Nashville Predators donate $125,000 to Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital

The Monroe Carell Jr. Children's Hospital at Vanderbilt has long been a focus of charitable efforts by the Nashville Predators, and tomorrow, the team will present a donation of $125,000, which in large part will fund an endowment tied to pediatric cancer research.

Follow after the jump for the team's press release...

Nashville Predators forward J.P. Dumont and President of Business Operations Ed Lang will present a check for $125,000 to officials at the Monroe Carell Jr. Children's Hospital at Vanderbilt tomorrow, Wednesday, July 21 at 11 a.m. on the second floor Performance Stage at the Children's Hospital.

One hundred thousand of the donation will be used towards an endowed pediatric cancer research fund - which will always be active and to which others may donate - with the remaining $25,000 supporting a number of programs including Books From Birth and the Vanderbilt Children's Health Improvement and Prevention (VCHIP) Program. The donation is a result of grants and fundraising efforts by the Nashville Predators, including the Nashville Predators Care for Kids game nights held this past season. On these nights, 25 percent of every single-game ticket sold and, additionally, 100 percent of the silent-auction proceeds were donated back to the Children's Hospital. Donations were also collected at all Bridgestone Arena entrances before the games and throughout the building during the games. Additionally, donations were made online through Wade Belak and J.P. Dumont's involvement with the Garth Brooks Teammates for Kids Foundation.

 Over the years, Predators players and team mascot GNASH have made numerous visits to patients at the Children's Hospital. Some players have even taken a special interest in the cause; Predators forward J.P. Dumont sponsors a suite for Predators home games that are made available to Children's Hospital patients and their families.

Presenting the check for the Nashville Predators will be President of Business Operations Ed Lang. In attendance at the event will be Predators forward J.P. Dumont, Predators mascot GNASH and Monroe Carell Jr. Children's Hospital at Vanderbilt mascot Champ.

Vanderbilt and the Predators first became strategic partners when they joined forces two summers ago - with Vanderbilt signing on as the Predators integrated health care provider. Vanderbilt has long been a prominent fixture within the community and has been recognized for its continued medical excellence and efforts to help its young patients.

"We are proud to support the Monroe Carell Jr. Children's Hospital at Vanderbilt with this donation for pediatric cancer research," Predators President of Business Operations Ed Lang said. "Partnering with Vanderbilt University Medical Center for the second year in a row in support of Nashville Predators Care for Kids has created some truly unique fundraising opportunities. We look forward to continuing our work with them in the future."

Accepting the donation on behalf of Monroe Carell Jr. Children's Hospital at Vanderbilt will be Chief Executive Officer and Executive Director, Kevin B. Churchwell, M.D.; Physician-in-Chief of the Monroe Carell Jr. Children's Hospital at Vanderbilt, Jonathan D. Gitlin, M.D.; and Leader of the Cancer Control and Prevention Program at the Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center (VICC), Debra L. Friedman, M.D.