At the 2023 Phi Beta Sigma fraternity’s annual conclave, a Red Cross blood drive provided the national fraternity’s members with an opportunity to give back to their community. The conclave was held July 11-16 at Houston’s George R. Brown Convention Center and brought together members of the historically Black fraternity founded in 1914 at Howard University. Many of them turned out to donate blood under the auspices of the Texas Gulf Coast Red Cross chapter.
They were motivated by a sense of civic and charitable responsibility, with some noting issues specific to their fraternity’s membership.
“Our fraternity is pushing this piece of our social action initiative,” said Walter Stephens, the Phi Beta Sigma Georgia state director. “I’m also here to help those in our community suffering from sickle cell.”
Stephens says he knows firsthand how important blood donation is because his sister has sickle cell disease. The condition is an inherited red blood cell disorder which can cause pain, anemia, infection, and other serious medical complications. Those with the disease commonly require blood transfusions that provide the body with normal red blood cells. In the U.S., sickle cell predominantly impacts Black people.
Curtis Smith of Cypress, Texas, also donated at the Phi Beta Sigma conclave. He was especially motivated by the fact that he has a good friend with sickle cell disease. Smith himself has had several surgeries that required blood transfusions. He was grateful the Red Cross could provide the opportunity to donate at the Conclave.
“I donated here because it was an accessible opportunity, to do it while I was at the conference,” said Smith. He noted that the fraternity had set a goal for a record number of donations as an additional motivator.
Red Cross volunteer Takesha Vance registered blood donors at the event. As a new volunteer, she said she enjoyed the opportunity to serve.
“I like to be of service,” said Vance. “It’s very important to me.”
Story by: Ruth Nasrullah
Texas Gulf Coast American Red Cross 