Country group Rascal Flatts’ recent concert benefitted Children’s Hospital, to the tune of $811,000.
Photo by Dana Johnson
Rascal Flatts’ donation a hit
Rascal Flatts members present Harry Jacobson, M.D., second from left, and Jim Shmerling, right, with their donation at the group’s concert last Friday night at the Gaylord Entertainment Center.
Photo by Dana Johnson
Country music group Rascal Flatts donated $811,000 in proceeds from last Friday night's sold-out Gaylord Entertainment Center concert to the Monroe Carell Jr. Children's Hospital at Vanderbilt.
The donation is the largest fund-raising event ever for the hospital, surpassing the trio's $600,000 donation from last year's inaugural event.
Midway through the show, Rascal Flatts members presented the ceremonial check to Vanderbilt officials, including Harry Jacobson, M.D., vice chancellor for Health Affairs, and Jim Shmerling, CEO of Children's Hospital, who thanked the group for their continued support.
“Gary (LeVox), Jay (Demarcus) and Joe Don (Rooney) are gifted musicians as well as model ambassadors for VCH,” Shmerling said. “We are so grateful they have chosen to share their musical talents as well as their own personal commitment to the children treated at the Monroe Carell Jr. Children's Hospital at Vanderbilt. Each of the Rascal Flatts is a very special individual.”
LeVox praised the fans, saying “thank you for helping us help the kids.”
He also told a story about the group's recent trip to Children's Hospital, where they learned that the night before, 13 children had to spend the night in an observation unit in the Emergency Department because all regular hospital rooms were full. So he pleaded to the audience to continue their local support for such a deserving cause, “so that each child who needs one can have a room of their own.”
Rascal Flatts also thanked the Walt Disney Co., Lyric Street Records and the William Morris Agency for their support in the donation total.