Who We Are
The history of “Gift of Life”
The Julie Rogers “Gift of Life” Program was established in Beaumont, Texas, in 1994 by Regina Rogers as a tribute to her mother, Julie, a breast cancer survivor, who had a double mastectomy in 1988 and who died following complications from a stroke and heart attack in 1998. Originally dedicated to providing free mammograms for medically underserved women, in the past 25 years, the organization’s services have multiplied and the agency has grown into one of the largest cancer screening initiatives of its type in the state of Texas.
In 2000, the “Gift of Life” broadened its breast cancer mission to include prostate cancer, offering free screenings and educational presentations for men.
Although formal cancer awareness and outreach activities began in 1998, they were substantially expanded in 2001, as a result of a generous donation made by Charline Dauphin and her daughter, Robin, in loving memory of their husband and father, Sidney “Chief” Dauphin. The Dauphins’ benevolence has enabled the “Gift of Life” to further develop its consciousness-raising efforts throughout Southeast Texas, including Hamshire Fannett, Lumberton, Silsbee, Sour Lake, and Evadale.
While free mammograms and prostate cancer screenings, along with educational outreach, represent the core components of the agency, the “Gift of Life” has consistently integrated complementary programming into its organizational framework, as well as investigated new avenues in cancer awareness, prevention, and early detection. Over the years, the following activities have been added to create the current slate of services:
- Breast Cancer Awareness Month Kick-off;
- Heightened Awareness Campaigns during Prostate and Breast Cancer Awareness Months;
- Survivors’ Celebration honoring breast and prostate cancer survivors;
- Annual Health Forum, a complimentary continuing education conference for Southeast and East Texas medical professionals that focuses on cancer prevention, screening, diagnosis and treatment;
- Collaboration with BASF and TOTAL Miracle Match for Life to increase knowledge about the importance of donating blood and bone marrow and detecting cancer in its early stages, especially within African American communities;
- School-based and community-wide smoking cessation and prevention initiatives;
- Prostate Cancer Support Group;
- Testicular Cancer Outreach; and
- Acquisition of a minivan to transport clients (who lack access to a vehicle) to and from the program’s cancer screening tests and exams.
Today, the “Gift of Life” is the only organization of its type in Southeast Texas, which approaches the fight against cancer in such a holistic manner, including increasing awareness about the importance of early detection; providing free cancer screenings and access to follow-up health care for medically underserved persons; educating our medical community on the latest innovations in cancer prevention, screening, diagnosis, and treatment; and providing both formal and informal support for cancer patients and survivors.
