Austin, TX, December 10, 2009 (http://apricot.info ) — Cary Grant traveled by train caravan across the country during World War II to raise money for war bonds. Bono actively works to fight against the spread of AIDS in Africa. Jay-Z supports Katrina relief. High-profile artists and musicians have a long history of lending their time, talents and money to support worthy causes.

In a unique collaboration that ushers in a new level of involvement between foundations, artists and nonprofit organizations, Grammy Award-winning musical group, Los Lonely Boys, has just recorded and released a song “Solid Ground” with lyrics supplied by a nonprofit from Buffalo, New York. That nonprofit, Family Center of Erie County, provides resources to victims of domestic violence.

This first-ever collaboration was the result of a nonprofit grant competition offered by the Austin, Texas-based CTK Foundation Philanthropic Fund. In July, the foundation sent out a nationwide call for nonprofits to apply for a grant by writing a poem that captured the heart of their mission. The winner would receive a cash award and have their poem set to music by Los Lonely Boys. A juried panel of national of producers and musicians then voted on the applications and selected the Family Center of Erie County as the winner of the grant.

Kathryn Engelhardt-Cronk, Acting Director of the CTK Foundation Philanthropic Fund, said: “The idea here was to go beyond lending the name of a popular musical group to a worthwhile cause. We wanted to actively draw out the creativity and passion from the nonprofit community and then blend it with Los Lonely Boys’ style of music.” Los Lonely Boys producer, Jim Tullio said: “The sentiment of the lyrics was a perfect fit. Los Lonely Boys have been through hardships in their lives and could relate to the suffering that many others in our society are experiencing.”

Band member Henry Garza, said “The song was a way to express our music through someone else’s feelings put down on paper. It’s a beautiful thing to be part of that and to help bring the lyric writer’s words to life with the song. It’s just an honor.”

To hear “Solid Ground” and view a short video “Behind the Music: The Making of Solid Ground” click the link to the CTK Foundation website.