Syndicated radio host Lon Helton received the Tom Rivers Humanitarian Award at the Country Radio Seminar, Wednesday night. The award is named for Tom Rivers, former WQYK PD and host of Westwood One holiday specials in the 1990s. The award, chosen by the CRB Board Of Directors, recognizes an individual in the Country radio industry who has given back to their community.
Helton is one of the founders and advocates of the Country radiothon program, Country Cares For St. Jude Kids, which has raised almost $1 billion for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. Last year marked the 30th anniversary of Country Cares For St. Jude Kids, which was started by Lon and Alabama’s Randy Owen in 1989.
Helton said, “It is special and humbling to receive the CRB Tom Rivers Humanitarian of the Year award. Tom was a good friend who did so much to help the people and communities where he worked in Country radio. It’s humbling because no group of people on the planet give back more than the people of Country radio, records, and the industry. It was an honor to accept this along with them; they are the true humanitarians of every day and every year.”
