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Rachel Moore
Carolyn Thombs, Tracy Crawford
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Rachel Moore
Jack Smartt, Will Crawford, John Crawford, Stanford Thombs, Hayden Horn, Christopher May, Jackson Pickett, Hutch Morel, Graham Holzapfel, Jake Stumb
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Rachel Moore
Ella Bare, Shannon Bare
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Rachel Moore
Julia Moody, Eliza Milne, Lilly Lucas
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Rachel Moore
Allen Roberts, Grayson Hill, William Roberts, Julie Roberts
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Rachel Moore
Burning Las Vegas preformed for the crowd.
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Rachel Moore
Co-chair Tracy Crawford and her family.
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Rachel Moore
Stokes Myers, Bo Wilbanks, Stanford Thombs
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Rachel Moore
Co-chair Carolyn Thombs and her family.
The Eve of Janus celebrated its fifty-first year with an annual fundraising event sponsored by Tri Delta alum.
The event raises money to benefit the Tri Delta Pediatric Hematology/Oncology Clinic at the Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt. College-aged women are selected to be honored during the presentation at the Eve of Janus Ball. Young men who are the Marshals, escort them during the presentation. This year, two classes of 2020 and 2021 men and women were honored. Carolyn Thombs and Tracy Crawford were co-chairs for the event.
We sat down with the two women to learn more about the ball and its impact on Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt.
What is it about the Eve of Janus that created a desire in you to accept the invitation to co chair?
Carolyn Thombs: I was honored to be asked to chair the Eve of Janus and I was even more thrilled to do it alongside Tracy Crawford, one of my Tri Delta pledge sisters and a very dear friend. The Eve of Janus is put on by Tri Delta alum and is the oldest fundraiser for the Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt, so it was an easy yes when asked to co-chair this event. I have been a volunteer at the hospital practically all of my life. I am a former President of Friends of MCJCHV, and I have done just about every volunteer job there is for the hospital, from serving lunch to patients and families to taking photos of the patients with Santa at Christmas time. I would do anything asked to raise money for the hospital! I was also presented as a Sign at the Eve of Janus in December, 1991 so this was a full circle moment for me.
Tracy Crawford: It was an easy yes since the Eve benefits the hematology/oncology clinic at Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt. I was also asked to chair the year my two older sons could participate and chairing with Carolyn was the icing on the cake!
How are the funds raised from the event utilized? What is the amount this event has raised over the years?
CT: Funds raised from the Eve go directly to the Tri Delta Pediatric Hematology/Oncology Clinic at the Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt to support the program’s vital contribution in research, education, and patient care. In 2011, the Eve of Janus announced the establishment of the Tri Delta Pediatric Cancer Endowed Research Fund, and in November 2021 the Eve of Janus further announced a multi-year commitment for a $1 million gift to the Tri-Delta Pediatric Hematology-Oncology Program. Through the Eve of Janus, the Nashville Tri Delta Alumnae Chapter has contributed over $7 million to the Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt.
Why do you think supporting Monroe Carroll is important and why do you think it is considered such a treasure to Nashville?
CT: Supporting MCJCHV is so important because it benefits everyone in our community – everyone you know has either been a patient themselves at some point, taken their child there, or at the very least knows someone who has received treatment at the hospital. We are so lucky to have access to this facility like cutting edge research that literally saves lives goes on every day within those walls, not to mention it’s the only Pediatric Level-1 Trauma Center within 150 miles of Nashville. MCJCHV also never turns away a patient regardless of a family’s ability to pay. How incredible is that?
TC: Vanderbilt is one of the leading children’s hospitals in the country and they provide incredible care backed by research for children and their families. Families across Tennessee, Kentucky, and beyond depend on Vanderbilt for care and treatment.
What in your background do you think most prepared you to chair an event of this magnitude?
CT: I have been volunteering for a number of events ever since I moved home to Nashville after college – I even met my husband volunteering for the Swan Ball Dance Committee in 1994. All of the hours put into various events and organizations definitely prepared me for this job. From chairing MBA Spaghetti Supper to serving as President of Friends of Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt, I have had many leadership roles that taught me the value of working hard to raise money and awareness for different organizations. I was delighted to shine a light on the children’s hospital.
TC: Having been a Friends of Children’s Hospital volunteer for several years, I know how important funding is for hospital programs including research, daily and long-term care, and patient and family services. Children deserve the best possible care that can be offered.
Regarding philanthropy, who in your life has influence you the most?
CT: I was raised in a house where volunteerism was a part of my mother’s daily life. My mom, Peggy Palmer, was a strong advocate for the children’s hospital for as long as I can remember. She held many leadership roles for Friends of Children’s Hospital as well as Junior League of Nashville and parent auxiliaries for Oak Hill School and Harpeth Hall School. I am so lucky to have had her footsteps in which to follow. She is my role model not only for how to be a great volunteer but also how to be the best mom I can be every day.
TC: Hands down, my mom. She absolutely served for others with a smile on her face and her hands at work. She was very involved in the United Methodist Women in our church, regionally, and state-wide.
What inspires you to utilize your time, talents, and treasure as a volunteer?
CT: I would say my children inspire me to give back as a volunteer. Wanting them to see an example of a mom who cared about her community and the people in it was important to me, and I was blessed to have the time and opportunity to give back as they were growing up. Teaching them to have a servant’s heart was always part of my husband and I’s plan, and having them serve alongside me more times than I can count was so rewarding. They are both outstanding young men who now model this servant’s heart, giving of their time in their own communities.
TC: Having three sons, I want to spend my time supporting organizations that impact them and other children. Also, it’s so much fun meeting new people when I volunteer. I’ve made great friends over the years through volunteering at the boys’ schools, our church, and at the hospital.
As a Nashvillian, what are your top 3 favorite Nashville restaurants? What is your favorite meal at home?
CT: Top 3 restaurants include Sperry’s, which is a staple that is hard to beat. I also love 360 Bistro, and my entire family loves a night out at McDougal’s Chicken. My favorite meal at home is when Dawson is cooking on the grill, and I am in the kitchen roasting vegetables and making a giant salad.
TC: Answer is absolutely my top pick. The food and drinks are so good, and Victoria has created a wonderful neighborhood vibe there. Margot Cafe and Caffe Nonna are also favorites. At home, I make a mean Bolognese. My boys would say my barbecue shrimp is their favorite.
When you have out of town guests, what are the ‘must sees,’ inside and out of your zip code, do you suggest for them to see while they are visiting Nashville?
CT: Nashville has so many amazing places it’s hard to narrow it down to just a few, but I always tell people to visit Cheekwood, especially on a spring or fall day when the weather is nice – or perhaps when they have an outdoor concert. I also recommend 12 South – a great place to shop and eat some amazing food. Percy Warner Park is a must-do for any outdoorsy visitors. I could not have made it through the pandemic without the many trails and the 5.8 loop, which my co-chair, Tracy, and I walked 3 to 4 times a week during the spring and summer of 2020. The Bluebird Café is also a real treat for visitors as is a visit to the Country Music Hall of Fame, our 2022 venue for the Eve of Janus.
TC: Here in Nashville, downtown. You just have to experience that day or night. The rooftop of the Thompson Hotel is great fun. Canoeing the Harpeth is always a good time, and I would say get out to Burgess Falls, Cummins Falls, South Cumberland in Monteagle, or any of our other state parks. Tennessee is so beautiful!
What is your favorite travel destination?
CT: My favorite travel destination is anywhere I can be with my husband and our two boys. Since we became empty nesters last year, our travels frequently take us to our sons’ college towns. It’s hard to beat Chapel Hill, North Carolina and Athens, Georgia! I do love a good girls trip to the beach, too.
TC: The mountains of North Carolina. I keep my bag packed for any trip that way. I also love going to Chapel Hill to see my oldest son and my sister and her family. I love being an aunt to my niece and nephew.
How do you balance social and family time?
CT: Balancing social and family time is much easier now that our children are out of the house, but when they were growing up we frequently combined the two and still love making plans with our friends and their children who are friends of our boys. We always love an opportunity to meet friends for a dinner or a party, and we aspire to host even more dinner parties ourselves given our new lifestyle.
TC: My husband would say I don’t do this very well. I tend to go all in, but my family is very supportive of any volunteer role I take on.