St. Jude’s children ignite one man’s passion for giving

Eugene Phillips (standing third from right) is surrounded by his friends and supporters.

Children grappling with catastrophic diseases at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in Memphis are being treated by the best of doctors without their families worrying about paying the bill.

That’s why fundraising is integral to the hospital’s success and important to Eugene Phillips, who started raising money over 30 years ago in honor of his birthday. In lieu of receiving gifts, he asks his friends to donate to St. Jude. 

On Feb. 10, Phillips welcomed several of his friends into his lavish home in Germantown to celebrate his 69th birthday – which was actually Feb. 12. They supped with him and, of course, donated to the hospital. 

“He doesn’t allow you to bring gifts for him,” said Janelle R. Eskridge, who attended the event with her husband, Reginald L. Eskridge, both attorneys and longtime friends of Phillips.

Dino Palazzolo (right) and his wife, Louisette, are longtime
friends of Eugene Phillips and his support of St. Jude. They
brought a gift to show their appreciation. (Photos
by Wiley Henry)

The idea of raising funds for St. Jude’s children ignited Phillips’ passion for giving after touring the hospital one day with the late Sandy Vogel Lewis, a longtime community activist and board member of St. Jude.

“I asked her to take me on a tour and I was impressed,” said Phillips, a respiratory therapist who has been in the medical profession for 48 years. He has raised to date nearly $100,000.

“Eugene is a selfless individual,” said James Bridges Jr., Phillips’ cousin. “It’s a wonderful gesture that he would take this time to celebrate his birthday and support the children of St. Jude.”

This is the third birthday celebration and fundraiser for Bridges and his wife, Anita. His mother, Doris Bridges, and aunt, Gwendolyn Nelson, were earlier supporters of Phillips, but could not make it this year.

Terry Pickett and his wife, Gisela, live approximately three blocks from Phillips. They have supported Phillips for 10 years and wish him the best as he endeavors to lend St. Jude a helping hand. 

“It’s typical of Eugene. His whole life is dedicated to serving people,” said Terry Pickett, a retired college professor who taught at the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa, Ala., and at Sanford University in Birmingham, Ala.

“He is so positive. It’s unbelievable,” Gisela Pickett added.

Dino Palazzolo said Phillips is the most loyal person and that he is a friend of St. Jude. He added: “He has the enthusiasm for St. Jude. He donates and never asks for anything for himself.”

Palazzolo and his wife, Louisette, have been friends with Phillips for 40 years. “We try to make every party he has because of St. Jude,” he said.

Phillips has a heart for philanthropy and a hearty spirit for giving. What he does for St. Jude’s children means a lot to him. “This is an encouragement for young black people to help somebody,” he said, and added that people have to be taught to give. 

Giving is second nature to Phillips.

Like the others, Dr. Gregory Hanissian also responded to Phillips’ clarion call for help. He and his family, Phillips said, have been supportive of his birthday and St. Jude fundraiser throughout the years.

Phillips said Jim and Sarah Schwab are avid supporters. She was present, but her husband, Phillips was told, has been grappling with an illness and was not well enough to make it.

Other longtime supporters of Phillips once again made the annual pilgrimage to his home, including Sally Molasky and Rita Hutchings, Michael Fahr and his fiancé, Sara Alwafai, and Zeina Alwafai and her friend, Matthew Yarbrough. 

Friends celebrate Eugene Phillips’ birthday with a donation to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital

Eugene Phillips and Anita Ward-Richardson stop to take a look at one of several
photos of her hanging in a hallway in Phillips' home that he named in her honor.
(Photos by Wiley Henry)

Home is where Eugene Phillips’ heart is and where he feels most comfortable. His heart is also with the children at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital who grapple with catastrophic diseases.

On Sunday evening (Feb. 10), Phillips opened the door of his lavishly decorated home in Germantown to a cadre of special friends who celebrated his birthday over dinner and made a donation to St. Jude.

Phillips, whose birthday was Feb. 12, has raised more than $100,000 for St. Jude over the course of 35 years – thanks to an eclectic mix of friends: doctors, CEOs, entertainers, entrepreneurs, ministers, business owners, social justice advocates, and others.

“It’s a blessing to have friends to donate money to St. Jude in honor of my birthday,” Phillips said.

Willie Bland, wife of the late bluesman Bobby Blue Bland,
relaxes in the room that Eugene Phillips named in honor
of his friend.

Raising funds for St. Jude sparked Phillips’ interest decades ago after longtime community activist Sandy Vogel Lewis escorted him on a tour of the campus. She had served more than 20 years on St. Jude’s board before she died in 2010.

“I was so impressed,” he said. “They [St. Jude] do so much for children and their families.”

Phillips embraced Lewis as a dear friend. She was credited with helping St. Jude’s founder Danny Thomas grow the hospital into a worldwide pediatric treatment and research facility.

“I told Sandy that my birthday would always be celebrated for St. Jude,” he said.

A photo of Lewis hangs in Phillips’ home. In fact, just about every wall in his two-story home is adorned with photos of his friends and St. Jude contributors. The photos are keepsakes, irreplaceable memories, he said.

Some rooms are named in honor of his friends – for example, the late rhythm and blues entertainer Rufus Thomas. His memories are framed in each photo and embody the man that Phillips had happily regarded as his good friend.

“Rufus was so happy. It [a room in his honor] meant so much to him,” said Phillips, recalling those special moments when the entertainer would come over and drift off to sleep on a soft, cushioned recliner.

Another friend and entertainer, the late Bobby Blue Bland, is featured prominently in another room. His eyes seem to glare at the onlooker. His wife, Willie Bland, said her husband appreciated the honor.

“He liked it,” she said. A private duty licensed practical nurse, Bland didn’t hesitate to lavish praise on Phillips. She appreciates their friendship. “Eugene has been a friend of ours for so many years.”

Bobby Blue Bland died in 2013. His voice wails from a recording that Phillips plays whenever he feels a need to relax in the room that he named in honor of his friend. Sitting quietly, he reflects on the good times.

 “When I’m here at home and all over the place, it’s good to have the memories,” said Phillips, noting that the memories will occupy his mind for the rest of his life.

Anita Ward-Richardson and Phillips were neighbors once. She remembers when Phillips first talked about supporting St. Jude. It was around the time when her million dollar selling, chart-topping single, “Ring My Bell,” caught fire in 1979.

She and her husband, Stephen R. Richardson, are frequent guests at Phillips’ birthday celebration each year. Her appreciation for Phillips is evident: “Eugene is such a wonderful person. He’s so kind.”

They came – couples and singles, near and far – to celebrate with Phillips, to fellowship with one another, to support a worthy cause: St. Jude’s children.

Several guests conversed with one another and shared stories. Phillips made them all feel at home. They made him feel special. He was a jovial host.

Zeina Alwfeu and Michael Fahr were present. So were Louisette and Dino Palazzola, Mimi Bell and Sonny McQueen, Doris and Bubba Bridges (comedian Steve Harvey’s mother-and father-in-law).

Other guests included Anita and James Bridges, Janelle and Reginald Eskridge, Gwen Nelson and Roosevelt Boyd, Sarah Schwab, Rick Abraham, Michael Donahue, Gina Roberts, and Dr. Gregory Hanissian.

Rahechelia and Elder Aaron L. Patterson made the trip all the way from Munford, Tenn., about 30 miles outside of Memphis. They have celebrated with Phillips for about four years now.

Giving the host his props, Patterson – who serves as minister of worship at Pentecostal Temple Church of God in Christ and president of the missions department – said, “His dedication is unparalleled.”

He said the reason for the birthday celebration is to support St. Jude. “And we look forward to it each year.”