Nashville Wine Auction sets new giving record with 2024 beneficiary grants
December 18, 2024 (Nashville, TN) — Nashville Wine Auction is pleased to announce a new record in 2024 for grants awarded to their beneficiaries, with an increase of more than 18% over 2023. Board members, donors, and staff gathered at the annual Grant Giving Celebration on Tuesday, December 10, to present the grants in addition to handing out more than $15K in gas cards from the Patient Gas Card Program.
This year, Nashville Wine Auction is celebrating a new beneficiary partner, Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt, whose grant will fund the work of Jason Schwartz, MD, PhD,assistant professor in the Division of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology at Monroe Carell. He studies a gene called SAMD9, which can cause severe syndromes that are apparent right after birth. These syndromes result in other bone marrow conditions that ultimately may lead to leukemia. His research focuses on understanding how these mutations in SAMD9 cause bone marrow failure and increase risks of cancer.
“Every year around 40,000 children and adolescents in the U.S. are treated for cancer. While that number is actually quite small compared to the number of adults being treated for cancer, the percent of federal funding for cancer research that goes to pediatric-focused research is only 4-8%. This lack of funding leaves a significant gap in resources to help support investigators researching improvements in diagnosis and treatment of pediatric malignancies,” Board Vice Chair and Medical Director of Pediatric Stem Cell Transplant at VUMC Carrie Kitko says. “I am so proud that this year the Nashville Wine Auction will be supporting not one, but two, faculty members hoping to shed light on two important pediatric cancers: Acute Myelogenous Leukemia and Thyroid Cancer.”
Established in 1980, the Nashville Wine Auction has raised more than $40 million for organizations whose purpose is directly related to cancer research, innovative patient treatment, and caregiver/patient support. By uniting the wine community, event attendees and donors help fund the fight against cancer.
The Grant Celebration is the culmination of the year-long efforts of the Nashville Wine Auction team and its community. Each beneficiary representative took a few moments to share how the grant fulfillment would impact their organization and further their mission.
“Our Oncology Navigator Support Program at Nashville General Hospital (NGH), made possible through the generous funding from the Nashville Wine Auction, is a lifeline for our cancer patients who face immense challenges beyond their diagnosis. Many of our patients are uninsured and struggle with social determinants of health, such as access to food, transportation, and other essential resources,” NGH Chief Development Officer and Executive Director Jen Balog says. “This funding helps bridge those gaps, ensuring they receive the support they need for the best possible chance at healing and hope during one of the most difficult times in their lives.”
“This funding is transformational for our chapter! On behalf of the Make-A-Wish Middle Tennessee board, staff, and all of wish kids who have faced, or will face, a cancer diagnosis, we are grateful to the Nashville Wine Auction for their continued support,” President & CEO of Make-A-Wish Middle Tennessee Beth Torres says. “Their partnership ensures wishes will come true. What may look like a party with a focus on good food and great wine is actually a community of support coming together to make sure every cancer patient in Middle Tennessee feels supported in their journey.”
Grant requests were also fulfilled for these organizations:
American Cancer Society’s Hope Lodge: Funding helps provide a nurturing place with a
home-like community for cancer patients and their caregivers to stay during their treatment at no charge.
Ascension Saint Thomas Foundation: Funding supports the Blood Cancer Program and Cancer Care Respite in three areas: repurposing space in the infusion center for private treatment areas, personalized gowns for women in chemotherapy & radiation treatment, and updates/renovations to the waiting area to provide a Women’s Private Sub Waiting area at Saint Thomas West – Radiation Oncology.
Gilda’s Club Middle Tennessee: Funding supports evidence-based psychosocial cancer support to all people impacted by cancer and their families through community, action and knowledge. Heimerdinger Foundation: Funding supports the Meals 4 Health and Healing program which provides nutrient-dense, organic meals and education, free of charge, for families facing cancer.
HopeKids, Inc.: Funding supports the HopeDay & HopeCommunity Program costs, which transforms the lives of children with cancer and their families through events, activities, and community support, specifically on the growth of large-capacity events, special events, and enhancing the in-hospital movie cart program.
Leukemia Lymphoma Society: Funding supports the Dare to Dream Childhood Cancer initiative focusing on pediatric cancer research, treatment and care. In addition, funding provides support to help local patients/families cope with the financial strain of cancer treatment and obstacles to care.
Make-A-Wish® Middle Tennessee: Funding ensures that wishes come true for kids facing and fighting a cancer diagnosis, as well as creates outreach materials to ensure all eligible kids are referred within the 38-county service area.
Nashville General Hospital Foundation: Funding supports access to transportation, financial help, community resources and nutritional assistance for NGH oncology patients and families. St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital: Funding supports advanced proton therapy treatment that focuses radiation on cancer cells while reducing the effects on healthy tissue; lessening short and long-term side effects of treatment.
Survivor Fitness Foundation: Funding supports an initiative to provide at least 2,400 training sessions to cancer survivors in Middle Tennessee through the one-on-one fitness program. Now collaborating with Nashville Metro Parks Community Centers, the program meets the needs of Nashvillians more directly and conveniently.
Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center: Funding supports a project to study pediatric thyroid
specimens and define the role of tumor stroma in pediatric thyroid cancer.
ABOUT THE NASHVILLE WINE AUCTION
Nashville Wine Auction’s mission is to unite the wine community to fund the fight against cancer. In 2025, Nashville Wine Auction will celebrate Pairings: Nashville’s Ultimate Wine and Food Weekend on February 20-22 and the 46th Annual l’Eté du Vin on July 24-26 at JW Marriott. Established in 1980, the Nashville Wine Auction has raised more than $40 million for organizations whose purpose is directly related to cutting-edge research, innovative treatment, and family/patient/caregiver support. www.NashvilleWineAuction.com
NASHVILLE WINE AUCTION BENEFICIARIES
American Cancer Society’s Hope Lodge, Ascension Saint Thomas Foundation, Gilda’s Club Middle Tennessee, The Heimerdinger Foundation, HopeKids, Inc., Leukemia Lymphoma Society, Nashville General Hospital Foundation, Make-A-Wish Foundation® of Middle Tennessee, Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Survivor Fitness Foundation, and Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center
