Preds Foundation, 365 Pediatric Cancer Fund Donate $335K To Vanderbilt Children’s Hospital

Pictured: Former Predators goaltender Pekka Rinne. Photo: Courtesy of the Nashville Predators

The Nashville Predators Foundation, empowered by SmileDirectClub, along with the 365 Pediatric Cancer Fund, have donated $335,000 to Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt as the team continues to recognize Hockey Fights Cancer Month in November.

Since its creation during the 2012-13 season by former Predators’ Pekka Rinne and Shea Weber, the 365 Fund has raised over $3.6 million for the life-changing pediatric cancer research that takes place at the Vanderbilt Children’s Hospital.

“Our commitment to Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt and the 365 Pediatric Cancer Fund presented by Twice Daily has been unwavering during the past two very strange years,” says Nashville Predators Vice President of Community Relations Rebecca King. “Thanks to the support of our fans, partners, employees and players we were able to raise over $50,000 more in 2020-21 than we did in 2019-20 when our season was cut short. We are so proud of the work the doctors and researchers can achieve thanks to the donations to this fund. Our organization has built strong relationships and friendships with many families who have received great care and treatment at Children’s Hospital. We are fortunate to have the best of the best health care facilities in our very own back yard.”

Throughout the 2021-22 season, the Predators Foundation will continue efforts to raise money for the 365 Fund through Hockey Fights Cancer nights. On Hockey Fights Cancer nights (Nov. 13 & April 9), child ambassadors will be invited to the game not only to take part in a luxury suite experience but also to participate in special in-game activities like riding the Zamboni and much more. All money raised during the game will benefit the 365 Fund.

“Year after year, we are blown away by the incredible support of the Nashville Predators and Hockey Fights Cancer,” says Debra Friedman, M.D., who holds the E. Bronson Ingram Chair of Pediatric Oncology and is director of the Division of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology at Children’s Hospital. “The contributions raised through the team’s 365 Pediatric Cancer Fund help us support childhood cancer research, identify new ways of curing pediatric cancer and deliver treatments in the best way possible for each individual child.”

This season, at the Predators Foundation area outside of Section 106/107, during all Predators home games fans can also purchase an ‘I FIGHT FOR’ lavender foam puck to honor or commemorate someone who has been affected by cancer. For $10, they will receive one puck to take home and one to add to the Hockey Fights Cancer bin, representing all those fighting and in memory of those lost in Smashville.

Steven Boero