INDIANAPOLIS — For Kaylee Tutrow and her long medical history, Rock for Riley is personal. A genetic disorder called Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome sent Tutrow to more than a dozen specialists at Riley Children’s Hospital and kept her as a Greenfield-Central homebound student through the better part of her high school years.
Today, Tutrow, as a 2015 graduate of Greenfield-Central High School and a 2019 graduate from IUPUI, is a medical student. Tutrow, president of Rock for Riley, the Indiana University med student fundraising organization for Riley Children’s Hospital, is tasked with creating a fundraiser that would be fun and safe for all involved.
Typically, Rock for Riley, founded in 2004, has held concerts at the Vogue and 5Ks along with other events. But with today’s COVID-19 restrictions and cautions in place, event planning called for some out-of-the-box creativity.
“Virtual concerts are tougher than you might think,” Tutrow said, citing the technical aspects of lighting and sound quality.
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Tutrow drew on childhood memories of drive-in movies at the Tibbs Drive-In on Friday and Saturday nights and came up with the perfect COVID-19-era fundraiser.
At 7 p.m. Friday, Nov. 6, the Tibbs Drive-In, 480 S. Tibbs Ave., and Rock for Riley will host a double-feature: “Grease” and “Dirty Dancing.” Tickets are free but must be reserved at give.rileykids.org/rockforriley2020.
When Tutrow reached out to Tibbs management, they were immediately on board.
“As soon as they heard the idea, they were excited to work with us,” Tutrow said. “We didn’t really have to try at all.”
When it came to selecting the films to be show, the Tibbs owners presented Tutrow with a list of the most popular films: “Grease” and “Dirty Dancing.” Tutrow felt that these movies were cross-generational and would be of interest to community members.
“We are still Rock for Riley,” Tutrow explained. “These films fit with our vision of supporting Riley Hospital and involving music in our program.”
Tutrow is hoping to raise around $2,500 through free will donations and pledges through the event.
No stranger to fundraising, she is a former member of Jagathon, IUPUI’s undergraduate group for Riley Fundraising. Through Jagathon, Tutrow helped organize events such as Battleships — a competition where canoe teams would try to sink each other at the pool in the Natatorium; and Dancing With the Stars, where professors and dance students paired up to compete.
Individually, Tutrow has raised more than $15,000 through donations, mug sales and through volunteering in exchange for donations. Part of her role with Jagathon included connecting student groups such as sororities and fraternities to fundraising projects.
Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome is a condition that affects the connective tissue of the skin, joints and blood vessel walls, causing overly flexible joints that can dislocate and translucent, elastic skin that bruises easily. For Tutrow, it was actually the underlying cause for two more disorders: Chiari Malformation, a disorder in which the flow of brain fluid to the spine is disrupted; and Intercranial Hypertension, which causes elevated fluid pressure around the brain. Tutrow — and her brother — suffered headaches and numbness and were diagnosed in 2008.
Tutrow has always known that she wanted to go into medicine, and although she is still in the early days of her med school career, she’s already looking ahead to future fundraising events with an alumni group she hopes to create.
“Without Riley Hospital, I can honestly say I wouldn’t be in medical school today,” Tutrow said. “They’ve given me the ability to chase my dreams.”
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What: Rock for Riley Fundraiser Movie Night
When: 7 p.m. Friday, Nov. 6
Where: Tibbs Drive-In, 480 S. Tibbs Ave., Indianapolis
Details: Reserve free tickets at: give.rileykids.org/rockforriley2020; free will donation
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