Grantee Spotlight
September 2008
“Gift of Life” Love Story
A
deep love of family and community was the inspiration for the
Julie Rogers “Gift of Life” Program. As a surprise tribute to her
mother and breast cancer survivor, Julie, Regina Rogers honored
her family’s philanthropic spirit with a commitment to fund a
relatively small effort that would provide free mammograms for
women with limited financial resources. What began as a one-time
contribution developed into a program with more “believers of the
cause,” spreading the message of support for women struggling with
the crisis of accessing healthcare without sufficient insurance
coverage. Alliances with key medical organizations, such as
Memorial Hermann Baptist Hospitals and UTMB Galveston and its
local clinics, have enabled the “Gift of Life” to provide
thousands of free screenings for women in the region.
In
1998, the “Gift of Life” addressed another important component in
the fight against cancer with the initiation of an Educational
Outreach Program that was later named in loving memory of Sidney
“Chief” Dauphin through the generous support of his wife, Charline.
Medical professionals and cancer survivors share vital information
about breast, prostate and testicular cancer with adults and youth
at churches, housing complexes, businesses and schools throughout
Southeast Texas.
Although Julie passed away in 1998 due to complications from a
heart attack and stroke, her legacy is perpetuated through the
“Gift of Life” cancer screenings and awareness program that has
grown to touch the lives of more than 20,000 Southeast Texans
annually.
Breast Cancer Initiative
The
founding mission of the “Gift of Life” Program in 1994 was to make
available free mammograms for medically underserved women in
Southeast Texas. In the intervening fourteen years, the
organization has experienced resounding success with the provision
of more than 13,700 mammograms. Through its medical alliances with
Memorial Hermann Baptist Hospitals and UTMB Galveston, last year
1,450 women received free mammograms and clinical breast exams at
the Charline and Sidney “Chief” Dauphin Cancer Screening &
Prevention Center, Memorial Hermann Baptist Orange Hospital, and
on the UTMB mobile van, the Oleander. As a testament to the
program’s lifesaving screenings, more than 70 women have been
diagnosed with breast cancer since its inception. While these
numbers are impressive, of equal importance is the relief and
assurance the program’s clients experience when they receive
normal results from this lifesaving test. The program kicks off a
string of regional activities during October, National Breast
Cancer Awareness Month, where more than 300 women gather to share
their stories, celebrate survivorship, and receive messages of
hope.
I
deeply appreciate the Julie Rogers “Gift of Life” Program. I
haven’t had a mammogram for 6-7 years because I do not have
insurance. We Southeast Texas women are very blessed to have this
program and for the contributions from local individuals and
businesses. Without their help, a lot more women may die from
breast cancer because we can’t afford to be treated.
-Breast Cancer Screening Client
This is the greatest gift that anyone could ever give. To people
without insurance, this has been a godsend.
-Breast Cancer Screening Client
