CMA Makes $3 Million Gift To Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt

With patients of the Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt, Hillary Scott of Lady Antebellum announces a $ 3 million gift from the Country Music Association that will help add four new floors to the hospital.

The Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt is set to receive significant philanthropic support via a $3 million gift from the Country Music Association (CMA).

Vanderbilt University Medical Center leaders and event hosts Kix Brooks and Lady Antebellum’s Hillary Scott made the announcement today.

The CMA’s gift will be used to support costs for the Children’s Hospital’s four-floor, 160,000-square-foot expansion. The gift will contribute to four new inpatient floors, adding 40,000 square feet per floor, and an estimated 70 to 80 new beds will be added when the two initial floors are opened. The new floors will care for critically ill or injured children, including needs for premature infants, neurosurgery and organ transplants.

Meanwhile, VUMC’s participation in and support of CMA’s Instrumental Healthcare program allows CMA members and their families access to affordable health care through the Medical Center’s diverse adult and pediatric specialty and subspecialty programs. VUMC has also supported musicians through such highly-specialized health care programs as the Vanderbilt Voice Center and the Musicians Hearing Center. Through its LifeFlight Event Medicine program, VUMC also provides emergency medical services to support the CMA Music Festival each year.

Pictured (L-R): Frank Bumstead, Chair of the CMA Board of Directors; Hillary Scott of Lady Antebellum; Kathryn Carell Brown, Chair of the Children’s Hospital “Growing to New Heights” campaign; Kix Brooks, Board Member for both the CMA and Children’s Hospital, and Dr. Jeff Balser, Vice Chancellor for Health Affairs and Dean of Vanderbilt University School of Medicine.

“Country Music is a format known for telling stories. Now the country music community will be known for building them,” said Brooks, who serves on boards for both CMA and Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital. “Building floors means helping more children and families – locally, regionally and around the world – and I can’t imagine anyone with a heart not embracing what is going on at the Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt. When you see the courage of a child, or the face of a parent, you know how important it is for our industry to support the ongoing growth of Children’s Hospital and why it is life changing.”

“It fills me with joy to get to be a small part of sharing the heart of the country music community today with the CMA and Kix at Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt,” said Scott. “I know I can speak for all the other artists when I say that we have an immense appreciation for everything the hospital is doing in our very own backyard for some of the bravest and strongest kids out there. The smiles I saw on their faces today, despite what they’re facing, is exactly why we’re dedicated to being sure as many children and families get the best care possible.”

“CMA and our members have benefited a great deal from our longstanding relationship with Vanderbilt University Medical Center and the Children’s Hospital,” said Sarah Trahern, CMA Chief Executive Officer. “Our partnership is the definition of reciprocal care: Vanderbilt has provided affordable health care options to our members and staff through CMA’s health insurance programs; they are in our ‘backyard’ attending to the immediate needs of the industry; and they are widely supported by our artist community including Lady Antebellum, Dierks Bentley and Rascal Flatts. Supporting their ongoing growth is mutually beneficial.”

More than 200 artists have brought the healing power of music to Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt over the past three years.