Taylor Swift is keeping the holiday spirit alive with her recent donations to Nashville’s Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt and Operation Breakthrough in Kansas City.
Vanderbilt University Medical Center revealed the news of Swift’s donation on Dec. 30, and thanked the star for her contributions to both Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital and the Adolescent and Young Adult (AYA) Cancer Program.
“We are so grateful to Taylor Swift for her generous gifts to Monroe Carell. She is a true partner as we strive to provide a brighter, healthier future for the children and communities we serve,” said Juan C. Salazar, MD, MPH, chair of the Department of Pediatrics at Vanderbilt Health, system pediatrician-in-chief for Monroe Carell, and James C. Overall Professor.
“These gifts are so timely — of course, it is the holiday season, when a hospital stay is especially tough. And we are also seeing continued increases in the number of patients and families who turn to us for care,” the statement continued. “This makes a difference for us all.”
The medical center said that Swift’s gift to the AYA Cancer program will help address the needs of patients between the ages of 15-25. “The future of adolescent and young adult cancer research and care is full of progress and possibilities because of the generosity of donors like Taylor Swift,” said Debra Friedman, MD, MS, director of the Division of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology at Monroe Carell and holder of the E. Bronson Ingram Chair in Pediatric Oncology. “Her gift enables our teams to personalize cancer care for the unique challenges these patients face, leading to improved outcomes.”
Operation Breakthrough, a Kansas City charity, also shared news of the Grammy winner’s support. “Thank you @taylorswift for supporting Operation Breakthrough. We are so grateful for your kindness and for championing creativity, education, and opportunity for our over 750 students!” wrote the organization on Instagram. According to its website, Operation Breakthrough “provides a safe, loving and educational environment for children in poverty and empowers their families through advocacy, emergency aid and education.”
Earlier this month, Swift made contributions to MusiCares, CMA Foundation, and ACM Lifting Lives. The pop star also donated $1 million to Feeding America, a non-profit that oversees a network of food banks, food pantries, and local meal programs.