Known as “Big Kenny” in the country band Big & Rich, Kenneth Alphin will be visiting ETSU tonight to speak about lending a hand and reaching out to those in need. The free lecture, “Personal Responsibility and Social Action: Sudan, Haiti, and Appalachia,” begins at 6 p.m. in the ballroom of the Millennium Centre and is open to the public.

Alphin’s lecture is part of the the “Leading Voices in Public Health” lecture series, sponsored by the ETSU College of Public Health.

“In addition to being a great musician, he is also a humanitarian,” said Dr. Robert Pack of the College of Public Health.

“‘Big Kenny’ has offered to sponsor some of our students in Appalachia.” Pack said.

Through the Healing Hands Foundation, Alphin has supported some ETSU College of Public Health students who have completed their field placement in the region. Alphin did this by helping to establish the ASPIRE Appalachia scholarship program.

Aside from helping in this region, Alphin has also done humanitarian work in Africa, and most recently in Haiti.

In the war-torn region of Darfur where an estimated 4.7 million people are still effected by the conflict, Alphin built a school for girls. He has also supported My Sister’s Keeper, an organization that helps women effected by the war.

The Save Darfur coalition named Alphin a “Darfur Hero” for his efforts in the East African nation.

More recently, the country singer helped out in Haiti after learning that his friend had died in the earthquake that killed over 200,000 people earlier this year.

He has since returned to Haiti to perform for those helping to rebuild after the disaster.

“We hope everybody can get out and see it.” Pack said.

For more information, call 423-439-4243.

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