Vanderbilt’s Dr. Rose Marie Robertson, former national AHA president, participates in this year's AHA Heart Walk. (photo by Dana Johnson)
Heart Walk raises more than $600,000
Students from Tennessee State University race toward the finish line at this year's American Heart Association Heart Walk, held Sunday on the Vanderbilt campus. (photo by Dana Johnson)
Laurie Earls, a researcher in Heidi Hamm's lab, wears her heart on her head at the walk. (photo by Dana Johnson)
Mary Bailey, 7, makes giant bubbles at one of the stops in the children's area before the Heart Walk. (photo by Dana Johnson)
In its fourth year of hosting the Nashville Heart Walk, Vanderbilt became the first company in the Southeast to break the $100,000 fund-raising mark.
The most recent placement gives Vanderbilt another thumbs up in the rankings for the American Heart Association. Last year, the Nashville walk ranked No. 8 in all size markets for income and moved up the scale to No. 2 within its size market for monies raised. Vanderbilt also was listed as the 10th highest income-raising company in the U.S.
“There are very few companies nationwide that reach the $100,000 mark and there has never been one in the Southeast,” said Joey Barnett, Ph.D., associate professor of Medicine, Pharmacology, Microbiology and Immunology. “That’s a lot of money for a single company to raise for one charity. Our goal was $85,000, and we clearly surpassed that.
“Vanderbilt has the type of employees who are the kind of people who realize this is a charity where they can make a difference in our community—they get out, get organized and get the job done. I am so proud of our teams.
“I would like to personally thank all the Vanderbilt employees and their families who helped make this a success.”
Barnett, who serves as the president of the Nashville Davidson County Heart Association, said the Nashville walk exceeded its goal of $613,000.
Last year more than 7,000 walkers helped raise more than $500,000 for the American Heart Association. This year the crowd soared to 8,000 to help raise awareness and funds to support heart disease and stroke research and educational programs in Middle Tennessee and the nation.
“Nashville is in a unique position with the Heart Association,” said Barnett. “We are viewed nationally as the No. 3 city for fund-raising efforts. I’m proud to be president because we have such a great reputation of being an active, involved community.”