Award-winning country music artist Phil Vassar will spread awareness about St. Jude Children's Research Hospital and bring attention to Franklin's Westhaven community with a free concert Wednesday in Franklin.

A new Westhaven home valued at $550,000 will be given away June 27 to a St. Jude supporter. In addition, 19 other prizes valued at $1,000 or more will be given away.

Tickets for the drawing are $100 and may be purchased online at www.stjude.org.

Vassar, who will kick off the campaign during a free concert from 7 to 9 p.m. Wednesday at The Factory at Franklin, has been involved with the St. Jude Country Cares program since the start of his career and is now part of a yearlong campaign through radio stations to secure pledges for St. Jude.

As a research hospital, St. Jude accepts children based on studies they are conducting without regard to the family's ability to pay.

"It's something that's been close to my heart for some time," Vassar said.

"Having kids of your own puts a whole new perspective on it all. It just makes you pay attention to what is going on around you."

Vassar said he's aware of the accomplishments of St. Jude and what it has done for children and their families throughout the years.

"It's something I feel like I'll always be a part of," he said.

Giveaways offered nationwide

The hospital, which is in Memphis, raises money through Dream Home giveaways throughout the country.

The Westhaven home to be given away features three bedrooms, four bathrooms, a bonus room, a study, a two-story walk-out wrap-around porch and a butler's pantry. It will be open to the public every Saturday and Sunday for the last six weeks of the campaign, beginning May 15.

"What's interesting about this year's home is it's in the same location (as last year's home), and we have dedicated a park to
St. Jude in that section," said Jim Cheney, vice president of communications for Southern Land Co., which developed Westhaven.

Also, he said, because last year's floor plan was so well-received, "we've done a slight variation on a similar floor plan," he said.

Although the winner of the house would still have to pay capital gains taxes, the prize would be quite a deal in these hard economic times, Cheney said.

"You would be getting the bargain of a lifetime if you win this house."

Westhaven is a master-planned community on 1,500 acres off Highway 96 West.

At completion, it will include more than 2,600 homes with a town center and various amenities.

A Harris-Teeter store, a general store, an optometrist office, a primary care clinic and a dry cleaner have already opened in the town center. Future plans include a salon and spa and a Chinese bistro.

Additionally, a golf course opened last year.

The mission of Westhaven, said Cheney, has always been to provide a walkable community with a focus on green space and architecture.