Industry Leaders Rally Around Vanderbilt Children's Hospital

Jay DeMarcus, Clarence Spalding, John Russell, Allison DeMarcus

Allison and Jay DeMarcus and Clarence Spalding helped the Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt launch the “Growing to New Heights” fundraising campaign at an event on Wednesday night, Oct. 22. The Rascal Flatts member and his wife emceed the event which was attended by patients and their families, community supporters and Vanderbilt University officials.

Spalding and Kix Brooks are among the co-chairs of the campaign to raise $30 million over three years to help fund a $100 million expansion of the hospital. The four-floor building expansion will add 160,000 square feet of space atop the hospital’s existing structure. Construction on the new tower is expected to begin in 2015.

During the leadership phase of the campaign, $17.7 million was committed, including a $10 million gift from the daughters of Monroe Carell Jr., the hospital’s namesake, and his wife Ann Scott Carell, both now deceased. The gift is from Kathryn Carell Brown, Julie Carell Stadler, and Edie Carell Johnson and their families.