Marlo, Terre and Tony Thomas, children of St. Jude founder Danny Thomas, presented John David "J.D." Peeples of Roadway Express with the Volunteer of the Year Award during the 2000 ALSAC/St. Jude National Convention here today.
Peeples, a district manager in the Southern Division of Roadway, was the first manager to respond to his vice president's challenge to create an event benefiting St. Jude. Peeples took the lead on the Roadway endowment of the St. Jude blood donor center, helped implement the employee giving program at Roadway and spearheaded an effort to obtain a $64,000 grant from the G.A.R. Foundation. Peeples' dedication led to a $140,000 contribution, almost half of the total amount the Southern Division raised for St. Jude.
"We are indeed fortunate to have a person with J.D.'s determination and concern working for our children," said Tony Thomas.
Southern Division Vice President Brian Curran accepted an award on behalf of Roadway Express in recognition of the company's commitment to St. Jude. "They have become one of our most enthusiastic supporters, having raised over $300,000 since Brian issued the challenge," said Thomas.
"I look at this as a beginning for us," Curran said.
St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, in Memphis, Tennessee, was founded by the late entertainer Danny Thomas. The hospital is an internationally recognized biomedical research center dedicated to finding cures for catastrophic diseases of childhood. The hospital's work is supported through funds raised by the American Lebanese Syrian Associated Charities (ALSAC). All St. Jude patients are treated regardless of their ability to pay. ALSAC covers all costs of treatment beyond those reimbursed by third party insurers, and total costs for families who have no insurance.
The blood donor center is solely responsible for providing St. Jude patients with platelets, the blood component that causes clotting. St. Jude has an unusually high need for platelets because many of the aggressive treatments used to destroy cancer cells also kill the cells that produce platelets. The only way to increase a patients' platelet count is to transfuse platelets from a healthy donor. "So far, blood products, including platelets, cannot be reproduced in a lab," said Melissa Richardson, St. Jude blood donor recruiter.
"When we acquire platelets from outside sources we must pay their processing fee," Richardson said, "which can range from $500 - $700 per unit. One regular donor can save the hospital as much as $168,000 per year." Unfortunately, while 60 percent of the population is medically able to donate platelets, only four percent do.
Held in conjunction with a full board meeting, the ALSAC/St. Jude National Convention has historically served as a vehicle for the Board of Directors and Governors to mobilize local communities around the country to support the hospital's mission. The convention will now be held every three years in Memphis, allowing ALSAC/St. Jude to bring key donors, volunteers, groups and corporate partners to the hospital where they can see first-hand the life-saving work at St. Jude.
