The Spring Outing at Andrew Jackson’s Hermitage is one of the most anticipated events of the season.
For 123 years, the garden party has hosted supporters of the historic preservation efforts on the stunning lawn of the mansion. Following in the famous footsteps of previous keynote speakers, this year’s featured guest is Geraldine Brooks. On Tuesday, May 14, the former Wall Street Journal correspondent, New York Times-bestselling and Pulitzer Prize-winning author who writes impeccably researched historical novels, including Horse, The Secret Chord, March, People of the Book, Year of Wonders, and Caleb’s Crossing, will speak to a crowd of history buffs, making her the perfect keynote for this history-celebrating event.
Ahead of the event, we had a chance to chat with Chair Rebecca Collins, who filled us in on what to expect and what she loves about the Spring Outing. (thehermitage.com)
Nashville Lifestyles: What made you want to chair the Spring Outing?
Rebecca Collins: I’ve visited The Hermitage many times since marrying a native Nashvillian many years ago and moving to Nashville myself in 2013. My visits have shown me how much we can learn from the life and times of Andrew Jackson that still apply to life today. I wholeheartedly believe in the mission of the Andrew Jackson Foundation to preserve, educate, and inspire. And, of course, everything about the Spring Outing itself is appealing. Imagine a beautiful day in May with lush gardens surrounding a carefully preserved time capsule and hundreds of people gathering on this 1,120-acre National Historic Landmark to savor lunch and hear a distinguished speaker. It’s a festive occasion and one that inspires its guests to return time and again. Who wouldn’t be honored to chair such an event?
NL: How are the funds raised utilized and how much has the event raised over the years?
Collins: Proceeds from Spring Outing benefit the Andrew Jackson Foundation’s education and preservation efforts. Last year alone, nearly 15,000 K-through-12 students took advantage of educational opportunities offered by the Foundation, including hands-on learning, field trips, and Homeschool Days. Recent additions include the upgrade of the HVAC system in the crown jewel of the property, The Hermitage Mansion. The Foundation also replaced pathways around the property to ensure ADA accessibility, as well as continue restorative work of the beloved Telemachus wallpaper inside the mansion. Since 2000, Spring Outing has raised more than $2.5 million toward its mission.
NL: Why do you think supporting The Hermitage is important and why do you think it is vital to our community?
Collins: Since its public opening in 1889, The Hermitage has attracted people from all over the world to Nashville. It’s one of the most significant historic, cultural, and environmental sites in the region. From a practical perspective, visitors to The Hermitage are spending their tourism dollars in our community and supporting our local economy. To inform our own futures, we must understand our past. The Andrew Jackson Foundation educates the public on President Jackson and his important role in shaping America. Jackson has a complicated legacy. Under his presidency, democracy greatly expanded, he transformed the presidency and the balance of power into a more modern interpretation, and he preserved the Union during crisis. Jackson also embodies some of our nation’s greatest sins, including slavery and Native American removal. His life, in many ways, mirrors early America. Historians refer to this period as the Jacksonian Era, and without understanding Jackson and his world, we will miss important lessons that are still relevant today.
NL: What in your background most prepared you to chair an event like this?
Collins: For the last forty years, I have been intimately involved in the world of nonprofits, both as a volunteer and as a paid professional. That world relies on fundraising. As a professional, I was director of institutional advancement at St. Andrew’s Episcopal School in Mississippi, ranked one of the top twenty independent schools in the country. With the help of my talented team, I led successful advancement efforts, including ambitious capital campaigns and establishing the school’s permanent endowment. In my professional job and as a community volunteer, I’ve chaired and worked on dozens of fundraisers large and small, from intimate lunches to galas that attracted hundreds, including Mistletoe Marketplace, one of the largest fundraisers in the state of Mississippi. Since relocating to Nashville, I’ve been gratified to have opportunities to put the lessons I have learned and strengths I gained from my previous experiences to work in my new community.
NL: What inspires you to use your time, talents, and treasure to support nonprofits?
Collins: Seeing the real-life results. I served as president of an organization of 500 active women who raised money and gave their time to support hundreds of projects in the community. The main fundraiser was an annual black-tie gala and holiday shopping event. That was all about glitz, glamor, and holiday excitement. It was fun and rewarding to plan and execute, but the real inspiration was seeing what the funds raised allowed us to do. And I was involved with a female domestic violence shelter, where I would often see the relief on a woman’s face when she realized that she and her child were safe. Planning the Spring Outing will be exciting, and the event will be memorable, but the real inspiration will be seeing preservation and education efforts at The Hermitage continue for future generations.