TJ Martell Sets Honors Gala

Business and music industry leaders and celebrities will gather at Nashville’s Hutton Hotel on Monday, March 22 to celebrate the T.J. Martell Foundation Honors Gala.

In Nashville, the Foundation annually supports cancer research through the Frances Williams Preston Laboratories at the Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center, in honor of Frances Preston, national President of the T.J. Martell Foundation and former President and CEO of BMI. Last year’s event raised over $400,000 to benefit cancer, leukemia and AIDS research.

Along with supporting this very worthwhile cause, the Gala will recognize Tennessee Governor Phil Bredesen, the Honorable William H. Frist, M.D., country music’s Brooks and Dunn, Michael Bolton and Susan Simons for their humanitarian efforts.

Entertainment for the invitation-only, black-tie event will include the Fisk University Jubilee Singers, Dave Mason and others yet to be announced.  The Honors Gala is also known for its marquee presenters, which this year features Nashville Mayor Karl Dean, Ross Perot, Jr., Pete Coors and Frances Williams Preston.

“Even though this is our second year putting on the Honors Gala for the Martell Foundation, it is arguably one of the biggest nights in Nashville,” says Laura Heatherly, Executive Director of the Nashville branch of the T.J. Martell Foundation. “We are extremely grateful host such a wonderful event and honor five outstanding individuals, all in the name of benefiting the research at the Frances Williams Preston Laboratories at the Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center.”

Governor Bredesen will receive this year’s Lifetime Humanitarian Award. Bredesen has been gracious with his support of numerous causes, including Nashville’s Table, the Frist Center for the Visual Arts, Cover Tennessee, the Heritage Conservation Trust Fund, the Land Trust for Tennessee and the Governor’s Books from Birth Foundation.

The Lifetime Medical Achievement Award will go to Senator Frist. Along with establishing the Vanderbilt Multi-Organ Transplant Center, Senator Frist is known for his dedication to medical missions in developing nations through his work with Hope Through Healing Hands, the Millennium Challenge Corporation and the ONE campaign, which promotes global health as a currency for peace around the world.

Country superstars Brooks and Dunn will receive the Tony Martell Lifetime Entertainment Achievement Award. After spending 20 years together, Kix Brooks and Ronnie Dunn announced they will be going separate ways following their 2010 The Last Rodeo tour.

The inaugural Frances Williams Preston Lifetime Music Industry Award, whichrecognizes lifetime commitment of outstanding endeavors as a musician, will go to Bolton. Besides playing to sold out arenas worldwide, Bolton has sold
over 53 millions albums and won two Grammys for Best Male Vocalist and six American Music Awards.

Born and raised in Nashville, Simons will be honored with the Spirit of Nashville Award for her years of charitable service to Middle Tennessee. Simons has associated herself with Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center, Alive Hospice, the President’s Advisory Committee on the Arts, the Metropolitan Convention Center Commission, the Community Foundation, the Tennessee State Museum Foundation, United Way, and the International Women’s Forum, to name a few. Click here for more information.