Santa Train Features Country Duo Thompson Square For It's 69th Year of Holiday Giving

Country music stars Keifer and Shawna Thompson of Thompson Square will be the celebrity guests on the 2011 Santa Train.
By: Marybeth McLain
 
Sept. 20, 2011 - PRLog -- KINGSPORT, Tenn. – Country music stars Keifer and Shawna Thompson of Thompson Square will be the celebrity guests on the 2011 Santa Train. The husband-and-wife act that has taken the country by storm will accompany CSX, Food City, the Kingsport Area Chamber of Commerce and Kids Wish Network representatives on board the train for its 69th annual run bringing gifts to children and communities from Shelby, Ky., to Kingsport, Tenn., on Nov. 19.

Stoney Creek Records' hot new duo, Thompson Square, is enjoying tremendous radio success, reaching the coveted No. 1 spot on both country radio charts and selling more than a million digital single sales with their break-out single, “Are You Gonna Kiss Me Or Not.”  They have recently garnered two CMA nominations, Vocal Duo of the Year and New Artist of the Year, for the upcoming 45th Annual CMA Awards. You can find the dynamic duo opening for multi-platinum country rocker Jason Aldean on his My Kinda Party 2011 Arena Tour, and later this fall they will be joining Darius Rucker's U.S. tour.

“We are really honored to be a part of this year’s Santa Train,” Shawna Thompson said. “This is an amazing opportunity to help spread the joys of Christmas to other people.”

The Santa Train makes 14 stops throughout Kentucky, Virginia and Tennessee on the Saturday before Thanksgiving. Thompson Square, Santa Claus and volunteers from CSX, Food City, the Kingsport Area Chamber of Commerce and Kids Wish Network will deliver 15 tons of toys to thousands of residents who live along the route.

“It is exciting to see a talented couple like Thompson Square dedicate their time to the Santa Train,” said Tori Kaplan, AVP corporate social responsibility for CSX. “The Santa Train has been an important part of the holidays in Appalachia for the past 68 years, and we expect to continue that tradition this year.”

In past years, U.S. senators and representatives and several governors have participated in the Santa Train, as well as celebrity guests such as The Judds, Alison Krauss, Patty Loveless, Kathy Mattea and Travis Tritt.  

“The Santa Train ends its trip in Kingsport every year, and the entire city really looks forward to this event,” said Kingsport Area Chamber of Commerce president and CEO Miles Burdine. “It’s great to see people come together to support the mission of the Santa Train.”

“We think it is wonderful that we are able to give back to the communities we serve,” Ed Moore, Food City’s corporate trainer, said. “Having Thompson Square join us on the train this year will certainly add a fun element to the ride.”

“This is our third year working with CSX to sponsor the Santa Train, and we are so very proud and honored to be a part of this wonderful tradition,” said Barbara Askin, Kids Wish Network’s director of distribution. “This is what Kids Wish Network is all about – reaching out to deserving children nationwide to bring hope to their hearts and smiles to their faces. It is the most rewarding feeling in the world to see a smile light up the face of a child in need as they are handed a brand new toy.”

For updates about the Santa Train, visit www.facebook.com/santatrain and follow @TheSantaTrain on Twitter. If you are interested in a photo of Thompson Square, email Leigh Lindsey at llindsey@mpf.com.
About CSX Corporation
CSX Corporation, based in Jacksonville, Fla., is one of the nation’s leading transportation companies, providing rail, intermodal and rail-to-truck transload services. The company’s transportation network spans approximately 21,000 miles, with service to 23 eastern states and the District of Columbia. CSX’s network connects more than 240 short line and regional railroads and more than 70 ocean, river and lake ports. More information about CSX Corporation and its subsidiaries is available at www.csx.com.

About the Kingsport Area Chamber of Commerce
The Kingsport (Tenn.) Area Chamber of Commerce is a private, nonprofit business organization comprising nearly 1,000 members. The Kingsport Chamber’s mission is to utilize resources and focus efforts on enhancing a strong and viable business environment for the Kingsport area. For more information on the Kingsport Chamber, visit www.kingsportchamber.org or call (423) 392-8800. Follow the Kingsport Chamber on its Facebook page, Your Kingsport Area Chamber of Commerce, and on its Twitter account, @kptchamber.

About Food City
Headquartered in Abingdon, VA., K-VA-T Food Stores, Inc. (Food City’s parent company), operates 94 Food City and 12 Super Dollar Discount Foods retail outlets throughout the tri-state region of southeast Kentucky, southwest Virginia and northeast Tennessee. Visit Food City’s website, www.foodcity.com, for more information.

About Kids Wish Network
National charitable organization Kids Wish Network has been making dreams come true for thousands of children all over the country since 1997. They are dedicated to infusing hope, creating happy memories, and improving the quality of life for children having experienced life-altering situations. They work hard each and every day to assist children and their families through several key programs including Wish Granting, the Hero of the Month program, Kids Wish Network On Tour, the Holiday of Hope Gift Bank program and Funeral Assistance.

About Thompson Square
Stoney Creek Records' new duo, Thompson Square, burst on to the country music scene with the release of their self-titled debut album earning the #3 spot on the Top Country Albums chart; selling over 30k in the first week of sales making it the biggest album sales debut act in 2011.  The Oklahoma-born Keifer Thompson and Alabama native Shawna Thompson joined forces as a duo, combining classic country and rock influences to forge a sound that is thoroughly modern but built on the bedrock of tradition. The husband-and-wife's infectious hit single, “Are You Gonna Kiss Me Or Not,” enjoyed tremendous radio success reaching the coveted #1 spot on both country radio charts and selling over a million digital single sales.  They have performed on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, Conan, Fox & Friends and Fox’s Summer Concert Series, as well as been featured in Entertainment Weekly, People Country, Country Weekly, USA Today, The Washington Post and Billboard. Their current single, "I Got You," reached Top 30 in three weeks and is currently at #14 on both MediaBase and Billboard Country radio charts.  The duo have recently garnered two CMA nominations, Vocal Duo of the Year and New Artist of the Year, for the upcoming “45th Annual CMA Awards.”  You can find the dynamic duo on the road opening for multi-platinum country rocker Jason Aldean on his My Kinda Party 2011 Arena Tour.  They will be joining join Darius Rucker's U.S. tour later this fall. www.thompsonsquare.com.
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Source:Marybeth McLain
Email:***@kosbe.org Email Verified
Zip:37660
Tags:Santa Train, Kingsport Chamber of Commerce, Food City, Csx, Kingsport Tennessee, Social Responsibility
Industry:Business
Location:Kingsport - Tennessee - United States
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