Award-winning singer/songwriter Matthew West heads toward the holidays with a mission to remind others of the true reason for the season.

West was inspired by the song “Give This Christmas Away,” to be serviced to radio Nov. 27, which he wrote and recorded in conjunction with VeggieTales for its new DVD release, Saint Nicholas—A Story of Joyful Giving. The campaign calls attention to practical ways we can reach out to those in need around us.

West explains, “What it means to me to ‘give this Christmas away’ is to pause long enough to look at the world from a perspective of ‘How can I help? How can I give? How can God use me to help meet the needs of somebody else this Christmas instead of just checking off the list of everything I want?’”

In keeping with that sentiment, West, spokesperson for Operation Christmas Child, a division of the international relief organization Samaritan's Purse, is asking fans who attend his fall tour to donate shoe box gifts for children in need this holiday season. The collection will continue on West’s “Give This Christmas Away” Christmas tour, kicking off late November.

Furthermore, West offers additional ideas for living out the Christmas spirit via a book release, 101 Ways to Give This Christmas Away, to be published by Tyndale Publishers. The book, along with a Something to Say Christmas Edition featuring “Give This Christmas Away” and three new acoustic recordings, will be available in retail stores this month. Finally, West will also have his own Christmas special on the Gospel Music Channel centered on the “Give This Christmas Away” theme, airing Saturday, December 12, at 9:30 pm EST. “The inspiration for the song and the book came from this question: What if December looked different this year?” says Matthew. “My hope is to encourage an attitude of giving this Christmas that can change the world with God’s love.”

West catapulted onto the Christian music scene in 2003 with his debut single, “More,” which was the most played Christian AC song of 2003. The multi-Dove Award nominee and sought-after songwriter released two critically-acclaimed recordings, Happy (2003) and History (2005); has been a mainstay at Christian radio with memorable hits like “Only Grace,” “History” and “Next Thing You Know”; and has toured with such artists as tobyMac and Jeremy Camp on the wildly popular 2008 “Boomin’ Beyond Measure” tour. In addition, West has penned songs for Rascal Flatts, Billy Ray Cyrus, Natalie Grant and Mandisa, among others. West’s third studio recording, Something To Say, released January 15, 2008 and produced the No. 1 AC radio hit “You Are Everything,” which was also the most played Christian song of 2008, as well as “Something to Say,” which climbed to No. 7 at AC radio. His most recent single, “The Motions,” was No. 1 on Radio & Records’ Christian AC Monitored chart and the Billboard Christian chart for 14 weeks as well as the most downloaded Christian digital track 15 weeks running, according to SoundScan. For more information on Matthew West, visit www.matthewwest.com or www.myspace.com/matthewwest.