Journal of Hope
Summer 2008: Hats Off to ... Goorin Hat Tree Foundation
A recent, multi-box delivery to The Foundation drew curious staff out of their offices to take a peek at the intriguing contents – vintage, retro and contemporary men’s and…
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Fusion 09 Festival of Arts to Feature More than 200 Artists and Benefit Young Adult Cancer Survivors Mar 11, 2009
The fifth annual Fusion event will be a festival of arts with more than 200 featured artists including musicians, painters, designers, photographers, videographers and more. Fusion 09, a perennial Nashville favorite, will benefit The Minnie Pearl Cancer Foundation’s (TMPCF) annual Young Adult Cancer Survivor Retreat. This multi-faceted event will be held on Saturday, March 28, 2009, 7:00 p.m., at Nashville’s Cannery Ballroom (One Cannery Row). Fusion 09 will feature brilliant performances by The Gabe Dixon Band (who was recently featured on Jimmy Kimmel Live and has performed on The Late Late Show with Craig Kilborn), Red Carpet Rats, Sam & Ruby and Levi Weaver. Fashion designers Alain Patterson Couture and Jessica Maros will be unveiling spring collections, while visual artists Duncan Ragsdale and Ryan Hogan will be displaying their vibrant art for sale and/or commission and will be available to share techniques and inspiration. Two exciting features at Fusion 09 are a private film screening of several local shorts sponsored by Film Nashville including videographer James King, as well as Runway Fusion 09 – a competition featuring budding local fashion designers facing off to become Nashville’s next “Runway Fusion” star. The Fusion 09 volunteer committee and TMPCF are collaborating to bring to focus a widely over-looked and growing population – young adult cancer survivors. Alarming statistics reveal cancer as the fourth highest cause of death for young adults in their 20s and 30s. Equally stunning, survival rates for this demographic have not increased at all since 1975 when compared with survival rates for children and older adults. Typically seen as a disease for people over 40, cancer drastically impacts and often isolates young adults just as they are establishing independent lives, careers, and relationships. Having formed a reputation in the Nashville community as a must-attend affair, Fusion 09 is continuing in its efforts to use art as a platform to give young cancer survivors a voice. 100% of the proceeds from Fusion 2009 go to The Minnie Pearl Cancer Foundation and their annual Young Adult Cancer Survivor Retreat for cancer survivors ages 20 - 35. These retreats are free to participants and bring survivors together from all across the country and treat them to a weekend of relaxation, unique camaraderie and a thriving survivor network. Tickets are available at www.nashvillefusion.com for $15 per person or $50 for a VIP ticket to include access to a catered pre-party and exclusive art showing. Corporate group rates are also available. Please contact Heather Karls, Fusion Founder/Chairperson, at 615.812.1520 or heather@nashvillefusion.com Event sponsors include Cole Haan, Hospital Corporation of America (HCA) and Personal Best Fitness. The Minnie Pearl Cancer Foundation is a nonprofit public charity committed to funding programs that provide the greatest benefit to cancer patients and their families. By supporting new programs in cancer research, education, and patient and family services, we honor the memory of Sarah Cannon, a cancer patient herself, who created the beloved character “Minnie Pearl.”