Anthony R. Abraham Foundation
Media Alert: 1-8-2015: St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital- LAU Visit
Today I had the distinguished pleasure of providing Dr. Joseph Jabbra, President of the Lebanese American University, an opportunity to see first- hand the amazing work being done at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in Memphis, Tennessee. We had the honor and privilege of meeting with Rick C. Shadyac Jr., CEO of ALSAC, American Lebanese Syrian Associated Charities; Dr. James Downing CEO of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital; and Dr. Sima Jeha, M.D. Director, Leukemia/Lymphoma Developmental Therapeutics Regional Director, Eastern Mediterranean Region, International Outreach Program Member, Oncology St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital www.stjude.org.
We also had the extreme honor of being taken on a tour of the St. Jude Hospital and Target House by Lindsey Wilkerson, a former patient and survivor from St. Jude, whom I had met when she was 13 years old. Lindsey truly ignited the passion that we have within us to have a sense of compassion and dedication to serve those in need. She helped remind both Dr. Jabbra and me that the work at St. Jude is about saving the lives of children who want a chance to live their dreams. Lindsey was given that opportunity through the miracles being performed at St. Jude. Today we got to experience the real miracle of St. Jude by hearing Lindsey’s story about how she was able to attend high school, graduate from college, get married, and have two children all because of the support of individuals around the world and the great work still being done at St. Jude. They saved her life!
What was truly unique about this visit with Dr. Jabbra, was how completely surprised he was in experiencing first-hand the miracles happening at St. Jude and ALSAC. It is a great tribute and gift that Danny and the Founders left to America, and the world, in honor of their Lebanese Heritage. It is a gift that continues to give back to the world every day through the love and passion exhibited at St. Jude.
Today Dr. Jabbra was able to see the tremendous scope of generosity provided by Chili’s Grill & Bar, Kay Jewelers, Target Corporation, the Memphis Grizzlies, and The Eric Trump Foundation. Each one of these organizations helped build a facility to support St. Jude in its mission to make sure that “no child shall die in the dawn of life.”
I have stated before that the mission of the Anthony R. Abraham Foundation is to “Love, Honor, Respect and Empower the Lives of the Suffering, Hopeless and Forgotten.” With that in mind, we are constantly looking for ways to empower those individuals through organizations that stand for and support our mission statement. St. Jude has been our torch bearer, and we are so proud to continue to be a part of their mission.
I am proud to say that our Foundation has also been associated with and supportive of the Lebanese American University in their pursuit of excellence. We have found that there is a tremendous opportunity for both of these great institutions to provide the infrastructure necessary to create real world opportunities in finding cures.
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Today at St. Jude, Dr. Jabbra, Dr. James Downing, and Dr. Sima Jeha agreed that they would work towards bringing together the resources from both faculties to establish a platform to formulate a plan that would provide opportunities for collaboration between these two amazing institutions in pursuit of serving their mission.
I want to extend, on behalf of the Anthony R. Abraham Foundation Board, our deepest thanks to the leadership of both of these great institutions for being wiling to explore the possibilities of collaboration for the benefit of all humanity.
GodSpeed!
Thomas G. Abraham
Chairman
Antony R. Abraham Foundation