For many Vanderbilt students, singing at the top of their lungs at a concert with friends is the perfect way to unwind after a long week. Lights on the Lawn’s vibrant music and buzzing arenas are more than just shows — they’re a fundraising outlet that unites the wider Nashville community for a unique cause. With their fall show spotlighting Gryffin, an electrifying musician, DJ and producer, approaching on Sept. 27, it’s time to explore the vision and purpose behind LOTL.
LOTL donates all proceeds to the Mary Parrish Center, a charity dedicated to providing housing and holistic services to survivors of interpersonal violence. Vanderbilt junior Juliana Pratt, Vice President of Marketing, expressed pride in LOTL’s $815,000 donation to charity, helping create a safer, more hospitable environment for those in need. She also emphasized the importance of tradition, not just for LOTL, but for the entire Vanderbilt community. As LOTL is an organization unique to Vanderbilt, students pour their hearts out on stage and in the crowd, serving an effort larger than themselves.
This goal, however, has shifted throughout the last 12 years. Pratt said that LOTL’s founder, Teddy Raskin, created this organization to raise medical treatment funds for his friend who was paralyzed in an accident. Raskin believed synergizing the efforts of his friends and the IFC fraternities for an all-encompassing event would prove more effective than executing smaller, spaced-out initiatives. After successfully raising funds for Raskin’s friend, their vision pivoted to the Mary Parrish Center, creating a long-term goal of rallying Vanderbilt’s students behind the cause.
“LOTL is a unique organization in that you have a lot of people from many different organizations coming together,” said Pratt. “It presents a unique opportunity to collaborate in a setting students wouldn’t find anywhere else on campus.”
LOTL’s shows require extensive planning across three departments: logistics, finance and marketing. Starting in the spring, logistics handles stage and sound planning, including coordinating a site map. Finance secures corporate sponsorships early to garner as much support as possible for the team’s initiatives. Marketing designs graphics and manages outreach throughout the year to maintain an online presence and generate buzz around the concerts. Together, these departments decide which artist will be under the spotlight and deliberate logistics with the artist’s team.
With applications to join the team, show dates and ticket sales linked on their website, joining a cause bigger than yourself is just one step away. Pratt shared that past executive members and industry professionals pass their words of wisdom to current LOTL members, establishing an interwoven relationship honoring a common cause.
Mark your calendars for Sept. 27 for the 2024 Lights on the Lawn show featuring Gryffin. Purchase your tickets at the online box office for a night of vibrant music and the chance to support a meaningful cause.
