The Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt shone brightly during the holidays, thanks to donations from the Junior League of Nashville.
photo by Neil Brake
Junior League’s generosity helped holidays shine bright
The holidays seemed a little brighter for patients at the Monroe Carell Jr. Children's Hospital at Vanderbilt thanks to nearly $400,000 worth of gifts from the Junior League of Nashville (JLN).
The JLN made an annual contribution of $300,000 for the hospital's Family Resource Center and for staffing Child Life specialists. The organization also provides more than 40 volunteers to assist in a variety of areas in the hospital.
“These are truly wonderful gifts," said Jim Shmerling, executive director and chief executive officer of Children's Hospital. "We are so fortunate for the long-standing commitment by the Junior League of Nashville to our Children's Hospital. The organization's generosity through the decades has greatly furthered our mission of family-centered care.”
At the start of the holiday season, thanks to the JLN, $25,000 worth of brand-new holiday decorations were hung and installed inside and outside the Children's Hospital.
Santa's helpers from the JLN made sure patients who were away from home and in the hospital on Christmas morning received a new, age-appropriate gift.
The new Doctors’ Office Tower at Children's Hospital will receive two gaming stations for patients to use while they are waiting for their appointments. Three lobby areas at DOT will also receive additional decorations.
The JLN is also helping staff work more comfortably by donating almost $8,000 for the purchase of ergonomically friendly stools for the Pediatric Critical Care Unit (PICU).
JLN's holiday giving to Children's Hospital will also extend into warmer weather when an outdoor play structure will be constructed with a $15,000 donation.
A toy-lending library will be established through a $12,500 gift to bring educational activities to patients and their siblings.
To serve as a memorial tribute, books will be purchased in the name of each patient who has died. Individual names will be written inside the books, which will be located in the playrooms.
Other gifts include hundreds of Beanie Babies for inpatients and outpatients, a donation to the emergency clothing fund and funding for maintenance to the hospital's aquariums. The organization also continues to fund movie nights and the JLN Entertainment Hour.
“We look forward to a continued partnership between the Junior League of Nashville and the Vanderbilt Children's Hospital,” said Lisanne Hitt, chair of the JLN Home Board.
JLN was founded in 1922 by a group of women committed to serving the Nashville community in a volunteer capacity. Today, JLN has 2,000 members and remains committed to developing the potential of women as leaders and grass-roots volunteers in charitable causes that improve the lives of women, children and families.