Credit Union Surprises Hospital with Additional $50,000 Commitment
Representatives from Ascend Federal Credit Union recently met with leaders from Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt for a check presentation. As the credit union was being honored for their $100,000 donation, Ascend CEO Caren Gabriel announced an additional commitment of $50,000 to support the hospital.
“What a wonderful surprise! We are so grateful to our friends at Ascend Credit Union. Their philanthropic support has enabled our hospital expansion, specifically the opening of the first floor over the summer,” said Meg Rush, MD, MMHC, interim President of Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt. “Our ability to create innovative, state of the art spaces that better support our clinical programs and patients is truly made possible by our community partners who believe in our mission. On behalf of our patients, families, faculty and staff, I offer heartfelt thanks for this generous gift.”
Pictured from left: Ascend Federal Credit Union Associate Board Member, David Elrod, Ascend Federal Credit Union President and CEO, Caren Gabriel, Interim President of Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt, Meg Rush, MD, MMHC, Ascend Federal Credit Union Board Member, Danielle Barnes, Ascend Federal Credit Union Board of Directors Chairman, Anthony Taylor
Gabriel was visiting the hospital on Dec. 12 to visit the new Pediatric Heart Institute on the 10th floor of Children’s Hospital. The new 38-bed, 40,000-square-foot institute, which opened this past summer, was made possible by donations raised through the hospital’s Growing to New Heights Campaign, which Ascend’s donation helped fund. A room on the 10th floor was named for Ascend in honor of its commitment to the health of children in Middle Tennessee and beyond.
“We are honored to support Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt and grateful for the opportunity to help fund the four-floor expansion project that was supported by the Growing to New Heights Campaign,” said Gabriel. “This remarkable facility brings hope to children and their parents throughout Middle Tennessee, across the same region our credit union is also fortunate to serve. But more than that, this hospital is a national leader in pediatric health care. We are proud to be partners with such a renowned institution.”
Ascend’s association with Children’s Hospital is longstanding. In addition to its recent support of the Growing to New Heights Campaign, Ascend has been a presenting sponsor of the River of Hope Radiothon for nine years, and Gabriel has served on the Children’s Hospital Advisory Board since 2018.
About Ascend Federal Credit Union
With more than 200,000 members and $2 billion in assets, Ascend Federal Credit Union is the largest credit union in Middle Tennessee and one of the largest federally chartered credit unions in the United States. Based in Tullahoma, Tenn., the member-owned financial institution offers banking, loan, retirement and investment services from its 25 branches, 10 interactive teller machines (ITMs), more than 55,000 free ATMs nationwide, online banking portal and mobile app. The credit union’s mission is to serve by offering financial literacy training and giving back to its community in a variety of ways. Ascend is federally insured by NCUA. For more information, visit ascend.org.
About Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt
Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt is one of the nation’s leading children’s hospitals, treating and helping to prevent a full range of pediatric health issues from colds and broken bones to complex heart diseases and cancer. Children’s Hospital’s physicians are nationally recognized innovators in their fields who are discovering new ways to cure and prevent a host of childhood diseases. Their work is preventing and finding new treatments for diseases such as premature birth, cancer, heart disease, spina bifida, trauma and many other conditions, and is an investment in the future. Achieving 10 out of 10 nationally ranked pediatric specialties in 2019, Children’s Hospital was again named among the nation’s “Best Children’s Hospitals” for the 13th consecutive year by U.S. News & World Report.
Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt, a nonprofit organization, opened in 2004, expanded its physical space in 2012, and is adding four new floors encompassing 160,000 total sq. ft. The new expansion helps to advance the size and scope of the hospital’s mission. For more about Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt: ChildrensHospitalVanderbilt.org
