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(L to R): Tara Owens, HR Analyst, Grand Biloxi Casino; Michael Miller, Slot Supervisor, Grand Biloxi Casino; Jill Champagne, Memorial cancer patient; Susan Lee, HR Engagement Specialist, Grand Biloxi Casino; and Shay Smith, Marketing Specialist, Grand Biloxi Casino.
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GULFPORT, Miss. — Grand Biloxi Casino employees delivered 33 purple goodie bags to patients at Memorial Cancer Center Infusion Clinic on April 2. The bags included snacks, juice, lip balm, a word find book, and a handwritten card from third-grade students at Anniston Avenue Elementary School in Gulfport.
The Purple Bag Project was developed by 5-year-old Abby Warren. Abby made a purple gift bag full of goodies to give to her grandmother, Lala, to ease some of the pain associated with her Chemotherapy treatments. The smile on her grandmother’s face after receiving the heartfelt gift was enough to give Abby a reason to do more. On November 4, 2013, Abby set a goal to deliver 1,000 bags across the country to Chemo patients. Using Facebook as her platform, she promoted the project. One by one, states were colored in on her map once they fulfilled a portion of her goal. Soon, the media took notice of this 5-year-old child and encouraged the nation to join her. By March 20, 2014, Abby had reached her goal, but still had a few states left to color in on her map, Mississippi being one of those states. Grand Biloxi Casino stepped up to the challenge. In a matter of days, they collected enough items to make 33 purple bags to deliver to Memorial Cancer Center Infusion Clinic through the Memorial Hospital Foundation.
Learn more about Abby’s Purple Bag Project by visiting her Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/purplebags or her blog at www.abbyspurplebagproject.blogspot.com.
For more information on Memorial Hospital Foundation, please contact Sandra Jordan, Donor Marketing Specialist, at (228) 865-3419 or www.memorialhospitalfoundation.com.
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