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Garth Brooks fan urges others to prove their love -- in $1 increments
Joanne Downey (center) meets her idol Garth Brooks and his wife Trisha Yearwood in this recent photo. She wants to show her admiration for the star by helping fans raise money for Brooks' Teammates for Kids Foundation. Courtesy/Joanne Downey
By JENNIFER CHANCELLOR World Scene Writer
Published: 10/29/2009 11:59 AM
Last Modified: 10/30/2009 1:35 PM
For more: Check out Tulsa World music reporter Jennifer Chancellor's Barrelhouse Beat Blog for music news, videos and more. 
tulsaworld.com/BarrelhouseBeat
Joanne Downey is a heee-uge Garth Brooks fan.
And although she already has front-row center tickets to at least one of his first round of sold-out Las Vegas shows, she's even more eager for him to begin touring again.
His five-year Las Vegas residency may keep him off the road for awhile, but she's waited nearly a decade for an official tour, and she's willing to wait even longer.
Downey believes his millions of fans are, too.
To prove it, Downey, from Las Vegas, has put out a national call to get fans who can't see his sold-out round of his first 20 shows to speak with their pocketbooks, and donate to a cause very near and dear to Brooks' heart.
Heck, she hopes everyone will support her call, even if they do see his Las Vegas shows.
Downey wants them all to donate at least $1 each to Brooks' charity, Teammates for Kids, as a tribute.
"I'll never forget watching his show in Kansas City when he said 'If you wait for me, I'll be back,'" she said in a recent email interview with the Tulsa World from her home base in Las Vegas.
In late 2007 and early 2008, the Tulsa-born country superstar played a stint of record-breaking,
sold-out shows while officially retired from touring.
"I wanted him to know that his fans were still out there and had never stopped waiting for him.
"I know he will tour again," said Downey. "He loves his fans as much as we love him. However, his family comes first and you can't fault him for that at all."
But that hasn't stopped her -- or millions of other fans -- from counting the days. "He’s a man of his word and he won’t tour until his youngest daughter is off to college (5 years)," she said.
"We’ll still be here."
After layoffs, Downey lost her "dream job" job of more than 21 years with the Las Vegas Review-Journal. So, in January, she began Las Vegas Celebrity Services, which offers everything from travel arrangements to help with simple errands.
But it isn't her new business she's excited about. It's how her chance meeting with the music Brooks and his wife Tricia Yearwood -- and her love of his music – turned into an opportunity to raise awareness for Brooks' Teammates for Kids Foundation, she said.
Teammates for Kids was co-founded by Brooks in 1999, and joins more than 2,300 pro athletes with corporate donors and others to help children with more than $75 million dollars in cash, gifts-in-kind and scholarships, the foundation Web site states. Pro players span the sports gamut, from baseball to soccer to hockey, with a special emphasis on health, education and inner-city services.
She's met the star and his wife several times, she said (and offers the photos to prove it). "The first time I met him I told him exactly why I was so very proud to be a Garth Brooks fan and he was visibly taken by what I said and hugged me," she said.
So, first thing she did when she head about Brooks' Vegas shows was, well, buy tickets. Obviously -- she's been a fan of his music since the early days. She believes his 5-year residency is a prelude to even greater news – his renewed touring.
Second, she set her plan in motion, and posted her fundraising dream and continued support for the singer in brightly-colored lettering on her Web site, LasVegasCelebrityServices.com.
"In order to make a strong statement, I immediately thought about his charity. I know how special it is to him."
Downey promised that this isn't a publicity stunt for her new company. "I happened to have an established website so I thought it would be a perfect vehicle to launch this project," she said.
"I am doing this as an individual and devoted Garth Brooks fan."
After all, she's been entranced with the singer and his work, from music to charity, since the moment she first heard one of his early hits in 1990.
"My earliest memory of his music was the first time I heard 'The Dance,' which is still my favorite Garth song."
On her Web site, she perhaps sums it up best: "Let’s give back to Garth for everything he has given us over the years, not only for being the best-selling solo artist in history as well as the best entertainer, but for being a genuine, honest, humble, caring and devoted human being."
TO DONATE:
Be sure to write the word "tribute" on the memo portion of your check so they’ll be able to track all the donations for a final tally.
If you’d like to use a credit card, please send a written or typed note with all your information (credit card number, type of card, expiration date, full name, address and phone number) on a piece of paper with the word tribute on it.
Mail checks and/or credit card info to:
TEAMMATES FOR KIDS
Attn: TRIBUTE
4251 Kipling Street, Suite 370
Wheat Ridge, CO 80033
By JENNIFER CHANCELLOR World Scene Writer
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