Actress and former host of It’s Showtime at the Apollo, KiKi Shepard founded her K.I.S Foundation in 2007 at the urging of many friends and sickle cell disease advocates. She has been raising awareness of sickle cell disease for over 20 years now and actually has the sickle cell trait herself. The K.I.S Foundation prides itself in being committed to improving the health and quality of life for all people living with sickle cell disease because this “sickness has no boundaries and compassion has no limits.”
The K.I.S Foundation has several different annual events and programs to raise awareness and money for SCD sufferers. One event is the annual “Celebrity Bowling Challenge” where a fabulous auction, awards ceremony, raffles, and, of course, a bowling tournament takes place! There are always event goodies, surprise entertainment, great food and drinks, and more information about sickle cell disease. Renowned celebrity bowlers/attendees include Wayne Brady, Jackeé Harry, Loretta Devine, Paula Jai Parker, Bill Bellamy, Flex Alexander, Tia and Tamera Mowry, and many more. This year’s tournament will take place on September 16, 2011 at the PINZ Entertainment Center in Studio City, CA. All proceeds will benefit the many programs of the K.I.S Foundation such as the scholarship founded in memory of KiKi’s mother, Mrs. Dorothy H. Shepard.
Dorothy Shepard, who was an educator for 50 years, passed away July 30, 2005, two weeks before the 2005 Celebrity Bowling Challenge. The Dorothy H. Shepard Scholarship Fund was created soon after to present a scholarship to a student in pursuit of higher education. KiKi’s mother valued education highly and always believed “with education, you can accomplish everything.”
Another program of the K.I.S Foundation is the “By Your Side: Transitional Sickle Cell Program” (BYSTSCP) which helps young adults who suffer from sickle cell disease. The program prepares them for their transition out of the pediatric medical system into the world of adult care. The program focuses on youth in the City and County of Los Angeles and intends to give these patients the skills they will need to better transition.
To learn how you can donate to the K.I.S Foundation or attend an event, please visit www.thekisfoundation.org
