Friends of Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt held its annual fundraising event, Friends & Fashion, on Tuesday, April 2, at Music City Center. The fashion show and luncheon included grateful patient families and health care heroes from Monroe Carell walking the runway.
The show featured fashions by Dillard’s at the Mall at Green Hills and the hospital’s own store, The Friends Shop. Zander Insurance was the presenting sponsor of the event.
The event raised more than $200,000 to advance two important initiatives at Monroe Carell — the vision to establish the first pediatric inpatient rehabilitation program in the state and support for psychological services.
Tuwanda Coleman-Shaw, Monroe Carell Advisory Board Member and former NewsChannel 5 producer and reporter, served as the event emcee. During the event, she interviewed Jordan Johnson, a patient ambassador for Monroe Carell, and Kat Hedden PT, DPT, PCS, CBIS, Acute Pediatric Floor Physical Therapy Clinical Team Leader.
“Lauren, Lacey and I were thrilled with this year’s Friends & Fashion. It was a privilege to see patients, their families and their care teams in the spotlight. Watching Jordan, who shared his story during the program, receive a standing ovation while walking the runway gave us chills. Knowing he had to relearn how to walk again after undergoing brain surgery reminded us just how important this event is and how important it is to support Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt,” said Kelli Dill, event co-chair.
The Friends organization’s mission is to support the hospital through fundraising, outreach and patient support.
Friends & Fashion 2024 was co-chaired by Dill, Lauren Hocker and Lacey Keally.