The Super Chapter Promotes Healthy Living and Opportunities for Youth at Today's Event

Only The Super Chapter could do it this way. Today, Gamma Pi chapter combined the annual Charles Drew Blood Drive and Health Fair with the monthly gathering of Que Kidz Dayz into one super community Uplift event at The Kentlands Community Center in Landover.

Dental Van at today's blood drive/health fair

A number of people in the neighborhood turned out for the Blood Drive and Health Fair event to take advantage of knowledgeable experts and published literature on health prevention and education. As in previous years, the American Red Cross sponsored a van to accept blood donations on-site. And for the first time ever, Gamma Pi included a Dental Health van on site at the Health Fair. Two dentists in the chapter, Bro. Ed Chappelle, DDS and Bro.Wayman Brown, DDS, helped oversee the operation of the dental van.

Visitors to the Gamma Pi Blood Drive/Health Fair were able to get cholesterol and blood pressure checks, diabetes information, prevention and screening information on many other diseases that afflict minority communities, as well as  nutrition and diet information from on-site representatives and from an array of pamphlets and other publications that they could take home. That of course included the dental information and check-ups available through the van.  The men in the house got a special expert presentation on prostate cancer from a visiting physician. Prostate cancer afflicts African American men (in incidence and mortality) more than any other population group.

Info for the taking

Meanwhile, the youth who participate in Gamma Pi's successful Que Kidz Dayz program were treated to some free golf lessons from chapter Brothers, who assembled the youths into smaller groups on putting greens and a driving range located on the grounds of the Kentland Community Center. The youth, many who are underprivileged, were excited to learn about a non-traditional sport to which they are not always exposed to. Some of the youths from Que Kidz Dayz held a golf club for the first time. Somebody in the bunch could be the next "Tiger"!

Bros. listen to prostate presentation

There was also a youth martial arts demonstration and a Zumba fitness demonstration.

As is often said, this is the side of Omega Psi Phi few people see or acknowledge. All across the world, individual chapters work with local communities to provide Uplift through social service activities and projects that create opportunities and address needs for seniors, youths and needy families. It happens day-in and day-out in Gamma Pi and chapters worldwide, often without any fanfare.

Americans' lives are made better each day by Omega men, but few know it. For example, millions of lives are saved annually because an Omega man, Dr. Charles Drew, discovered blood plasma. It is what Gamma Pi and Omega Psi Phi are preparing to celebrate in a few weeks as the Omega Psi Phi Centennial Celebration approaches.

Congratulations to Bro. Orlando McDowell (Que Kidz Dayz) and Bro. Dr.Kevin Ford (Blood Drive/Health Fair) for organizing today's activities. Below are some video highlights from today's program.

Investing in Our Community's Health: Gamma Pi's Blood Drive and Health Fair

It was an interesting week leading up to Gamma Pi chapter's annual Blood Drive and Health Fair. The loss of two entertainment icons within hours of each other on the same day -- the incomparable music legend Michael Jackson and actress Farrah Fawcett -- underscored the importance of achieving and maintaining good health. Both were relatively young at 50 and 62. Those startling news headlines along with a growing sense of concern about personal health and well-being may have helped attract a large number of people from the surrounding community to Gamma Pi's Blood Drive and Health Fair today, held at the Kentland Community Center. A steady flow of people in and out the door kept staff hopping, from the teams who were manning various health screening stations to the American Red Cross crew receiving blood donations inside the mobile unit.

Imagine walking into a big department store (like Wal-Mart) and being able to go up and down the aisles and find everything you wanted. For example, up and down one long corridor, you could get screened for diabetes, bone density, glucose levels, cholesterol level and blood pressure. In another area, you could pick up useful information about health insurance, organ donation and nutrition.

Gamma Pi members and physicians Brothers Dr. Lester Miles and Dr. Kevin Ford organized today's event as one of the chapter's ongoing Social Action projects. Bro. Dr. Ford ran the successful event on-site.

While Gamma Pi works throughout the year with youth, families and seniors in the Prince George's community, the chapter is looking to increase its work in the area of health awareness and education, given the impact of health disparities on African Americans and other minority populations. You can learn more about health prevention and health disparities by visiting the National Institutes of Health.