Community & Giving

December 11, 2018

Tim McGraw stars in fundraising ad for Children’s Hospital NICU

Country music star Tim McGraw has teamed up with Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt to promote the hospital’s Give to the Next Breath initiative, a philanthropic marketing effort to support the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU).

Country music star Tim McGraw has teamed up with Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt to promote the hospital’s Give to the Next Breath initiative, a philanthropic marketing effort to support the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU).

Tim McGraw prepares on set for the filming of the Give to the Next Breath advertisement supporting neonatology at Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt.
(photo by Kailee Morris)

The Grammy Award-winning entertainer stars in a new ad from Children’s Hospital, which debuted during the live segment of the 65th Annual Piedmont Natural Gas Nashville Christmas Parade Presented by Tootsie’s on WKRN News 2. The spot will also go national as Timeless Syndication makes the parade available for broadcast on TV stations and other outlets across the country for airing into January 2019.

The spot opens with McGraw standing in a dark room. As the camera zooms in slowly, the Nashville night skyline can be seen behind him.

“As the father of a child who began her life in intensive care, I know the importance of the next breath,” McGraw says to the camera. “But there’s a place of hope, here at Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt, where newborn intensive care was pioneered, where breakthroughs benefit babies everywhere.”

In the conclusion of the spot, McGraw urges the audience to “give to the next breath and give to the next breakthrough.” Give to the Next Breath efforts will raise funds and awareness for the hospital’s tiniest patients. The Level IV-designated NICU at Children’s Hospital cares for more than 1,400 infants each year.

“We are incredibly grateful for the time and support Mr. McGraw has provided to our most vulnerable patients and Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt,” said Jeff Balser, MD, PhD, President and Chief Executive Officer for Vanderbilt University Medical Center and Dean of the Vanderbilt University School of Medicine. “Tim’s assistance will help advance our mission to develop new treatments that will benefit premature infants everywhere.”

Help spread the word about Give to The Next Breath by sharing on social media using the links below. Visit GiveToTheNextBreath.org to learn more.