St. Jude is Committed to Helping Sickle Cell Patients

St Jude and Regina Belle

Have you heard of the Divine Nine? Prior to becoming a St. Jude Ambassador, I didn’t know about the Divine Nine. These nine phenomenal fraternities and sororities are affectionately known as The Divine Nine because of their commitment to community outreach.” The nine historically Black Greek Letter Organizations (BGLOs) make up the National Pan-Hellenic Council, which are

  1. Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc.
  2. Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc.
  3. Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity Inc.
  4. Omega Psi Phi Fraternity Inc.
  5. Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc.
  6. Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity Inc.
  7. Zeta Phi Beta Sorority Inc.
  8. Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority Inc.
  9. Iota Phi Theta Fraternity Inc.

 

 

 

The Divine Nine
Jennifer M. Jones (National President – NPHC); Andre R. Manson (Grand Polaris, – Iota Phi Theta Fraternity, Inc.); Deborah Catchings-Smith – Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc.); AC Wharton (representing Dr. Everett B. Ward – Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc.); Mary Breaux Wright (International Grand Basileus – Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc.); Micheal E. Cristal (International President – Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc.); Beverly E. Smith (National President – Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.); Anthony F. Knox, Sr. (Grand Basileus – Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc.); Dr. Glenda Baskin Glover (National Vice President – Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.); Thomas L. Battles, Jr. (Grand Polemarch – Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc.) Image Credit: St. Jude

 

St. Jude is Committed to Helping Sickle Cell Patients

Each September during Black Caucus in Washington, DC, St. Jude holds a call to service reception to help raise awareness about St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital‘s commitment to children and their families who are living with sickle cell disease. 

 

 

 

St Jude Ambassador and Blogger
Elle Cole St Jude Ambassador and Blogger

The event this year was especially special for me because the very first St. Jude patient I ever met was the featured patient speaker. During the call to service St. Jude makes sure that the attendees receive a first-hand perspective of what the hospital does for patients and their families from the very people who receive treatment. 4 at the time, and I got a chance to hear from Courtney and her mom about how they learned to manage her sickle cell over the years. Now, Courtney is 16 years old. She looks beautiful, is healthy and is thriving. For a mom, like me, hearing her eloquently discuss the work St. Jude has played in keeping her healthy was tremendously encouraging. 

Four years ago, when I traveled to St Jude Children’s Hospital in Memphis, TN. I met Courtney and her mom, the experience is etched in my mind because it gave me more hope for my own daughter who is also living with sickle cell anemia. Now, Courtney is 16 years old. She looks beautiful, is healthy and is thriving. For a mom, like me, hearing her eloquently discuss the work St. Jude has played in keeping her healthy was tremendously encouraging. Courtney was so eloquent and intelligent at the Call to Service, Dr. Glenda Baskin Glover offered her a full college scholarship to Tennesee State University. 

 

 

 

 

Call to service
(L-R, Dr. Glenda Baskin Glover (National Vice President – Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. Courtney St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital patient, and her Mom.)

 

The First Grant St. Jude Received Was For Sickle Cell Patients

St. Jude started with a commitment to helping sick children in the black community. In fact, it was the first integrated Children’s Hospital in the US when it was founded in 1962. In addition, the first grant the hospital received was to help treat children living with sickle cell disease. The man behind the vision of St. Jude was entertainer, philanthropist, and producer Danny Thomas, who famously stated, “No child should die in the dawn of life.” 

Tears were brought to my eyes when Regina Belle Sang to Courtney her song “If I could.”  

 

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Disclosure: I am a St. Jude Blogger. All opinions expressed in this post are my own. Photos courtesy of St. Jude.

 

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