MusiCares is known for helping music people in need with health and human services. But what happens when those who receive the help dig deep and give back to MusiCares? Something truly magical.

Case at point, the Eric Church Band recently held the eight annual "Put A Club In My Hand" Golf Invitation presented by EMI Records Nashville and Messina Touring Group, raising over $250k with proceeds benefitting MusiCares. With so many worthy causes out there, the members of the band chose MusiCares because they themselves had received assistance from the organization following the biggest Tennessee natural disaster in recent history.

"This all came about because of the flood back in 2010, MusiCares helped a lot of people here in Nashville, and I was one of them," said Lee Hendricks, Eric Church Band bassist and one of the event's original founders. "I had a locker at Soundcheck that got flooded, and I didn't have the right homeowners insurance."

MusiCares raised approximately $1 million for its Nashville Flood Relief Fund within months of the disaster, providing assistance and support to more than 250 music people in need. Funds were distributed within 48–72 hours of the floods, covering the most immediate and basic needs, including food and clothing, gasoline and transportation, clean-up efforts, relocation costs, medicine, and other critical supplies. In the months that followed, the organization continued to provide assistance to get even more musicians back on their feet.

Two years later, the idea for the charity tournament struck, when the foursome of Hendricks, along with crew member Michael Todd Stembridge, tour accountant Marshall Alexander and drummer Craig Wright hit the links for a post-ECB tour round of 18 holes.

Photo: Jamey Campbell & David Schenk with Schenk Photography​

"We were on a little break from Eric's first headlining arena tour, we got a little break and we decided to play a little golf," says Stembridge. "We got through 16 holes and said, 'we should do a charity tournament. We could do that, and it should benefit MusiCares,' because a couple years before that we'd had the bad flood in Nashville, and MusiCares was a huge part of helping out a lot of musicians in the area who lost gear, and allowed a lot of those people to stay on the road and keep earning a living."

While most charity golf tournaments actual lose money in their first year, "Put A Club In My Hand, which was cleverly named based on the Eric Church hit song "Put A Drink In My Hand," actual raised money right out of the gate.

"It turned out we grossed a little over $50k the first year, and we were off and running," says Stembridge.

Realizing they were onto something big, the group reached out to charity event organization group Big Hearted Babes to help maximize the impact. In its eighth year over 160 golfers and 50 sponsors participate. In total, the event has grossed a whopping $1.4 million in eight years and donated close to a million dollars for MusiCares. These funds will go a long way toward the various and valuable services offered by MusiCares.

"We just keep knocking it out and having a good time and watching the Nashville community come together around this common cause," added Stembridge, before expressing deep gratitude for the events many sponsors.

"Getting to know the Eric Church Band and crew and watching this event grow each year has been a pure joy," said Debbie Carroll, Vice President, Health and Human Services of MusiCares. "We are proud to see how many more music people in need we are able to help because of this remarkable fundraiser, and to know the idea grew out of MusiCares' efforts during the Nashville Floods of 2010 is so rewarding. MusiCares is beyond grateful to benefit from 'Put A Club In My Hand' each year."

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— MusiCares (@MusiCares) August 7, 2019

"I know it's cliché sounding, but we do this to give back, to help others out," added Hendricks. "Music's been my whole life, so I've been fortunate enough to make a living playing music. But when someone gets down on their luck, everyone needs a hand. Personally, I've been helped by MusiCares and I know several other who have been helped with health issues. It's great to have a resource like this."

"This is a serious charity, in that were something to happen to your band members or crew member, MusiCares is an option, and it's a main avenue to get them some help and assistance, not just with financial help, but psychological help, counseling, financial training. There's all these seminars they do," said Stembridge.

But in addition to raising an increasing amount of money and awareness for MusiCares, the "Put A Club In My Hand" Golf Invitational is also a lot of fun.

"It's a good time, that's for sure," said Hendricks.

"We love doing this. It's a lot of work for us, but it's a lot of fun!" added Stembridge.

Photo: Jamey Campbell & David Schenk with Schenk Photography​

One of the coolest facets of the invitational is that it was founded and run by Eric Church's Band and crew. But Church himself is a huge supporter and participant, donating VIP ticket packages that include backstage tour to be including in a silent auction, which also includes guitars, music keepsakes, sports memorabilia and more.

"We get items from all across country music, plus from the pop and rock worlds. And we have a huge silent auction that is open to Eric's entire fan club and anybody at the event the day of, and it raises $100k+ a year," Stembridge said.

This year, the silent auction also included a VIP tour package for Shawn Mendes, and more artists donate items each year. In fact, the event has become a go-to event for many in the Nashville music community and beyond, and it's even become hard to get in. The invitational now boasts a huge waiting list and a full list of sponsors, a testament to the event's ongoing success, and to both the starpower lent by Church and the hard work put in by his band and crew.

"Eric and his wife Katherine devote a lot to the event, but they let us run with it," Hendricks said. "It's a great team that we have, band and crew. We're all family and we like giving back."

The band and crew are already working on plans for next year's "Put A Club In My Hand," and even outlines for the 10th anniversary in 2021. For artists interested in donating items for the silent auction, or for interested sponsors, please contact Beonca Couch at beonca@higheartedbabes.com.

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