SEATTLE – In celebration of its 20th year, the Seattle-based Children’s Music Fund is putting the “rock” back in “rockin’ around the Christmas tree” with an exceptional line-up of musicians for “Christmas in the Northwest 8,” presented by RBC Dain Rauscher. This year’s CD features the Dave Matthews Band, Harvey Danger, Heart, Pete Droge and many more Northwest artists performing Christmas-themed music in a variety of genres. Net proceeds from the sales of the CDs benefit Northwest children’s hospitals: Children’s Hospital and Medical Center in Seattle; Children’s Miracle Network in Spokane, Wash.; and Doernbecher Children’s Hospital in Portland, Ore.

The first album launched the hit song “Christmas in the Northwest” with lyrics and music by Brenda Kutz White and has since become a Northwest classic. Music from “Christmas in the Northwest 8” includes:

1. On Christmas Day - Pete Droge
2. Christmas Waits - HEART
3. Christmas Song - Dave Matthews Band
4. This Holiday - Late Tuesday
5. Dream of Peace - LeRoy Bell
6. All I want for Christmas is You - Tony Cea
7. The Night Time Stood Still - Grant Goodeve
8. Angels We Have Heard on High - Tingstad and Rumbel
9. O Come All Ye Faithful - Acoustic Christmas
10. Away in a Manger - Gypsy Soul
11. Sometimes You Have to Work on Christmas (Sometimes) - Harvey Danger
12. Don't Take Down the Mistletoe - Misty River
13. Santa Claus is Coming to Town - Captain Smartypants
14. Dominick the Italian Christmas Donkey - Super Deluxe
15. Do You Hear What I Hear? - Karen V
16. Where Are You Christmas? - Sally Harmon
17. Go Tell it on the Mountain – Deneen Grant (with the Total Experience Gospel Choir)
18. Christmas in the Northwest - Brenda White

Since the release of the first CD in 1985, the total net proceeds provided to Children’s Hospitals have exceeded $675,000. Christmas in the Northwest 8 retails for $13.98, and is available at Amazon.com, Bartell Drugs, Borders Books & Music, Ikea, Made in Washington, Safeway, Silver Platters and Wal-Mart.

The concept for the project and Children’s Music Fund originated when Steve and Debbie Lawson’s daughter Alex was admitted to Children’s Hospital at the age of two.

“We were so impressed with the treatment she received, we wanted to find a way to give back,” said Steve Lawson, founder of Children’s Music Fund, Inc. “We enlisted the help of Northwest musical artists and put together a CD featuring contemporary arrangements of original holiday songs and Christmas favorites. It’s hard to believe it’s been 20 years since we launched this venture. Alex is recently married and now works on this important project by my side. We believe this year’s album is our best yet.”

The 20th anniversary celebration will continue with the “Christmas in the Northwest 20th Anniversary Prime Time Holiday Special” featuring artists from this year's album, and will air on stations across the Northwest in early December.

Children's Music Fund, Inc. is a non-profit Washington corporation whose purpose is to raise money for children's hospitals through the sale of the “Christmas in the Northwest” CD series. Children’s Music Fund’s objective is to provide funding so that every child has access to medical treatment, regardless of their family's ability to afford the cost. For more information on Children’s Music Fund and the “Christmas in the Northwest” series or to listen to song samples please visit www.christmasinthenorthwest.com.

** CD cover artwork available upon request.