Country music star Trace Adkins surprises guests at Nashville-area Country Inns & Suites by CARLSON hotel

During his Hometown Tour Stop in Nashville, Adkins Greeted Guests
Behind the Front Desk, Gave an Impromptu Holiday Performance and Joined
the Carlson Family Foundation in Presenting a Donation to Wounded
Warrior Project

NASHVILLE (December 11, 2014) – Today Grammy award-winning country
music legend, Trace Adkins made an unexpected visit to a Country Inns
& Suites By Carlson ^℠ hotel in Cool Springs, Tenn. near
Nashville for a surprise appearance and holiday performance for guests,
hotel staff and veterans.
While in town for The Christmas Show 2014 tour stop in Nashville,
Country Inns & Suites “hired” Adkins to help hotel staff during the
busy holiday season, where he worked behind the front desk and gave a
special holiday performance in the lobby.
Following Adkins’ holiday performance to hotel guests, he joined the
Carlson Family Foundation, in presenting a $50,000 donation to Wounded
Warrior Project^® (WWP) to help fund the organization’s
Economic Empowerment pillar that helps families of veterans achieve
long-term financial stability through training, education and employment
services.
“It feels great to be back home in Nashville today working with
Country Inns & Suites staff, guests and Wounded Warrior Project,”
said Trace Adkins. “Being able to perform a short holiday show and help
the Carlson Family Foundation present a donation to Wounded Warrior
Project makes my time here even more special!”
“Wounded Warrior Project and programs within its Economic Empowerment
pillar perfectly align with the foundation’s dedication to training and
workforce development,” said David Nelson, executive director of
Carlson Family Foundation. “The Carlson Family Foundation supports
organizations like Wound Warrior Project who are committed to giving
individuals the tools and training they need to be successful in today’s
workforce.”
“This generous donation from the Carlson Family Foundation will help
make a significant impact on the lives of the many veterans and their
families,” said Teresa Nichols, Manager of Major Gifts at Wounded
Warrior Project, who accepted the donation today on behalf of the
organization. “Last fiscal year we placed more than 1,900 injured
service members in meaningful careers through our Warriors to Work
program and this donation should help us meet our goal of placing 2,500
more warriors this year.”
Additionally, as part of Country Inns & Suites’ commitment to
making guests feel at home and serving them with a kind and caring
spirit, the Carlson Family Foundation is sponsoring Trace Adkins’
on-stage Christmas tree giveaway throughout his current The Christmas
Show 2014 tour. At each of his 26 tour performances, Adkins will donate
the large Christmas tree from his stage set to a local charity.

About The Carlson Family Foundation

The Curtis L. Carlson Foundation was established in 1950, by its
founder, Curtis L. Carlson. Later, the name was changed to the Carlson
Family Foundation to extend the entire family in the founder’s long-term
philanthropic vision of giving back to the community which gave to him.
The Carlson Family Foundation represents the commitment of the Carlson
family to give charitably to humanitarian and community affairs. Through
investments in education, mentoring, children and youth at risk, and
youth mentoring, the Carlson Family Foundation actively participates in
creating strong and healthy communities, and a competitive workforce.
The Carlson family owns Carlson, a global hospitality and travel
company headquartered in Minneapolis, Minn. and is the parent company of
Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group and Carlson Wagonlit Travel. Carlson
Rezidor Hotel Group has more than 1,340 hotels in operation and under
development including: Quorvus Collection, Radisson Blu^®, Radisson^®, Radisson Red, Park Plaza^®; Park Inn^® by Radisson and Country Inns & Suites By CarlsonSM.

About Wounded Warrior Project

Wounded Warrior Project^® (WWP) has a vision of fostering
the most successful, well-adjusted generation of wounded service members
in our nation’s history. To achieve this objective, WWP is committed
to a lifetime of service and commitment through its mission: to honor
and empower Wounded Warriors. WWP current serves more than 60,000
warriors and nearly 9,000 family members through its 20 unique programs
and services. The purpose of WWP is to raise awareness and to enlist
the public’s aid for the needs of injured service members, to help
injured servicemen and women aid and assist each other, and to provide
unique, direct programs and services to meet their needs. WWP is a
national organization headquartered in Jacksonville, Florida. To get
involved and learn more, visit www.woundedwarriorproject.org.