simultaneously atop the all-genre charts in the U.S., Canada and Australia.  He is the only male Country artist to achieve this mark.  He now stands #8 on Billboard’s All-time Country Airplay Chart as the artist with the most consecutive top 10 songs on Billboard’s Country Airplay Chart (38) – a streak that started in August of 2000.

In conjunction with the release of RIPCORD, Urban took to the road for his ‘ripCORD WORLD TOUR.’ The tour played on four continents in front of more than 1.4 million people, further solidifying Urban’s already established reputation as one of the most electrifying and dynamic live performers.

In 2001, the Country Music Association honored Urban with its Horizon Award; he was the first Horizon Award winner in history to go on to win the CMA’s Male Vocalist of the Year, a title he’s captured three times, and the coveted Entertainer of the Year.  The 2015 CMA Awards brought Urban his third win for Vocal Event of the Year for “Raise ‘Em Up” featuring Eric Church. It marked the first time in history that an artist has received the award in three consecutive years.

Besides four Grammy Awards, Urban has won twelve Country Music Association Awards, eleven Academy of Country Music Awards, a People’s Choice Award and four American Music Awards. He is also a member of the Grand Ole Opry.

Urban’s reputation as a premier songwriter, vocalist, musician and virtuoso guitarist has afforded him the opportunity to collaborate with the likes of The Rolling Stones, John Mayer, Steven Tyler, Miranda Lambert, John Mellencamp, Alicia Keys, Tim McGraw and Taylor Swift, Vince Gill and Eric Church.

He’s long supported numerous charities.  His “All For The Hall” benefit concerts for the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum© have raised over $3.4 million.  He is the first Ambassador of the CMA Foundation, is an advisory board member at the St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital and is a longtime supporter of The Mr. Holland’s Opus Fund and The Grammy Foundation.  In 2013, he introduced his new URBAN™ Guitar Collection via HSN, proceeds of which benefit both the Grammy Foundation and Mr. Holland’s Opus Fund.  

Official Website: www.keithurban.net

About the Memorial Tournament presented by Nationwide

The Memorial Tournament presented by Nationwide is held annually at Muirfield Village Golf Club in Dublin, Ohio, a suburb of Columbus. The Tournament, founded and hosted by Jack Nicklaus, is conducted each year with three goals in mind: to honor the memory of individuals living and deceased who have distinguished themselves in the game of golf; to showcase the world’s best golfers competing on one of the most challenging venues in the world for the enjoyment of spectators; and to benefit many Greater Columbus Charities in alliance with the Nicklaus Children's Healthcare Foundation, Nationwide Children's Hospital and numerous other local organizations. For more information, visit www.thememorialtournament.com or call 614-889-6700.

About Nationwide
Nationwide, a Fortune 100 company based in Columbus, Ohio, is one of the largest and strongest diversified insurance and financial services organizations in the U.S. and is rated A+ by both A.M. Best and Standard & Poor’s. The company provides a full range of insurance and financial services, including auto, commercial, homeowners, farm and life insurance; public and private sector retirement plans, annuities and mutual funds; banking and mortgages; excess & surplus, specialty and surety; pet, motorcycle and boat insurance. For more information, visit www.nationwide.com.

Nationwide, Nationwide is on your side and the Nationwide N and Eagle are service marks of Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company.

About NetJets
NetJets Inc., a Berkshire Hathaway company, is the worldwide leader in private aviation. More than 50 years ago, we launched the world’s first private jet charter and management company. We went on to pioneer shared aircraft ownership—offering the advantages of owning a private jet, without the responsibilities. Today, we continue to innovate from cockpit and cabin to safety and accessibility. As the owner and operator of the world’s largest and most diverse private jet fleet, NetJets hires only the most experienced and accomplished pilots and safety is our first and highest priority. Our full range of aviation options help individuals and businesses do more and miss less via the NetJets®, Executive Jet Management®, and Marquis Jet Card® service brands in North America and Europe. For more information about the world’s most reliable and trusted aviation company, visit netjets.com.

Twitter: @NetJets

Instagram: NetJets

Media Contact

Thomas P. Sprouse                                                                                                                                              

Director of Communications,                                                                                                                                              

the Memorial Tournament presented by Nationwide                                                                                                                                              

E-Mail: tsprouse@thememorialtournament.com  

Office: 614-889-6791   

Mobile: 614-519-1873

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