Historically, the church has been a core institution for American philanthropy. The church not only serves as a faith-based house of worship, but it facilitates organized philanthropic efforts including meeting spiritual, psychological, financial, educational and basic humanitarian such as food, housing, and shelter. These strengths are a natural complement to my community-based advocacy efforts. As an individual with Sickle Cell Disease, who is facing the realities of SCD, I feel a strong sense of urgency for action. I have developed the faith-based Tour of Awareness to inform community leaders like you about Sickle Cell Disease. I hope that working together will create a synergy that will multiply our efforts and create real progress in eradicating the misconceptions about SCD. At times I have been overwhelmed by the size of the task in front of me, and disheartened by the thought that I might not have the energy or the time remaining to accomplish what needs to be done. Your support encourages me that there can be an entire network of friends in faith who can help me create a difference, now and in their future, for those affected by SCD. 
Dominique Friend International Spokesperson Sickle Cell Disease Author/Activist The steps you are about to take will forever change the environment for battling Sickle Cell Disease. Each memebership in the network multiplies the effect of our efforts and supports the Faith -based Tour of Awareness that continues to spread the word about SCD throughout the faith community. I appreciate your support and I welcome you as a partner in fighting SCD.
Dominique Friend is an activist for Sickle Cell Disease awareness and research who currently resides in South Central Pennsylvania, but who grew up in Baltimore, Maryland and attended Baltimore City Public Schools. She is a wife, the mother of five wonderful children and has one beautiful granddaughter. Although her illness prevented her from graduating high school, she obtained her GED and then completed post-secondary courses in Creative Writing. Now a published author, Dominique has captured the essence of her daily struggles with the unpredictability and pain of Sickle Cell Disease in her autobiography, SICKLE, A Story of Pain, Purpose and Perseverance. Dominique has become an activist who is raising awareness of Sickle Cell Disease and advocating for improved treatment for people living with Sickle Cell Disease. Dominique has participated in numerous speaking engagements and has been featured in many magazines, news articles and television. Her outreach goes as far as Africa and beyond. She has been invited to participate in conferences sponsored by the National Institute of Health and she most recently visited the White House and met with the President's Special Assistant on Disability and Policy, Mr. Kareem Dale. She is a highly sought after activist in the field of Sickle Cell patient advocacy. | 
