Thank you for joining us on September 21, 2024 for the ninth annual St. Jude Spirit of the Dream presented by W&T Contracting Corporation at The Guesthouse at Graceland in Memphis, Tennessee. Together, we celebrated the achievements of African Americans who have made significant contributions to Memphis and beyond while embodying the spirit of the St. Jude mission.

Matching gifts are an easy way to increase your donation to St. Jude — at no additional cost to you! Many employers support your altruistic efforts by offering matching gift programs to your favorite charities. Check if your employer will match your gift to St. Jude or contact us at matchinggifts@stjude.org.

All proceeds benefit St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, where families never receive a bill for treatment, travel, housing or food – so they can focus on helping their child live.

For information on becoming a sponsor at next year's event, please contact Sydney Watson at sydney.watson@alsac.stjude.org.

Thank you to our presenting sponsor

St. Jude provides comprehensive care and health equality for children with cancer and other life-threatening diseases. We tailor treatment for each child's unique needs, improving outcomes for some of the world’s sickest children.

St. Jude patient Kenadie

Thank you to our honorees

A C Wharton Jr.
Lifelong Public Leader and Advocate

Wharton is the executive director of development at ALSAC, the fundraising and awareness organization for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, and is the lead principal of The A C Wharton Group, LLC consulting firm. He has served as the mayor of Shelby County and Memphis as well as chief public defender for Shelby County and was a professor of law at the University of Mississippi. During his time in public service and higher education, Wharton focused on legal systems, child welfare, healthcare, fiscal soundness and crime prevention. His clients in the consulting firm include numerous nonprofit agencies. Wharton has contributed to the mission of St. Jude by cultivating relationships with groups and organizations such as Zeta Phi Beta Sorority Inc., Jack & Jill of America, The Links Inc., Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity and the National Medical Association. He is a native of Lebanon, Tennessee and a proud member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity.

Peter Woods
Artist with a Cause

Born and raised in Mound Bayou, Mississippi, Woods is an artist of humble beginnings whose work is now well-known throughout the U.S. He started making pottery when he was just 13, which formed the basis of a lifelong passion. In 1998, Woods and his brothers started Peter's Pottery, a family business creating art that has attracted people from all over the world to Mound Bayou. Family is also at the core of Woods’ connection to St. Jude. His great-nephew has sickle cell disease and is a St. Jude patient. In 2023, Woods committed to raise $100,000 for St. Jude and in December of 2023 he presented a check to St. Jude for the full amount. To date, Woods has raised more than $250,000 for the families of St. Jude, hosting his annual holiday open house since 2017. A dedicated community member, Woods was the past vice president of Bolivar Medical Center and currently serves as treasurer and trustee board member of his church, president of St. Gabriel Mercy Center Board, a member of the Cleveland-Bolivar County Chamber of Commerce, a Life Member of the Delta State Alumni Association and a Delta State Foundation Board Member.

Carolyn Chism Hardy
Champion of Business and the Written Word

Memphis-native Hardy is the CEO of Chism Hardy Investments, LLC. She has been the first woman and African American in several positions including a plant manager at J.M. Smucker Company, vice president at Honeywell POMS and vice president of operations at Coors Brewing Company. Her storied career includes starting Hardy Bottling, the largest African American contract packer in the U.S., and Henderson Transloading Services, servicing the largest grain companies and commodity traders in the U.S. Hardy is also a published author of three books who shares her invaluable insights with her fellow members of the African American Engagement Council of ALSAC. A Memphian through and through, Hardy, by way of her family of companies, has invested more than $15 million in the Hickory Hill neighborhood since 2011 to revitalize this majority African American community and provide employment. In 2022, Tennessee Governor Bill Lee appointed her to the Regional Megasite Advisory Board for the Ford Blue Oval project. She has also served her community as current chair of Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis and past chair of Methodist Le Bonheur Hospital Systems, Society of Entrepreneurs, the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis - Memphis Branch board, New Memphis Institute, Greater Memphis Chamber and Memphis Chairman’s Circle and Soulsville/Stax Foundation.

Thank you to our emcee

Joy Redmond

Thank you to our entertainment

Wendy Moten

Thank you to our sponsors

Spirit Sponsors

Magnolia Underground Construction

Dream Sponsor

Hope Sponsors

Dean & Associates
Brad and Felicia Robinson
Dr. Jara Best-Jones
Shelby County Commissioners
Brighter Days & Nites

Thank you to our committee

Event Chairs
Darrell Cobbins • Angela Richards

Committee
Jacqueline Butts • Dr. Jara Best-Jones • Lionel Davis II • Tori Haliburton • James Harvey Jr. • LaRonda Holmes • Joseph McKinney • Carl Person • Lee Rankin • Dr. Bianca J. Sweeten • Martin Truitt • Loretta Anderson-Webber

Founding Chairs
Jason Farmer • Brad and Felicia Robinson

September is Childhood Cancer Awareness Month

Join St. Jude this September as we honor those with pediatric cancer. St. Jude won't stop until no child — anywhere — dies from cancer.

Learn About Childhood Cancer

St. Jude patient Misheel

See more stories from St. Jude:

Finding cures. Saving children.® Everywhere.

St. Jude cares for some of the world’s sickest children regardless of their race, ethnicity, beliefs, or ability to pay. Our patients receive the customized care they need to treat childhood cancer and other life-threatening diseases, no matter what barriers they may face.

Treatments invented at St. Jude have helped raise the survival rate for children with cancer in the United States, where more than 4 out of 5 children survive cancer. In many developing countries, however, fewer than 1 out of 5 children diagnosed with cancer will survive. We won’t stop until no child dies from cancer, no matter where they live.

Every dollar makes a difference*

Donate $250
... could help provide four walkers for St. Jude patients*

Walkers provide St. Jude patients with stability and support, making it easier for them to walk after surgery.

Donate $500
... could help cover about two-thirds of the cost of one day of chemotherapy*

Treatments developed at St. Jude have helped push overall survival rates for childhood cancers from 20 percent when the hospital opened in 1962 to more than 80 percent today.

Donate $1,000
... could help provide an ultrasound study for a St. Jude patient*

An ultrasound study is among the diagnostic imaging tests that doctors use to diagnose and monitor disease and treatment.

Donate $2,500
... could help cover the cost of the daily room rate of the ICU*

The Intensive Care Unit at St. Jude has twice been recognized with the Beacon Award for Critical Care Excellence given by the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses. In 2009, the St. Jude ICU became Tennessee’s first ICU to win the honor.

Donate $5,000
Support of our mission

Any amount supports kids around the world. St. Jude shares the breakthroughs it makes, and every child saved at St. Jude means doctors and scientists worldwide can use that knowledge to save even more children.*

Donate Any Amount

* Your donation will be used to provide breakthrough research, treatment and cures. Items listed here are representative of services and supplies that are part of the treatment and care of children at St. Jude. The cost of each item or service is an approximation, and will vary based on actual costs incurred and individual patient needs. Your donation will be used for the general operating needs of St. Jude, where no family ever receives a bill for treatment, travel, housing or food.

View information about tax-deductible donations.

Get involved locally

Click below to find additional events, volunteer opportunities and more ways to connect with St. Jude supporters in Memphis and across the Delta.

Support St. Jude in Memphis, Mississippi and Arkansas

St. Jude Spirit of the Dream

presented by W&T Contracting Corporation