Gift of Life’s Holiday Reindeer Giving Campaign underway

Published 8:07 am Thursday, December 10, 2015

Special to The Leader

BEAUMONT — The Gift of Life encourages Southeast Texans to embrace the spirit of giving by supporting its seasonal initiative – the Holiday Reindeer Campaign.

From Thanksgiving until the New Year, everyone can give the “gift of life” through the program’s online holiday donation platform or by visiting local philanthropic businesses who have adopted the Reindeer cause. Every donation – large or small – will make a significant difference in the Gift of Life’s deliverance of regional healthcare.

Anyone can be a dear this year by purchasing festive paper reindeers at participating stores or by going online at giftoflifebmt.org to make a contribution that will benefit the organization’s mission to save lives in Southeast Texas.

“Though the landscape of healthcare is changing, one thing that hasn’t changed is the critical need for lifesaving cancer screenings and education in our community,” said Gift of Life Founder and Chair Regina Rogers. “Contributions from the community are a blessing, particularly at a time when the need for our services is ever increasing.”

Celebrating three years of holiday success, this unique cause-related community project has helped further the Gift of Life’s free medical and educational services and also identified Southeast Texas businesses as companies that are “paying it forward.”

All Reindeer Campaign funds stay local and help women and men who live in our communities.

The Gift of Life Women’s Health Program provides free breast cancer screenings, as well as follow-up diagnostic tests, when needed, and helps women throughout their cancer treatment offering compassionate support services that include transportation, translation and patient navigation. Each year, the Gift of Life Women’s Health Program provides nearly 2,300 free breast cancer screenings and clinical breast exams.

The Gift of Life Men’s Health Program has provided more than 8,000 free prostate cancer screenings, with all diagnostic and cancer treatment costs paid by the organization. Each June, the Gift of Life conducts free health screenings for men in Beaumont, Port Arthur and Orange that include prostate cancer screenings; blood glucose, cholesterol and blood pressure testing; Hepatitis C and HIV screenings; and consultations with medical professionals to discuss their test results.

The Gift of Life Educational Outreach Team presents cancer prevention information and healthy lifestyle education to youth and adults at schools, churches and businesses. More than 100 educational outreach encounters are held each year.

Since the Gift of Life began 20 years ago, the organization has helped extend the lives of more than 250 women and men who have been diagnosed with breast or prostate cancer and navigated through treatment and healing.

For more information about the Gift of Life, please call 409.833.3663 or visit giftoflifebmt.org.