ALSAC, the fundraising and awareness organization for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital®, and Memphis-Shelby County Schools celebrated the graduation of 83 local high school students from the Fervent Family Program at a ceremony held at Dixon Gallery & Gardens.
The Fervent Family Program is a free life skills advancement program led by ALSAC employees and community partners such as Peer Power Foundation and Pleasant View School. Volunteers share their professional and personal expertise through workshops on topics such as financial literacy, navigating the healthcare system, self-care, public speaking, leadership skills, relationship building, and business planning.
“ALSAC believes deeply in giving back and that spirit of service is reflected in our core values,” said Annette Green, Chief People Officer for ALSAC. “We are grateful to be able to offer initiatives like the Fervent Families Program where we can serve communities where we live and work.”
Annette Green, Chief People Officer for ALSAC, speaks to graduates at the Fervent Family Program ceremony
Students from Pleasant View School, Raleigh-Egypt, Melrose and Booker T. Washington High Schools participated in the program this year and spoke eagerly about their experience during the graduation ceremony.
“The Fervent Families Program is important because it has helped guide me through every aspect of life and discover new things about myself,” said program graduate Nisreen Alrabhie from Pleasant View School. “It’s helped me gain self-confidence and equipped me with everything I need to become successful in life.”
As part of a commitment to giving back to the community, ALSAC employees volunteer to write curricula and facilitate workshops. Sessions focus on providing participants with experiential learning opportunities and supporting students’ cognitive, socio-emotional and technical abilities as well as physical and mental health. The curriculum helps participants build the skills, knowledge and behaviors needed to transition successfully into adulthood and thrive in their future careers.
Graduates from the Fervent Family Program celebrate their accomplishments
More than 643 students have participated in these workshops since the program started in 2021. The program is open to junior and senior high school students who are actively engaged in school or community programs. The students’ parents are also welcome to participate. It operates on a semester basis, with cohorts in the fall and spring, encompassing approximately five workshops per cohort. The next cohort will begin in fall 2024.
Learn more about school partnerships with ALSAC and St. Jude here.
A student from the Fervent Family Program intensively listens to advice
About St. Jude Children's Research Hospital
St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital is leading the way the world understands, treats and defeats childhood cancer and other life-threatening diseases. Its purpose is clear: Finding cures. Saving children.® It is the only National Cancer Institute-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center devoted solely to children. When St. Jude opened in 1962, childhood cancer was considered largely incurable. Since then, St. Jude has helped push the overall survival rate from 20% to more than 80%, and it won't stop until no child dies from cancer. St. Jude shares the breakthroughs it makes to help doctors and researchers at local hospitals and cancer centers around the world improve the quality of treatment and care for even more children. Because of generous donors, families never receive a bill from St. Jude for treatment, travel, housing or food, so they can focus on helping their child live. Visit St. Jude Inspire to discover powerful St. Jude stories of hope, strength, love and kindness. Support the St. Jude mission by donating at stjude.org, liking St. Jude on Facebook, following St. Jude on X, Instagram, LinkedIn and TikTok, and subscribing to its YouTube channel.
Media Contact
Lillie Flenorl, Media Relations Advisor
(901) 930-7993
lillie.flenorl@alsac.stjude.org