The View from 111: Predators Continue Their Commitment to our Community

As hockey fans, we focus on the play on the ice and the impact of the players on our roster on the outcomes of games. The impact of the Nashville Predators goes far beyond what happens on the ice, however, as this organization has shown itself time and again to be an exemplary corporate citizen.

Once again, the Predators made a dramatic impact in our community by donating $181,000 to Vanderbilt Children's Hospital for pediatric cancer research. Here is the press release from the Predators:

NASHVILLE PREDATORS TO PRESENT $181,000 TO CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL FOR PEDIATRIC CANCER RESEARCH

Nashville, Tenn. (August 12, 2011) – Nashville Predators forward Martin Erat, goaltender Anders Lindback and President/Chief Operating Officer Sean Henry will present a check for $181,000 to officials of Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt Tuesday, August 16 at 1 p.m. on the second floor Performance Stage at the Children’s Hospital.

This is the Nashville Predators third donation to Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt, raising more than $425,000 for the Hospital and its programs over the past three years. The largest portion of this year’s donation ($125,000) will be used towards an endowed pediatric cancer research fund – which will always be active and to which others may donate – with the remaining donation ($56,000) supporting a number of programs including Beads of Courage, Books From Birth of Middle Tennessee, Flashes of Hope and Vanderbilt Kennedy Center.

The donation is a result of grants and fundraising efforts by the Nashville Predators, including the Nashville Predators Care for Kids game nights held this past season. On these nights, 25 percent of every single-game ticket sold and, additionally, 100 percent of the silent-auction proceeds were donated back to the Children’s Hospital. Donations were also collected at all Bridgestone Arena entrances before the games and throughout the building during the games. In addition, throughout the season the Nashville Predators donate tickets for families, autographed memorabilia for fundraising events, player and Gnash visits and dancer performances and participation in the We Care for Kids initiative.

Over the years, Predators players and team mascot GNASH have made numerous visits to patients at the Children’s Hospital. Some players have even taken a special interest in the cause including former Predators forwards J-P Dumont and Steve Sullivan, who in recent seasons sponsored a suite for Predators home games that was made available to Children’s Hospital patients and their families.

“This relationship has been a win for the Preds and it has been a win for Vanderbilt, but most importantly, it has been a win for the families who turn to Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt for treatment and care,” Nashville Predators President and Chief Operating Officer Sean Henry said. “The hospital does great work and our players, management and staff have embraced this relationship and everything it stands for.”
“We are very fortunate to receive yet another generous donation from the Nashville Predators organization,” Monroe Carell Jr. professor and surgeon-in-chief at Children’s Hospital John W. Brock III, M.D. said. “The funds will not only help Children’s Hospital continue to provide the most promising therapies and to advance research in all types of childhood cancers, but it will also help support a number of other important programs at Vanderbilt. From players donating tickets and visiting with our patients to fundraising efforts at games, the Nashville Predators organization is 100% engaged with Children’s Hospital, and we are very grateful for its unwavering support.”

Presenting the check for the Nashville Predators will be President/Chief Operating Officer Sean Henry. In attendance at the event will be Nashville Predators forward Martin Erat and goaltender Anders Lindback, Predators mascot GNASH and Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt mascot Champ. After the ceremony, Erat and Lindback will visit with patients from Children’s Hospital.

Vanderbilt and the Predators first became strategic partners when they joined forces in 2008, with Vanderbilt signing on as the Predators integrated health care provider. Vanderbilt has long been a prominent fixture within the community and has been recognized for its continued medical excellence and efforts to help its young patients.

Accepting the donation on behalf of Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt is Dr. John W. Brock III, Monroe Carell Jr. Professor, Director of the Division of Pediatric Urology and Surgeon-in-Chief at Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt and Dr. Deb Friedman, Associate Professor of Pediatrics, E. Bronson Ingram Chair in Pediatric Oncology, Leader of Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center Cancer Control and Prevention Program and Director of Division of Hematology-Oncology at Monroe Carrell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt."

Throughout the history of the Predators, the organization has personified itself as a caring and active corporate citizen. This donation is on of many that the team makes through fundraising efforts that benefit the Predators Foundation and in turn touch people in our community from all walks of life and in all situations.

Marty Erat, Dr. John Brock, Surgeon in Chief at Monroe Carroll Jr. Children's Hospital, Dr. Deb Friedman, Anders Lindback, Gnash, Champ, and Sean Henry, Chief Operating Officer of the Nashville Predators at the check presentation