PreserveOurLegacy.org - Nationwide/New York
Harlem, New York based non-profit organization organized after the devastating loss of 3-year old Jaden Hilton on January 29, 2007 when he lost his battle to leukemia. Our goal is to eliminate the Jaden's of the world and increase donors to the marrow registry using an "edutainment" model. This organization of which I am a member has huge plans for events in cities nationwide in 2010.
MarrowForLife.org - Atlanta based recruiting
Housed in the APEX Museum, an acronym for African American Panoramic Experience. The President of Atlanta’s only museum to celebrate the rich and often untold history of African Americans Dan Moore, Sr. has worked closely with the NMDP to register African Americans.
The Make Me A Match Project -Chicago based
Founded by Samuel Roberson out a need to save the lives of patients suffering from Leukemia and other blood related diseases. The Make Me A Match Project is commited to raising awareness and defying the myths of the registration and donation process. By doing this through arts, entertainment and social media networking, we believe people will be more susceptible to not only listening but understanding the power that they have and be inspired to use it by joining the registry and becoming a potential donor.
BoneMarrowWish.org - Detroit based recruiting
John C. Frierson founded ABMW in November 2003, after registering at a drive hosted at his church for a local fire fighter in October 2002. Six months later he was chosen to save the life of a two-year old boy. ABMW was granted 501c3 status from the Internal Revenue Service December 2003. Since its inception, ABMW has registered more than 1,000 potential donors for the NMDP registry and educated more than 3,000 minorities (people of color) to increase awareness about the critical need for bone marrow. ABMW is currently in the planning stages of a July 2010 launch of an African American Bone Marrow Awareness campaign throughout the United States.
GiftofLifeOnline.org c/o The William G. Pomeroy Foundation - Syracuse based recruiting
Working in partnership with the National Marrow Donor Program NMDP, the Gift of Life Campaign has conducted several bone marrow drives in an effort to significantly increase the number of diverse donors on the registry. They have expanded their efforts beyond upstate New York and have run drives in other states such as Virginia and Texas.
BriaTChism.org - Raytown/Kansas City, MO / Nationwide recruiting
Bria was a bright, happy, African-American kindergartner who passed away July 2, 1999 at the age of 6. She fought a long hard battle with Chronic Myeloid Leukemia. Her passing motivated her family to start the Bria T. Chism Foundation a 501©(3) non-profit organization whose mission is to increase awareness of the need of bone marrow donations in the minority communities. The have been involved with drives as far away as Colorado and Oklahoma.
JesUs4Jackie.com - St Louis / Nationwide recruiting
Marrow education and registry recruitment campaign through rapper Nelly's Non-Profit Foundation 4Sho4Kids. Initiated to find a match for Nelly's sister Jackie who did not have a match. They held some of the largest marrow drives for African Americans on record. Unfortunately Jackie never found a match and passed away in 2005. The organization is still active and runs drives throughout the country.
Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc - Nationwide Judie Davis Bone Marrow Recruitment Program
Judie was diagnosed with leukemia in 1983. Her Husband and entrepreneur Cal developed a drive to encourage people of color to register as potential donors in the National Marrow Donor Registry. Sadly, Judie died in 1990, but Cal continued his mission by relentlessly targeting African Americans across the country to register. They were the first African American organization recognized by the NMDP. Since then several Sigma Gamma Rho chapters have a Judie Davis Bone Marrow Recruitment Program and are active (see picture of the Dallas chapter on the home page)
LamonicasMiracleDrive.com - Annual marrow drive in Detroit in her memory
LaMonica Molette was 21yrs old and diagnosed with Leukemia (AML). Her Brother was a match but was murdered the day before her transplant. She had no match on the marrow registry and passed away. Her dying wish was to keep drives going for other people to possibly find matches that her church has done annually since.
African American Blood Drive and Bone Marrow Registry for Sickle Cell Disease Awareness - This Los Angeles based grassroots effort was created to educate and spread awareness in the Black community about Sickle Cell Disease, blood donation, and joining the marrow registry. Nita T is a Business and Personal Empowerment Consultant / Success Coordinator, and a Health Advocate.
SwabaCheek.org - is a campaign run by the Gift of Life registry. This campaign focuses on registering more minorities to their registry. They began the Swab-a-cheek campaign in 2009 because of the dire need to for more minorities to become donors.
aclt.org - African Caribbean Leukemia Trust
nationalmottep.org - National Minority Organ and Tissue Transplant Education Program
Active Black/Minority Recruiting Organizations
The Movement
We are Building a Nationwide Network
Our culture is unique; therefore mainstream methods are only going to be mildly effective when recruiting Blacks to the registry. Connecting volunteers to existing recruitment organizations should be a priority. Patients, family members, and friends who want to get fully involved in recruiting efforts should already know they can go to the NMDP or DKMS, but should also know they can also take advantage of an organization that specializes in the recruitment of African America listed below. .
Recruiting Methods
There is an entire industry that exists to market and advertise commercial products to the Black population. A similar system of proven recruiting guidelines and methods for African Americans is currently being tried and tested through those who have experience. This information is currently being shared among many of the organizations in the movement.
Patient based marrow drives have been the most effective way to register African Americans in large numbers. However, having a Black transplant recipient and especially a Black donor can be very convincing ways to help us look beyond our “mistrust” of the medical system. Many times we need to see and identify the people who are in need, have been helped, and have actually done it. .
Recruiting Opportunities
Church announcements, testimonies, and events
Black festivals, social, and community events
Solons/Barber shops
College organizations/events
Sporting events
Morning Black Radio
How Being Black Can Save A Life
African American Marrow Connection
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The Movement
