WHEREAS, for more than a half-century, the Fredericksburg Area Sickle Cell Association has provided meaningful support services to individuals and families coping with sickle cell disease, empowering them to rise above the challenges of this chronic illness that affects one in 500 African American children; and

WHEREAS, the Reverend Lawrence A. Davies and Janice Pryde Davies founded the Fredericksburg Area Sickle Cell Association (FASCA) in 1972 with a vision for a statewide network of sickle cell organizations that would provide education and promote awareness to improve health care services for sickle cell patients; and

WHEREAS, FASCA was officially incorporated in 1994 to enhance its ability to fulfill its mission and today serves children and families of the Greater Fredericksburg area, including Stafford, Spotsylvania, King George, and Caroline Counties; and

WHEREAS, FASCA assists individuals and families in their efforts to obtain quality medical services and assistance with their daily needs by identifying community resources and fostering a network of referral services; and

WHEREAS, through its world-class educational programs, FASCA helps individuals, families, and health care providers better understand sickle cell disease, enabling many people to thrive with the disorder; and

WHEREAS, FASCA is guided by a highly qualified board of directors that includes among its membership nurses, clergy, parents who have raised children with sickle cell disease, and other devoted advocates; and

WHEREAS, FASCA is operated entirely by volunteers and is financially self-sustaining through the support of contributions, fundraisers, and membership dues, allowing the organization to readily pursue its objectives without outside influence or interference; and

WHEREAS, FASCA commemorated its 50th anniversary on November 12, 2022, creating an opportunity to celebrate the organization's service to the community and the impact it has had on so many lives; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the House of Delegates, That the Fredericksburg Area Sickle Cell Association hereby be commended for its service in promoting the health and well-being of countless individuals and families in the Greater Fredericksburg area; and, be it

RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the House of Delegates prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to the Fredericksburg Area Sickle Cell Association as an expression of the House of Delegates' admiration for the organization's contributions to the Commonwealth.