On Dec. 15 about 3,000 Vanderbilt University employees attended Turkey Toss, a long-standing holiday tradition and employee appreciation event through which the university expresses thanks to faculty, staff and postdoctoral scholars for their service. Turkey Toss was offered as a hybrid experience for the second year in a row, with employees having the option to celebrate in person at Sarratt Art Gallery or participate in a drive-through event at the Sarratt roundabout.
More than 30 volunteers, including several senior leaders, made this year’s 11-hour event possible by helping to distribute turkeys and other gifts. More than 1,560 turkeys were handed out, as well as 102 Tofurkys and 1,000 special swag gift sets.
The in-person experience featured catering by Campus Dining and festive tables hosted by the University Staff Advisory Council, Vanderbilt Athletics, Campus Dining, Printing Services, Human Resources, Vanderbilt University Public Safety and Vanderbilt Bookstore, which provided a special discount for employees at its pop-up store.
Out-of-state employees weren’t left out of this year’s Turkey Toss; 120 out-of-state employees received gift items, which were delivered to them through a partnership between departments and divisions and the HR Employee Learning and Engagement team.
View more photos from the event:
