St. Jude Children's Research Hospital® Unites with National Pan-Hellenic Council to Fight Pediatric Cancer, Sickle Cell Disease

NPHC taps its membership for 30-day fundraising challenge

MEMPHIS, Tenn., Mar. 7, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The National Pan-Hellenic Council (NPHC) is uniting with St. Jude Children's Research Hospital®  to rally its more than 1 million members through the Call to Service for St. Jude initiative. For the first time, the NPHC, composed of African-American international Greek letter sororities and fraternities, supports one mission – helping St. Jude treat the world's sickest children with the best care.

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"This partnership with the National Pan-Hellenic Council means that more communities will be aware of the lifesaving mission of St. Jude. The support of NPHC members will help ensure that St. Jude can continue its pioneering research and treatment and that no family will ever pay St. Jude for anything," said Richard Shadyac, Jr., CEO of ALSAC/St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. "We look forward to cultivating this dynamic relationship with the NPHC as we work together to help realize a day when no child will die in the dawn of life."

Four-year-old Kennedi is just one of the tens of thousands of children who benefit from the cutting-edge research and treatment at St. Jude. Last summer, her mother Chauntay, who is a member of Delta Sigma Theta sorority, and father Joseph, who is a member of Omega Psi Phi fraternity, were alarmed to learn that Kennedi suffered from acute lymphoblastic leukemia, the most common form of childhood cancer, and was referred to St. Jude where she was placed on a two-and-a-half year treatment plan. Within two weeks, her cancer was in remission. Because of St. Jude, Kennedi lives a happy, healthy life. Her mother said, "Whenever she sees the St. Jude logo, she says 'There's my doctor!' We trust the doctors here, and know Kennedi is at the best place possible."

Relationships with organizations like the NPHC are more important than ever to St. Jude because no family pays St. Jude for anything and more than 75 percent of the hospital's funding comes from the public.

"The National Pan-Hellenic Council is thrilled to collaborate and engage our national network of members in support of such a great cause," said Cynthia Butler-McIntyre, chair of the NPHC Council of Presidents and National President of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. "This Call to Service initiative not only helps raise funds, it also allows us to help spread the message that there is treatment for childhood cancer and other deadly diseases that affect our communities, like sickle cell and pediatric AIDS."

National Pan-Hellenic Council Call to Service for St. Jude, http://www.stjude.org/nphc, is a 30-day challenge where members, friends and family can register and support an organization's individual fundraising goal for St. Jude. The top 10 fundraisers will receive a trip to Memphis, Tenn. to attend the National Civil Rights Museum Freedom Awards dinner in October and tour the hospital. The challenge will culminate on April 5 with the annual Radio Cares for St. Jude Kids radiothon, led by Radio One, Inc., which has raised more than $14 million for St. Jude.

When St. Jude opened its doors 50 years ago, it was the first fully integrated children's hospital in the South. African-American and white patients were treated in the same rooms; they dined together; and bathroom facilities were integrated. St. Jude was the first to develop a cure for sickle cell disease with a bone marrow transplant and has one of the largest pediatric sickle cell programs in the country, treating about 800 children a year. In addition, St. Jude shares these discoveries with doctors everywhere.

To support an NPHC organization and help ensure that all kids can have a lifetime of moments, visit www.stjude.org/nphc. Be sure to "like" St. Jude on Facebook and follow @StJude on Twitter for the latest updates.

About St. Jude Children's Research Hospital

Since opening 50 years ago, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital has changed the way the world treats childhood cancer and other life-threatening diseases. No family ever pays St. Jude for the care their child receives and, for every child treated here, thousands more have been saved worldwide through St. Jude discoveries. The hospital has played a pivotal role in pushing U.S. pediatric cancer survival rates from 20 to 80 percent overall, and is the first and only National Cancer Institute-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center devoted solely to children. It is also a leader in the research and treatment of blood disorders and infectious diseases in children. St. Jude was founded by the late entertainer Danny Thomas, who believed that no child should die in the dawn of life. Join that mission by visiting stjude.org or following us on facebook.com/stjude and twitter.com/stjude.

About the National Pan-Hellenic Council

The National Pan-Hellenic Council, Incorporated (NPHC) is a strategic alliance currently composed of Historically African-American international Greek letter Sororities and Fraternities. Participating organizations include: Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc., Iota Phi Theta Fraternity, Inc., Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc. Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc. and Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. NPHC promotes interaction through forums, meetings and other mediums for the exchange of information and engages in cooperative programming and initiatives through various activities and functions. Our common interest is service to our communities and to all mankind.

SOURCE ALSAC/St. Jude Children's Research Hospital