Ascend, the drive’s title sponsor, donates $10,000 to the hospital

TULLAHOMA, Tenn., July 11, 2024 – Ascend Federal Credit Union, the largest credit union in Middle Tennessee, announced today that it is the title sponsor of the inaugural WNRQ-FM (105.9 The Rock)Christmas in July toy drive to benefit Monroe Carell Jr. Children's Hospital at Vanderbilt. As part of its sponsorship, Ascend donated $10,000 to the hospital, of which $1,500 will go directly toward purchasing toys.

The toy drive runs through Sunday, July 21. Toys collected during the drive will be delivered to the hospital on Thursday, July 25.

“There’s an old saying that Christmas comes but once a year, but we couldn’t be happier to be making summer a second season of giving for the children at Monroe Carell,” said Ascend president and CEO Matt Jernigan. “We’ve long been supporters of the important, life-saving work done by the doctors and nurses at Monroe Carell, and we hope this toy drive will bring some unexpected joy to the hospital’s young patients as they continue on their journey to regaining full health.”

Donations can be dropped off at designated toy collection boxes located inside these select Middle Tennessee Walmart locations:

• 600 Mallory Lane | Franklin
• 7044 Charlotte Pike | Nashville
• 5824 Nolensville Pike | Nashville
• 4424 Lebanon Pike | Hermitage
• 4040 Nolensville Pk (Harding Pl) | Nashville
• 300 Pleasant Grove Rd | Mt. Juliet
• 2421 Powell Ave | Nashville
• 5511 Murfreesboro Rd | LaVergne

Both The Rock and its sister station WRVW-FM (107.5 The River) will be participating in the drive. WNRQ’s The Loper Show, which airs weekdays from 6-10 a.m. Central, will broadcast from a Walmart location during the final week of the toy drive to help encourage donations.

Monroe Carell is one of the nation's leading children's hospitals, and the largest in the Southeast. The hospital is ranked nationally in 10 specialties, offers the highest-level NICU and emergency care, and partners with experts across Vanderbilt University Medical Center. Its pioneering research and innovation in pediatric health care brings the latest treatments to patients at its hospital, as well as its 22 regional and affiliated clinics.

In 2023, Ascend donated $200,000 to Monroe Carell to fund an inpatient pediatric rehabilitation unit, allowing children who need comprehensive rehabilitation care and their families to stay in state and closer to home. The donation continued Ascend’s longstanding support for the hospital and its mission of providing pediatric specialty care to children and communities regionally, nationally, and internationally.

About Ascend Federal Credit Union

With more than 243,000 members and more than $4.4 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 28 branches, more than 55,000 free ATMs worldwide, digital banking portal, and mobile app. The credit union’s mission is to serve by offering financial literacy education and giving back to its community in a variety of ways. Ascend is federally insured by the National Credit Union Administration. For more information, visit ascend.org.

About Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt

Monroe Carell Jr. Children's Hospital at Vanderbilt, opened in 2004, 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. Ranking nationally in 10 out of 10 pediatric specialties in 2024, Monroe Carell was named Tennessee’s No. 1 children’s hospital by U.S. News & World Report. Additionally, the hospital continues to share the distinction as the No. 1 pediatric hospital in the Southeast. To learn more about Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt, visit ChildrensHospitalVanderbilt.org.

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