Joel Lee answers one of the many questions posed by the Nash Trash ladies last week at the annual kick-off. “Cleopatra” Lee Limbird ponders a question in the background. (photo by Anne Rayner)
Annual giving campaign kicks into gear
The annual Vanderbilt Community Giving Campaign (CGC) began last week at the Medical Center with a kick-off celebration featuring a skit, an a cappella concert, and the Nash Trash ladies.
The Aug. 15 event officially launched this year’s campaign while providing entertainment and training information for the group of campaign coordinators in attendance.
“I can’t think of anything we do collectively that has a greater impact on our community than the CGC,” said Allan Guyet, director of Police and Security and chairman of the 2001 giving campaign. “Our contribution aids the health and wellness of our community.”
As part of what has become an annual tradition at the kick-off, the VUMC administration, dressed as notable fictional characters and historical figures, participated in a skit parodying the popular ABC game show “Who Wants to Be a Millionaire” with their own rendition “Who Wants to Give Like a Millionaire.”
Headed by “Regis Philbin” Joel Lee, executive director of Communications, two teams competed for the chance to give by answering multiple-choice questions about Vanderbilt. Team Number one was: Mark Penkhus, chief executive officer of Vanderbilt Hospital, as Rhett Butler; Colleen Conway-Welch, Ph.D., dean of the school of Nursing, as Scarlett O’Hara; and Dr. Steven Gabbe, dean of the School of Medicine, as Sherlock Holmes. Team Number Two was comprised of Lee Limbird, Ph.D., associate vice chancellor for Research, as Cleopatra; Norman B. Urmy, executive vice president for Clinical Affairs, as Julius Caesar; and David Posch, chief operating officer of the Vanderbilt Medical Group, as Davy Crockett.
As a new element, the Nash Trash ladies, who give comedic tours of Nashville in a pink bus, were also included in the parody. Although they did not participate in the game show, the big-haired ladies drew lots of laughs with their humorous comments from the front row.
At the end of the skit, each participating administrator symbolically gave up something important to his or her character in order to inspire the audience to give. For example, Davy Crockett donated his coonskin cap.
In addition to the administration-filled skit, Immune Response, an a cappella group made up of students from the School of Medicine, also performed.
The Community Giving Campaign is held every year to raise money and awareness for a variety of charities in Tennessee.
The goal for the 2001 Community Giving Campaign, which ends on Oct. 31, is $800,000. Last year, Vanderbilt raised more than $780,000 for the three federated charities.
Any donation can be made either in a one-time gift or as a payroll deduction.