Kristen Maloney, LMFT
Dear Gilda’s Club Middle Tennessee Family,
Since joining the team in 2024, I’ve truly come to understand the meaning behind our red door. It represents warmth, community, hope, and comfort. As we walk through that red door into our 2025–2026 fiscal year, we’re excited to look ahead and share all that’s in store for Gilda’s Club Middle Tennessee.
This past year, we opened doors that led to growth and connection. We expanded our programming to meet the evolving needs of our community – from launching new BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color) and LGBTQ+ Connection Groups to hosting creative programs like Living with Lymphedema, MELT Method, SINGO: The Musical Bingo Experience with DJ Jane Dupree, Stranger Taste Dinner Experience with Liz Fisher, Songwriting 101 & Leathermaking with the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum, and Charcuterie Class with Table for 2 Catering. We saw new faces, heard new stories, and witnessed the resiliency that comes from being seen, heard, and supported by others who “get it”.
None of this would have been possible without you – our members, facilitators, volunteers, and community partners. Your time, energy, and compassion are the heartbeat of everything we do. Thank you for showing up, for supporting one another, and for helping us build a space where everyone feels seen and valued.
I’m excited to share that we have some meaningful new opportunities coming to Gilda’s Club this year. We’re getting ready to introduce additional weekly support and monthly connection groups, designed to meet our members where they are. We’re also building new partnerships with medical providers in our community that focus on accessibility and inclusion-because every door we open should be one that everyone feels welcome walking through.
And of course, our programming will continue to grow in creative and engaging ways, with social events like Trivia Night in August hosted by the Gilda’s Club Associate Board and Dinner and Dancing with the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum in September. There’s so much to look forward to, and we can’t wait to share it with you. View our full lineup of programs and register here.
As we begin this fiscal year, I think back to a moment that reminded me why this work is so important. Last month, a member shared that attending programs at Gilda’s Club provided a safe and caring place for her, even before she felt comfortable enough to share her diagnosis with her family and loved ones. That moment — simple, honest, and deeply human — stays with me. It’s why I walk through the red door each day. Even in this short time, I’ve seen just how much love and strength exists within it. I’m so grateful to be part of it all, and excited for what is ahead.
As we step into this new chapter, I invite you to join us. Whether you’re returning, just discovering us, or somewhere in between – there’s a place for you here. Try something new. Let’s keep building this community together.
Here’s to the year ahead!
If you have any questions about our programs or need support of any kind, please don’t hesitate to reach out. I would be happy to hear from you—whether it’s to help you get connected or simply to say hello. You can reach me at 615-329-1124 or kristen@gildasclubmiddletn.org.
Warmly,
Kristen Maloney, LMFT
Program Director