The Better Life Foundation

3 Doors Down Host December 18th Dinner Auction for The Better Life Foundation
Tuesday, December 21, 2004
Official TBLF Press Release

Left To Right: Todd Harrell (3DD), Johnny Van Zant (Lynyrd Skynyrd), Tracy Lawrence, Brad Arnold (3DD), Matt Roberts (3DD), and Ean Evans (Lynyrd Skynyrd)
Photo:Douglas Sonders.

Biloxi, MS December 20, 2004: 3 Doors Down along with a little help from their friends raised over $100,000 on Saturday night December 18th at the dinner concert and auction for The Better Life Foundation (TBLF). The event, hosted by comedian T. Bubba Bechtol, took place at the Grand Casino Theater in Biloxi, Mississippi and featured (in order) performances by Darryl Newton, Shinedown, Tracy Lawrence, 3 Doors Down and members of Lynyrd Skynyrd. Each artist performed a 5-6 song set before joining Lynyrd Skynyrd on stage for an all out jam of the Skynyrd classic “Sweet Home Alabama” that left the 1500 seat audience standing on their chairs in awe.

Photo credit Douglas Sonders. left to right: Todd Harrell (3DD bass), Johnny Van Zant (Lynyrd Skynyrd lead), Tracy Lawrence, Brad Arnold (3 Doors Down lead), Matt Roberts (3DD guitar), and Ean Evans (Syknyrd bass)

Along with the support of various companies and individuals who purchased dinner tables or donated raffle and auction items, the main corporate sponsors for the event included the Grand Biloxi Casino and AIG- American General Insurance. 3 Doors Down made a special presentation during the evening to AIG-American General for their continual support to TBLF since its inception.

The auctions of the evening brought in close to $50,000 from a variety of items- including autographed guitars from Kiss, Michael McDonald, Garth Brooks, 3 Doors Down, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Bob Seger and Metallica, a KFC Dale Earnhardt, Jr. uniform (worn at one race), an autographed helmet and jersey from NFL great Brett Favre, autographed model car from NASCAR driver Kevin Harvick, various 3 Doors Down concert getaway trips, and Dave Matthews, Lenny Kravitz and Ben Harper signed memorabilia to name a few. US Marines from the Gulfport area were on hand to help distribute auction items and facilitate raffle drawings.

Launched by 3 Doors Down earlier this year The Better Life Foundation’s mission is to make a positive change in the lives of children in need of food, shelter and medical assistance, and to enhance the lives of children and young adults with special needs. The Better Life Foundation will work to raise money each year that will be distributed to organizations and hospitals that the band believes will help them fulfill their mission so these children are offered a better life in which they can develop their potential, achieve their goals, and, become caring and responsible adults. The Foundation’s motto “Changing The World, One Life At A Time.”

To date over sixteen charities including The Center for the Prevention of Child Abuse, Gulf Coast Women's Center for Nonviolence, Habitat for Humanity, Mulherin Custodial Home, Our Daily Bread, The Children Advocacy Center Wilmer Hall, United Cerebral Palsy of Mobile, and USA Children's & Women's Hospital have benefited from TBLF . (full list and more information at www.thebetterlifefoundation.org)

3 Doors Down, from Escatawpa, Mississippi, have sold over 11 million records in the US alone since debuting in 2000 with their CD The Better Life and then following up with Away from The Sun in 2002. Away From The Sun stayed on the Billboard Top 200 Chart for almost 2 years. They’ve written six #1 hit singles including (according to Nielsen) the #1 most played song in the country in 2003 “When I’m Gone” and the 2004 critically acclaimed ballad “Here Without You.” The band will release their 3rd album, entitled Seventeen Days on February 8, 2005. The first single “Let Me Go” is already climbing the charts- it’s at #14 on the Billboard rock chart this week.