The National Pan-Hellenic Council, Inc., (NPHC) a strategic alliance currently composed of historically African-American international Greek letter sororities and fraternities, will join St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital to rally more than 1 million Greek members through the Call to Service for St. Jude initiative.

“The National Pan-Hellenic Council is thrilled to collaborate and engage our national network of members in support of such a great cause,” Cynthia Butler-McIntyre, chair of the NPHC Council of Presidents and National President of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., said in a statement.

“This Call to Service initiative not only helps raise funds, it also allows us to help spread the message that there is treatment for childhood cancer and other deadly diseases that affect our communities, like sickle cell and pediatric AIDS.”

The National Pan-Hellenic Council Call to Service for St. Jude,
www.st.jude.org/nphc, is a 30-day challenge in which members, friends and family can register and support an organization’s individual fundraising goal for St. Jude.

“This partnership with the National Pan-Hellenic Council means that more communities will be aware of the lifesaving mission of St. Jude. The support of NPHC members will help ensure that St. Jude can continue its pioneering research and treatment and that no family will ever pay St. Jude for anything,” Richard Shadyac, Jr., CEO of ALSAC/St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, said in a statement. “We look forward to cultivating this dynamic relationship with the NPHC as we work together to help realize a day when no child will die in the dawn of life.”

No family is charged for care at St. Jude’s and more than 75 percent of the hospital’s funding comes from the public.

The top 10 fundraisers in the NPHC challenge will receive a trip to Memphis, Tenn. to attend the National Civil Rights Museum Freedom Awards dinner in October and tour the hospital. The challenge will culminate on April 5 with the annual Radio Cares for St. Jude Kids radio event, led by Radio One, Inc., which has raised more than $14 million for St. Jude.

When St. Jude opened its doors 50 years ago, it was the first fully integrated children’s hospital in the South. African-American and white patients were treated in the same rooms, they dined together, and bathroom facilities were integrated. St. Jude was the first to develop a cure for sickle cell disease with a bone marrow transplant and has one of the largest pediatric sickle cell programs in the country, treating about 800 children a year. In addition, St. Jude shares these discoveries with doctors everywhere.