Hope Gala & Awards: June 15, 2024
In 2005, the Sickle Cell Awareness Group of Ontario (SCAGO) introduced the Hope Gala & Awards to honor the many heroes who have contributed relentlessly to the advancement of sickle cell disease (SCD) from different fronts. Close to two decades later, the organization is still recognizing new and old heroes from across the country.
The longevity of the program is mainly due to the support accorded by many partners, collaborators, and stakeholders not limited to sickle cell disease, industry, and the media communities, and for this we are grateful.
The program is one of the major fundraisers for the SCAGO
It allows the organization to raise vital funds for research, disease management, peer support group programs, health care providers’ E-course, and scholarship grants for youths with sickle cell disease seeking post-secondary education. It also provides the avenue to raise awareness and educate the hundreds of gala guests about sickle cell disease.
In addition, the auspicious gala event also positively impacts the psycho-social well-being of families affected by sickle cell disease as it offers the crucial and rare opportunity of bringing together the community including the medical and allied care providers, patients, caregivers, advocates, staff, volunteers, and friends.
Among many others, past guests of the Hope Gala & Awards include
- Canada’s Former Minister of Foreign Affairs, Honorable Stéphane Dion
- Canada’s Minister of Science, Hon. Kirsty Duncan
- Mayor of Toronto, Mr. John Tory
- Mayor of Markham, Mr. Frank Scarpitti
- Former Lieutenant Governor of Ontario, Hon. David. C. Onley
- Several MPPs
- Former Ontario Fairness Commissioner, Hon. Jean Augustine
- Deputy Chief of Police Herridge
- Former Chief of Police La Barge
- Representatives from the Ministry of Health
- Ambassadors
- Consul-Generals from different countries
As you might be aware, June 19th is the National and Provincial Sickle Cell Awareness Day, and this year, the Hope Gala & Awards will kick off the celebration of this important awareness day on June 15th, 2024. Please look out shortly for more information on June 19th, 2024.
Announcement: Planning is now in top gear for the Hope Gala & Awards 2024.
The successful award nominees and grant applicants will be announced in March 2024. To view the list of past award recipients, kindly go to Past Award Recipients
Scholarships and Grants: Many youths in post-secondary institutions can combine work with schooling. Unfortunately, this is not the case for many of the youths with sickle cell disease as the combined stress of working and schooling often results in frequent hospitalizations. To support these students, in 2005, SCAGO established The Sunday Afolabi (SA) Scholarship as a yearly grant to support the post-secondary aspirations of two or more youths living with sickle cell disease. To date, it has provided $50,000 in scholarship grants to 45 students with sickle cell disease.
During this year’s Hope Gala & Awards, the Sunday Afolabi and the Sholape Scholarships grants will be given to worthy recipients. If you have sickle cell disease, are in a post-secondary institution, and have financial constraints; visit our website and endeavor to download, complete, and submit your scholarship form along with the required documents before the deadline on the form.
Forms are available at Post Secondary Scholarships
For adverts in gala book, award, and scholarship sponsorship packages, click here