From left: Jim Shmerling, CEO of VCH, with 4-year-old former patient Ella Grace Rawson; Joe Don Rooney; Caroline Hale, former youth ambassador of VCH; Gary LeVox; current patient Deanna Glossup; and Jay DeMarcus.
photo by Dana Johnson
Rascal Flatts rings up $600,000 for children
Rascal Flatts’ Gary LeVox, left, Joe Don Rooney and Jay DeMarcus, right, presented Jim Shmerling and Harry Jacobson, M.D., with proceeds from the group’s concert last week, which benefitted the Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt.
photo by Dana Johnson
Country Music Association Vocal Group of the Year Rascal Flatts donated proceeds from their concert last weekend at the Gaylord Entertainment Center to the Monroe Carell Jr. Children's Hospital at Vanderbilt.
Midway through the sellout show, the group invited Harry Jacobson, M.D., vice chancellor for Health Affairs at VUMC, and Jim Shmerling, CEO of Children's Hospital, on stage to announce the benefit concert had raised $350,000 from ticket sales. A $250,000 donation from the group's record label, Lyric Street Records, and its parent company, Disney, brought the grand total to $600,000, making the concert the largest fund-raising event for the hospital.
“The energy at the Rascal Flatt's concert was like nothing I've ever experienced,” Shmerling said. “These talented performers have quite a chemistry with the people of Nashville and I feel honored and proud that they are directing that energy back into their community through the Monroe Carell Jr. Children's Hospital at Vanderbilt. Between the people of Nashville, Rascal Flatts, Lyric Street Records and Disney, this is the largest single event donation to support the families and children at Vanderbilt Children's Hospital.”
Gary LeVox, lead singer, thanked all the fans in attendance, “It's your fault! All your money did this tonight! Thanks for helping.”
Earlier in the evening at a pre-show party, LeVox and the group's other members, Jay DeMarcus and Joe Don Rooney, accepted framed art collages created by the children at the hospital. They were presented by three former and current patients that the trio had met Sept. 14 during a visit to the hospital.