Sorority Sisters Support the Cause
Sorority sisters from Beta Sigma Phi International have been volunteering for Hemophilia of Georgia (HoG) for more than 30 years. It all started with a personal connection. Their sorority sister Jo Ann gave birth to her son Chris 32 years ago. Chris was later diagnosed with hemophilia B. Jo Ann rallied her sorority sisters to support the cause. Since that time, Jo Ann and her sorority sisters have been helping in the HoG office and at HoG events.
On April 6, 2017, Joan Johnson Krask, Georgia Herman (along with husband Don and granddaughter Michaela), Camille McDougald, and Paula Woolf, along with other volunteers, came to give their time. The ladies fondly remembered all the different activities they have done over the past 30 years. They regularly come into the office to pack pharmacy “bundles” of supplies needed for home infusion, such as syringes, bandages, gauze, alcohol preps, gloves, etc. They most recently helped with a mailing. They remember working events like the fashion shows, poinsettia fundraisers, and the golf tournament. Georgia remembers the day when she got the call that they were ready to deliver a truck load of poinsettias and asked her where she wanted them. “A truck load is a lot of poinsettias,” she mused and she quickly had to come up with a plan. The sisters all used to work full-time and would dedicate their evenings to volunteer. They would sometimes hold their chapter meetings at the HoG office, while doing a service project. Now, most have retired and they are able to come during the day.
The women came to the office to volunteer and present a donation. The DeKalb-Gwinnett City Council of Beta Sigma Phi ran a fundraising campaign, “Coins for Hemophilia,” and collected $419.60 worth of spare change in support of the cause. They presented Lorraine Scollan, Development Coordinator at HoG, with a check (and thankfully, not the actual coins collected). Over the years, they have learned about bleeding disorders and have become self-appointed ambassadors to the community, and work to spread awareness. In the last 30 years, they have seen a lot of progress in research, treatments, and in personal outcomes. They have watched Chris grow into a fine young man with a good life. At HoG, that’s our mission. We are so grateful for those people who give their time in support.
There are 12 members of the Beta Sigma Phi International, XI MASTER Chapter who volunteer for Hemophilia of Georgia: Carol Carothers, Donna Cox, Judy Gaunce, Cheryl Henderson, Georgia Herman, Donna Hunsinger, Joan Krask, Ann Marks, Camille McDougald, Mary Rizner, Judy Ward, and Paula Woolf. There are 11 members of the Beta Sigma Phi International, PHI MASTER Chapter who volunteer for Hemophilia of Georgia: Jo Ann, Linda Bridges, Pat Crucefix, Janet Doling, Sherry Kosmetatos, Nancy Morris, Terry Rydzewski, Sharon Scheivelhud, Cynthia Thompson, Marilyn Valdes and Rita Zigler. Thank you, ladies, for your years of service.
Thanks to our other volunteers, too!
