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OUR STORY
History of Meesha C. Saxton Fund
Meesha Chanell Saxton, was born October 17, 1995 with Sickle Cell Disease. Sickle Cell Disease (SCD) is a group of inherited red blood cell disorders. The main function of red blood cells is to carry oxygen from the lungs to all parts of the body and release the oxygen to the tissues of the body. Normal red cells are round with an indented center and very flexible, so they can move freely through the smallest blood vessels (capillaries). In Sickle Cell Anemia, due to the abnormal hemoglobin, red blood cells cannot carry oxygen very well. The cells become sickle shaped or pointed, rigid, sticky and brittle. These abnormal red cells cannot move freely through the blood vessels; they stick together and block the blood vessels. Therefore, Sickle Cells cannot supply oxygen to the tissues properly. The result is tissue damage and possibly tissue death (ischemia). This process causes extreme pain, called Sickle Cell Crisis.
Meesha's grandmother had sickle cell trait, and as her child Teresa received the sickle gene mutation from her. She did not have the disease, neither did her ex-husband, but not knowing that he had the trait also, they passed the defective gene on to their daughter Meesha. With that being said, due to complications and the miseducation of this disease, she passed away on December 24, 1996.
Teresa, Meesha's mother, has been a sickle cell advocate ever since. She started working with Cuyahoga County Sickle Cell Affected Families in 1997 with Kevin Jenkins and Glinda Dames – Fincher. Once the group dissolved she still had a passion to help and advocate for this devastating illness, but no group to support.
Then in 2004 she saw an ad in the Cleveland Calling Post Newspaper about a sickle cell anemia support group that Adrienne Kincaid was starting. She volunteered for years and served on the board of directors as Vice- President.
In December 2017 she resigned from the position, with hopes of starting a fund to help sickle cell affected individuals directly financially. Under the Kincaid's Kindred Spirits umbrella.
The Meesha C. Saxton (MCS~Fund) launched in June 2018. In May 2021, The MCS~Fund was awarded 501c3 status. The MCS~Fund is governed by a thirteen-member Board, with five officers (President, Executive Director, Vice President, Secretary and Treasurer) comprising the Executive Committee. Members of our board are:
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Teresa S. McCurry, Founder, President
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Lisa Workman, Ph.D., LSW, Executive Director
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Kimberly E. Moss, Vice President
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Jeannine Johnson Hogan, Treasurer
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Joy Hayes McQuay, Secretary
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Fatima Amaju, Board Member
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Hope Greathouse, Board Member
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Ariana Johnson, Board Member
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Leah Legrone, Board Member
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Octavia Lucas, Board Member
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Delicia Mayes, Board Member
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Janet Tull, Board Member
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Susan Turner, Board Member



OUR VISION
Our vision is to help Sickle Cell Anemia (SCD) affected individuals financially. We want to relieve the burden and be a blessing to the population we serve. Most SCD individuals are low-income and under-served, in need of various services. We serve by providing assistance with utilities, rent, food, medical supplies, transportation, and everyday basic needs.
Our generous private donors donate unrestricted funds through personal gifts and by supporting our fundraising efforts.
We thank you in advance for your generous donation no matter how big or small, every dollar helps.

OUR MISSION
As a volunteer-driven 501c3 non-profit organization our mission is to generate unrestricted funds to support Sickle Cell Anemia (SCD) affected individuals and their families throughout Northeast Ohio. Providing Supportive Services, Advocacy, and Education on behalf of individuals plagued by sickle cell disease is not only our mission but also our passion.

ANGELS HALL OF FAME
In 2018, the MCS~Fund established a special recognition for individuals in the community who make a difference for Sickle Cell affected individuals.
The following individuals have been inducted into the Angels Hall of Fame:
Adrienne Kincaid (Year: 2018)
Wanda Blount (Year: 2019)
Glinda Dames-Fincher (Year: 2020)
Annie J. Ross-Womack (Year: 2021)

SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATION
Please complete the form to receive an MCS~Fund Scholarship (Scholarship are for SCD individuals in Cuyahoga County Only). Your Scholarship Application MUST be signed by a licensed social worker, case worker, medical professional, or agency director. You can email the completed Scholarship Application to : mcsaxton.funds@gmail.com
Please note that the Scholarship Application is not currently linked to the email address mcsaxton.funds@gmail

EVENT DETAILS
The Meesha C. Saxton Fund (MCS~ Fund) is a nonprofit 501c3 organization serving individuals impacted by sickle cell disease. This year, the MCS~ Fund will host their 5th annual fundraiser, the Unmasking for Sickle Cell Masquerade Ball. This event supports initiatives that reduce barriers for individuals who are aggrieved with sickle cell disease. Respectfully, we seek your support as a Title Sponsor for our upcoming event at the $10,000 dollar level. We thank you in advance for considering our organization. Enclosed you will find our sponsorship packet with descriptions of sponsor benefits and other sponsorship opportunities.
Outside of sickle cell's debilitating physical and mental effects, it is often a fatal disease. When people with sickle cell experience a flare-up, the individual becomes sick and is often hospitalized. This creates a situation where they can't work, which ultimately means lost wages and financial hardship. When you donate to the MCS~ Fund, you help us accomplish our mission of assisting those affected by sickle cell with essential needs such as rent subsidy, shelter, food, transportation, and utility bills. We are actively seeking to raise funds to assist these affected individuals, but are unable to meet our goals without your help. That's particularly why I am reaching out for support of our annual fundraiser event held on World Sickle Cell Day on June 19th, 2022 at the LaVera Party Center, 32200 Chardon Road, Willoughby Hills, Ohio 44094, Time: 6:30 pm -10:30 pm
Again, there are various levels of sponsorship opportunities enclosed. Please choose the level of participation that best fits, and in turn, we’ll help meet the needs of the countless individuals and families affected by Sickle Cell Disease. We hope that we can count on you to make this year's event one of our best. MCS~ Fund is a 501(c) (3) organization. Your donation is tax-deductible.
Sickle cell anemia is one of the most deadly and unfortunately misunderstood diseases in the world, Sickle cell disease (SCD) affects millions of people throughout the world and is particularly common among those whose ancestors came from sub-Saharan Africa; Spanish-speaking regions in the Western Hemisphere (South America, the Caribbean, and Central America); Saudi Arabia; India; and Mediterranean countries such as Turkey, Greece, and Italy. In the United States
The exact number of people living with SCD in the U.S. is unknown. Working with partners, the CDC supports projects to learn about the number of people living with SCD to better understand how the disease impacts their health.
It is estimated that:
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SCD affects approximately 100,000 Americans.
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SCD occurs among about 1 out of every 365 Black or African-American births.
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SCD occurs among about 1 out of every 16,300 Hispanic-American births.
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About 1 in 13 Black or African-American babies is born with sickle cell trait (SCT).
While no readily available cure has been identified, patients require constant management of the condition to ensure they lead a happy and productive life. Unfortunately, managing sickle cell anemia can be expensive, complicated, and sometimes overwhelming for patients. This is where MCS ~ FUND is making a difference and aiming to help those individuals financially. We would appreciate your help with our efforts click the link below to make a taxes deductible donation.
PREVIOUS EVENTS
MEMBERSHIP
MCS Fund is available in two categories:
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Sustaining Member:
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A sustaining member agrees to make an annual donation of at least $250.00 and tries to support and attend MCS ~Fund events whenever possible.
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Participating Member: Participating membership requires a voluntary time commitment. A Participating Member agrees to attend the quarterly membership meetings and to work at a minimum of two KKS event per year.
The kinds of tasks our participating members perform include:
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Working on a committee to plan an event
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Working at an event in various capacities
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Selling raffle tickets
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Soliciting donations of certificates and/or merchandise for auctions
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Picking up donations
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Soliciting financial support from event sponsors
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Writing press releases
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Working to “set-up” before an event
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Working to “clean-up” after an event
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Phoning members to schedule event participation
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Preparing baskets for auctions
It is our goal to make participation in MCS~Fund fun. We strive to make involvement a guilt-free experience by following the edict that “No is an acceptable answer.” Explanations and excuses are never required.
JOIN MCS FUND
If you are interested in joining MCS Fund, sponsoring an event, or would like more information about the organization, please contact:
TERESA S. MCCURRY
Founder and President
Phone: (216) 466-3801
E-mail: Teresasmccurry@gmail.com
LISA WORKMAN, PhD, LSW
Executive Director
Phone: (980) 477-5047
E-mail: workmanlisa@outlook.com