Gilda’s Club Middle Tennessee Celebrates 25 Years at the Red Door Bash

History

On a warm August 3 in 1998, Sandy Towers, Felice Apolinsky and a small but mighty team opened Gilda’s Club Nashville. The mission was “to ensure that all people impacted by cancer are empowered by knowledge, strengthened by action and sustained by community.” That mission is central to everything Gilda’s Club has done since opening the doors. In two short years, the organization and the number of those they served grew to include support for children through the Noogieland program. 

The 2010s brought a move to the current Division Street location, the launch of the Red Door Society for major donors and the name change to Gilda’s Club Middle Tennessee. As the organization continued to grow and evolve, in 2017, it became clear that a satellite location in Williamson County was essential to assist the community. During the pandemic, Gilda’s Club triumphed in serving community members by providing cancer support in-person, virtually and hybrid. This support was made possible through generous funding from the Frist Foundation. 

Legacy

Throughout the years, many volunteers and board members have left their mark on Gilda’s Club Middle Tennessee. Among them is Mark Carver, who first became involved with Gilda’s Club in 2004 when he was invited to join the board of directors. Mark and his wife, Pamela, have been faithful supporters of the community ever since. In 2019, Mark was awarded the Red Door Champion award at the Red Door Bash. Among his most important contributions to Gilda’s Club were the many months of expert consultation and advice he offered the organization through the search for the current clubhouse. His knowledge and experience in real estate law were crucial to the process, as was his extraordinary commitment to the mission. Mark continues to be an avid participant in events, including Gilda’s Club Golf Classic, Songwriter’s Night and the annual Red Door Bash. Mark’s leadership continues to impact the future with service on the Advisory Board.  

25th Annual Red Door Bash

Celebrating a milestone like a 25th anniversary is a momentous occasion — particularly when that milestone is honoring the important work of Gilda’s Club Middle Tennessee. The organization has worked tirelessly for a quarter century to lift up and support those in the community experiencing cancer. With a change in venue to the Music City Center, revelers arrived for the evening ready to celebrate. The perimeter of the reception hall was filled with generously donated items for the silent auction. As usual, Nashville’s generosity was on full display as guests shopped the trips, jewelry and artwork available in the auction. Red Door Bash co-chairs Gretchen Goldstein and Lori Fishel were on hand visiting with guests and eyeing some auction items themselves.

Once guests were seated for dinner, the program began. This year’s Corporate Vision Award was presented to Ken Bryant and Burr & Forman. Ken reminded the crowd, “People are built for community, and Gilda’s Club helps create that community.” Ken continued, “People with cancer speak a different language that others cannot understand. At Gilda’s Club, those experiencing cancer are understood.” Additionally, the Red Door Champion Award was presented to Matt and Lisa Taylor. The always moving Member Moment was presented by Sinclair Baldassari, who spoke of losing her husband to cancer and her own battle with the disease.

While the Red Door Bash is always a magnificent evening, excitement had been building for weeks after the announcement of Emmy Award-winning writer Alan Zweibel as the entertainment. Alan has spent a long, illustrious career as a comedy writer. He spoke of his early days as a joke writer selling $7 jokes. Alan had been one of the original writers on Saturday Night Live, and he talked about the first time he met Gilda Radner, their long friendship, and what her loss meant to him. While guests laughed and cried, all raised a glass to the purpose of the evening. President and CEO Harriet Schiftan, with board chair Allen Huggins, shared the vision: “We are here to celebrate our 25th anniversary and those who paved the way for us to arrive at this moment, and to honor those who are planning for the next 25 years!”