The star power of performers and presenters at the 2016 Radio Disney Music Awards are turning out to be quiet epic, especially thanks to this latest announcement.
We are obsessed with Gwen Stefani’s latest album and, well, her in general and now she’s receiving the biggest honor at this year’s RDMAs. Gwen will be honored with the 2016 RDMA ‘Hero’ Award for the positive impact she has on fans and inspiring them to do good. Gwen follows in the footsteps of Jennifer Lopez who received the award last year.
In addition, Gwen’s fellow “The Voice” alum, season nine winner Jordan Smith, will perform “Stand In The Light” from his debut album as the RDMA Heroes for Change award is presented to two Radio Disney fans, Whitney Stewart and Braeden Mannering, in recognition of their efforts to make a difference in their communities. Also joining the performers list are Sabrina Carpenter, Kelsea Ballerini & Zara Larsson.
The RDMA Heroes for Change Award is a part of Disney’s citizenship identity, Be Inspired, which represents the Company’s collective prosocial and community impact initiatives. This year’s heroes embody Be Inspired in their passionate work to create a brighter tomorrow.
Nineteen-year-old Whitney Stewart of Sarasota, Florida, is Boys & Girls Club of America’s 2015-2016 National Youth of the Year representing the voice of four million Boys & Girls Club youth and serves as official spokesperson of the organization’s Young Alumni & Friends Club. Through the support of the organization, Whitney has become a leader in multiple areas of her life and is a founder of SEED to SOIL, a high school group that educates students and parents about healthy lifestyles and sustainable agriculture. She is currently a freshman at the University of Pennsylvania studying political science and economics.
After attending the White House Kids’ “State Dinner” as part of Let’s Move!, 12-year-old Braeden Mannering of Bear, Delaware, was inspired to begin his own nonprofit, Brae’s Brown Bags, which provides healthy food to homeless and low-income individuals in his community. His mission is also to raise awareness about the problems of food insecurity and poverty, and to empower and inspire youth across the nation to become part of the solution. To date, Braeden has activated more than 2,800 volunteers, provided more than 6,000 “brown bags” of healthy food, and raised more than $58,000 for hunger relief. Additionally, through Brae’s Brown Bag Ripples program, schools have the opportunity to create their own chapters.
The 2016 Radio Disney Music Awards, music’s biggest event for families, is set for Saturday, April 30 at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles. The special two-hour telecast, “Disney Channel Presents the 2016 Radio Disney Music Awards,” will be presented Sunday, May 1 (7:00-9:00 p.m. EDT) on Disney Channel in the U.S. and thereafter, in 159 countries. Tickets for the RDMA are available at AXS.com/RDMA.
