Business Wire
The 10th annual St. Jude Spirit of the Dream Gala, presented by W&T Contracting Corporation, united community leaders, supporters and changemakers Saturday, Sept. 20, to celebrate a decade of progress in equity, leadership and community empowerment.
The event honors African Americans who have made significant contributions to Memphis and beyond while embodying the mission of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. Funds raised at this year’s event surpassed $327,550, bringing the cumulative total to more than $1 million since 2016.
The gala coincided with Childhood Cancer Awareness Month and National Sickle Cell Awareness Month. In a keynote address, Annette Green, chief people and global engagement officer of ALSAC, the fundraising and awareness organization for St. Jude, reflected on the evening’s significance. “This is more than a gala,” she said. “It’s a celebration of purpose and a reunion of hearts united in mission.
“Tonight, we honor the legacies of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Danny Thomas, two visionaries who believed in justice, compassion, and the dignity of every person. Their dreams live on in every child treated at St. Jude, where families never receive a bill for treatment, travel, housing or food. Today, that promise is our reality, and it is our legacy, too.”
The highlight of the evening was the awarding of the event’s highest honors, the Legacy Award and the Spirit of the Dream Award, both recognizing contributions to equity, culture and progress.
The Legacy Award was presented to Wilfred Busby, ALSAC senior fellow of employee experience, for exemplifying the spirit of caring and commitment to the St. Jude mission.
“This honor touches me deeply. It’s not just an award, it’s a reminder of where I come from and who I strive to be,” said Busby. “I think about my parents, my faith and all the people who poured into me so I could pour into others. To be recognized in the spirit of a dream as powerful as Dr. King’s — that’s humbling. It reminds me to keep serving, keep believing and keep building bridges for those coming behind me.”
The Spirit of the Dream Award was presented to Tyrone Burroughs, founder, president and CEO of First Choice Sales and Marketing Group Inc., for embodying the lifesaving mission of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital and its founder, Danny Thomas.
“To be honored with the Spirit of the Dream Award is both humbling and energizing,” said Burroughs. “This recognition is not just about my journey — it’s about the communities that shaped me, the mentors who guided me and the generations we’re lifting up together. I believe in building legacies that open doors, create equity and empower others to lead with purpose.”
The evening also featured a performance by 10-time Grammy nominee Take 6. A live auction rounded out the event with proceeds supporting St. Jude.
