Kenny Chesney Donates More Than $1 Million to Mass. Charities to Benefit Youth Music Programs and Animals

The country star’s charitable donations came before he stepped on stage at Gillette Stadium on Aug. 23

Kenny Chesney. Photo: Weiss Eubanks/NBCUniversal via Getty

Kenny Chesney decided to give back to the state of Massachusetts before he even stepped on stage for his three-night run at Gillette Stadium last month.

Ahead of his first show at the football stadium in Foxborough on Aug. 23, the 56-year-old country star made substantial donations across the state, benefitting multiple charitable causes with a sum of more than $1 million, according to Mass Live.

As the outlet confirmed, while the total donation amount is unclear, the “Get Along” singer contributed funds to nonprofits dedicated to offering music programs to young people and assisting animals in need, as well as the Boston Medical Center, Foxborough Police Department and Foxborough Fire Department.

Kenny Chesney performs at Gillette Stadium on Aug. 24, 2018.Matthew J. Lee/The Boston Globe via Getty

“Kenny loves the people of who’ve been such a part of the Gillette experience over all these years,” a spokesperson for Chesney told Mass Live.

“As someone who likes to quietly give back, to enrich others’ lives, this is his way of spreading the love and saying thank you for everything that’s made all these stadium shows so special. To him, it’s a gift for others, not something he wants to talk about.”

Per the outlet, citing public records, Chesney donated $100,000 each to the police and fire departments. He also gave back to the Animal Rescue League of Boston, the Worcester Animal Rescue League, the Boston Medical Center and Music & Youth, a nonprofit that creates “accessible, sustainable, high-quality music programs so every young person can experience the magic of music,” per its website.

Music & Youth CEO Gary Eichhorn called the donation “a very nice surprise” and noted that he was “a big fan” of Chesney’s music. As Eichhorn told Mass Live, the country singer’s donation will be going toward training, general support and upgrades for equipment, adding that the nonprofit is “always needing to upgrade the technology as music has gone more tech.”

Animal Rescue League of Boston’s vice president of development Jackie Smith added that Chesney’s donation to the nonprofit was also “a pretty lovely surprise,” with the donation being used to “help put pets and people together” and fund an initiative “to be more proactive to help keep pets out of shelters.”

As for the Worcester Animal Rescue League, which Chesney previously contacted in 2017 to assist with relocating dogs following hurricanes in the U.S. Virgin Islands, Chesney’s latest donation will assist “significant need in Worcester right now,” executive director Kristin Mullins told Mass Live.

“We will use this money to help get our animals healthy,” she said, noting a “significant uptick” in animals in need of medical attention.

Kenny Chesney in Miami in January 2020. Cindy Ord/Getty

Chesney’s latest donation to the Boston Medical Center, which he previously toured following the Boston Marathon bombing in 2013, will assist with patients with significant injuries and in need of financial assistance due to physical therapy or prosthetics, per Mass Live.

Chesney performed at Gillette on Aug. 23, 24, and 25 as curtain call to his Sun Goes Down Tour this summer.

Megan Moroney, who joined Chesney during his latest run of shows, told PEOPLE in April that she was “trying to absorb all of his knowledge because he obviously has so much” of it.

“I literally watch his whole show every night— side stage— trying to learn from him,” she said. “From everything he does on the stage to interacting with his fans, I’m trying to take note of every move he makes.”