My daughters and I were invited by Weallgrow Latina to the Thanks and Giving® Fiesta with St. Jude and Domino’s yesterday in Dallas. It was an honor for me to join this event because I fully support the St. Jude mission: Finding cures. Saving children.®
St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital is leading the way the world understands, treats and defeats childhood cancer and other life-threatening diseases, and the only one devoted solely to help children.
It is mind-blowing to know that treatments invented at St. Jude have helped push the overall childhood cancer survival rate from 20 percent to 80 percent since the Danny Thomas founded the hospital in 1962.
We had a wonderful time that included fun activities, delicious vegan pizza, a variety of desserts, and inspiring speakers, to celebrate the kick off of the Thanks and Giving® campaign. This is not just a fundraising effort, but a tradition that encourages us to give thanks for the healthy kids in our lives and to give to those who are not.
Domino’s has been a partner of St. Jude Research Hospital for 15 years and has raised more than $47 million dollars to help end childhood cancer, primarily through its participation in the Thanks and Giving® campaign.
You can order a pizza, side, or a drink, and round up your order, or donate $1 to St. Jude at any of the Domino’s locations across the USA.
You can donate to St. Jude via in-store, telephone, online and mobile orders, as well as the purchase of a St. Jude Meal Deal during the campaign timeframe. For each Meal Deal purchased, Domino’s will donate $1 to St. Jude.
As influencers, we can also spread the word to let others know they can get involved in this great cause. This message was brought home by Zuleyka Rivera, who traveled from Italy just to support St. Jude.
Zuleyka Rivera, Miss Universe 2006, is an actress, dancer, entrepreneur, and single mom, known to many as “the girl from the Despacito music video,” and she has a heart of gold. She is genuinely passionate about the St. Jude mission and she’s “never busy” when it comes to supporting St. Jude.
She expressed that time is the greatest gift because it can’t be returned. She also told us about her gratitude practices and how she teaches her son to be grateful and to give back. I love that!
We also heard from Kathy, a St. Jude patient, originally from Guatemala, who was diagnosed as a teenager and college student. As she told her story, there was not a dry eye in the room.
Kathy was really heartbroken when she heard the news, but going to St. Jude gave her hope and feelings of safety, and she felt she was where she needed to be. She went through 9 months of painful chemotherapy, but with the help of St. Jude, she’s alive – and not taking any moment for granted. She reminded us that every day is a blessing and a miracle and that our suffering can be an eye-opener to how truly blessed we have been.
I have experienced cancer as an adult and have gone through other life threatening events, so I know the perspective this brings.
She lit up as she spoke of the hospital, the community, and all the celebrations she was part of. I have been to St. Jude, as well, and you always think you’re going to this sad, depressing place, but it turns out to be a magical, colorful, joyful place where there is happiness and healing happening every day.
One thing that I learned during my visit to St. Jude was that families never receive a bill from St. Jude for treatment, travel, housing or food – because all a family should worry about is helping their child live. Kathy was very grateful for this kind of support her family received.
Another favorite moment in the event was watching a video with Danny Thomas speaking about his dream and how people told him it was impossible to create a place that helps children all over the world, regardless of race, creed, or economic status.
I am so grateful for Weallgrow Latina for hosting this event at the Domino’s pizza Team Bailey here in the Dallas Fort Worth metroplex. It was a great success! We loved seeing our friends Ana and Melissa, and connecting with some other DFW Latina influencers.
Enter to win a $25 gift card to Domino’s Pizza. You can get FREE PIZZA at Domino’s (a St.Jude partner) and be one of the first to receive a gift card in this VIP design. Must be 18+. Shipping within USA. No purchase necessary.
To be part of the Thanks and Giving® love and help end childhood cancer, share a photo of what you are thankful for on Instagram, Twitter or Facebook tagging @StJude and using #DPZGiveThanks to join the movement.
To learn more about St. Jude, visit StJude.org and follow @StJude on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Para Español, sigue StJudeEspanol.
Elayna is a single mom of 4, award-winning Storyteller, Story Strategist, and Student of Pain. She’s a bestselling author, internationally acclaimed keynote speaker, and 4x TEDx speaker. Founder of the Positive MOM® and creator of the S.T.O.R.Y. System: a blueprint to craft and share powerful stories that will transform your results, so you can have the wealth, opportunities, and freedom you deserve. Connect with Elayna Fernández at thepositivemom.com/keynote-speaker and follow @thepositivemom. To receive a gift from Elayna, click HERE.
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