The 9th St. Jude Spirit of the Dream gala presented by W&T Contracting Corporation took place this weekend at The Guest House at Graceland. This annual event celebrates the achievements of African Americans who have made significant contributions to Memphis and beyond while embodying the mission of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital®. The event raised more than $255,000.
Guests were entertained with a musical selection from Wendy Moten, showcasing her powerful, genre-building vocals. With a career spanning three decades, the Season 21 runner-up on The Voice sang about not giving up. St. Jude patient Sabrina spoke about how St. Jude has helped her on her journey by reciting poetry for the audience.
This September, communities nationwide are uniting to recognize both Childhood Cancer Awareness Month and National Sickle Cell Awareness Month. In a keynote address, Kera Wright, the Chief Financial Officer for ALSAC, the fundraising and awareness organization for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, thanked honorees and spoke about the impact of their support in a month that holds extra meaning for St. Jude patients and families:
“The changemakers being honored are all dreamers. Through their unwavering social, community and humanitarian impact, these dreamers remind us all that if you dare to dream then you can dare to hope,” said Wright. “Through their tireless work supporting the children of St. Jude, our award recipients, alongside supporters everywhere, are helping advance research and treatment not only for pediatric cancer but for life-threatening diseases such as sickle cell disease.”
This year’s recipients reflected on their charitable work and connections to St. Jude:
Legacy Award: A C Wharton, Jr.
The Legacy Award recognizes the work of a St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital or ALSAC team member demonstrating exemplary commitment to the legacy of St. Jude by encompassing the true spirit of caring for people.
“I’m extremely humbled to receive this recognition from an organization that I love and respect so much. Service has always been important to me and I feel it’s my duty to give back to my community.” - Wharton
Wharton is the executive director of development at ALSAC. Prior to joining ALSAC, he served as the Mayor of Memphis. He has contributed to the mission of St. Jude by cultivating relationships with groups and organizations such as Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc., Jack & Jill of America, The Links, Inc., Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity and the National Medical Association.
St. Jude Legacy award recipient A C Wharton, Jr. with Kera Wright, Chief Financial Officer for ALSAC
Spirit of the Dream Awards: Carolyn Chism Hardy and Peter Woods
Honors a person or institution embodying the lifesaving mission of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital and its founder Danny Thomas.
“As a native Memphian, I’m extremely honored to receive this award. St. Jude is very dear to my heart and I’m passionate about any work that makes cures possible for kids with cancer and sickle cell,” said Hardy. Hardy’s storied career includes starting Hardy Bottling, the largest African American contract packer in the U.S., and Henderson Transloading Services, servicing the largest grain companies and commodity traders in the U.S and currently serving as CEO of Chism Hardy Investments, LLC focusing on retail brand development and real estate development. She is also a published author of three books who shares her insights with her fellow members of the African American Engagement Council of ALSAC.
“St. Jude is a special place and I’ve seen firsthand the impactful work the institution has done in its lifesaving mission to find cures for childhood cancer. My great-nephew, R.J., has benefitted significantly from the research done on sickle cell disease and my family will be forever grateful,” said Woods, a well-known artist born and raised in Mound Bayou, Mississippi. In 1998, Woods and his brother started a family business creating art called Peter’s Pottery. To date, Woods has raised more than $400,000 for the families of St. Jude.
The event’s proceeds help ensure that families never receive a bill from St. Jude for treatment, travel, housing or food, so they can focus on helping their child live.
Get involved and learn more about how St. Jude helps advance research and treatment for childhood cancer and other life-threatening diseases.
Kera Wright, Chief Financial Officer for ALSAC, presents Carolyn Chism Hardy with the 2024 St. Jude Spirit of the Dream award.
St. Jude Spirit of the Dream award recipient Peter Woods with Kera Wright, Chief Financial Officer for ALSAC
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.