1 of 5
Eve of Janus past chairs.
2 of 5
3 of 5
Lori Morgan, Linde Pflaum, Larisa Featherstone, Dr. Meg Rush, Carolyn Taylor
4 of 5
Mary Ann Chaffin, Carroll Kimball, Carolyn Hannon
5 of 5
Caroline Sirko, Janie Berry, Meredith Henderson, Jocelyn Chambers
Eve of Janus, the longest-running fundraising event for Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt, recently announced that it will be celebrating its fiftieth anniversary with a $1 million gift to the hospital’s Tri Delta Pediatric Hematology/Oncology Clinic.
As part of A Campaign Against Childhood Cancer: Soaring Higher, Dreaming Bigger, the donation will help expand space dedicated to clinical care for pediatric and adolescent cancers and will address the needs of even more families in the region.
Each year, the Eve of Janus, coordinated by volunteer Tri Delta alumnae, recognizes outstanding college-aged individuals from the Nashville area at their gala event supporting Children’s Hospital. This milestone gift celebrates the fiftieth gala.
Since 1970, the Eve of Janus has raised over $5 million in support of Children's Hospital's pediatric cancer initiatives. Through this generosity, they’ve provided funding for a research laboratory and established the Tri Delta Pediatric Cancer Endowed Research Fund and the Tri Delta Pediatric Hematology/Oncology Clinic.
The new commitment was announced November 11 at the Eve of Janus’s Patrons Party, by Carolyn Hannon and Carroll Kimball, co-chairs of the Eve of Janus Advisory Board. The event was comprised of patrons, past and present Eve of Janus chairs, volunteers and their guests.
“We are so proud to celebrate fifty years of supporting pediatric cancer efforts at Children’s Hospital,” says Hannon. “Our multiyear pledge signifies the excitement we have for expanding pediatric cancer care and our deep commitment to this cause."
The honorary co-chair and junior honorary co-chair for this year’s Eve of Janus were also announced at the Patrons Party. The 2021 gala event will be dedicated to the memory of the late Luke Gregory, former Children’s Hospital Chief Executive Officer, who died after a courageous battle with lymphoma in 2019. Gregory will be recognized as honorary co-chair for this year’s event.
Serving as junior honorary co-chair will be former Children’s Hospital patient and childhood cancer survivor, Lily Hensiek. Now a junior at the University of South Carolina, Hensiek is an advocate for children with cancer and their families.
The fiftieth gala event, chaired by Carolyn Taylor and Lori Morgan, will take place on December 30, at the Country Music Hall of Fame to celebrate the collegians and their families.
“We salute the efforts of volunteers past and present and are incredibly grateful for their commitment,” says Kimball. “Building upon the Eve of Janus’ past support of Children’s Hospital, our new gift will be used to improve the treatment experience and prognosis of pediatric patients facing a cancer diagnosis.”