Turner Syndrome Foundation
During Turner Syndrome Awareness Month (TSAM) 2023, the Louisiana State University (LSU) Women’s Basketball Team held a Turner syndrome awareness night at its game on February 2nd. This was an exciting step in our awareness efforts that we are thrilled to share with you. Let’s learn more about how the Lady Tigers and their partners at Gordon McKernan Injury Attorneys were able to raise a grand total of $10,000 for the Turner Syndrome Foundation (TSF). What a partnership!
Scout Marie's Story
The story behind LSU’s TS awareness campaign begins with an unimaginable loss. Head Women’s Basketball Coach Kim Mulkey
tragically lost her granddaughter, Scout Marie, before she had a chance to meet her. Coach Mulkey’s daughter, Makenzie Fuller, suffered a stillborn birth at 20 weeks as a result of TS-related complications.
“She will always be part of our lives. We will always talk about TS … I had never heard of it, and most people don’t until it affects them,” Coach Mulkey said during an interview with LSU Sports. Watch this touching video Coach Mulkey posted on Twitter in memory of Scout
Determined to make a difference and ensure that others knew about TS, Coach Mulkey initiated a wide-scale awareness effort during the February 2nd game against the University of Georgia.
"[Scout] will always be part of our lives. We will always talk about TS."
Fundraising Partnership
Gordon McKernan Injury Attorneys has had a strong and lasting NIL (name, image, likeness) partnership with the Lady Tigers basketball team. This year, the firm decided to dedicate its Playing for a Purpose partnership to a great cause and donate $20 to TSF for every point Lady Tigers Angel Reese and Alexis Morris scored during February!
Halftime Recognition
Hover over images to see captions. Click to enlarge.
During halftime, about 20 TS community members came down to the court sporting purple, in recognition of both LSU and TS awareness. The group included Coach Mulkey’s daughter Makenzie, granddaughter Sage, grandson Kannon, and son-in-law Clay.
LSU’s mascot, Mike the Tiger, even wore a purple butterfly jacket–the same one that Coach Mulkey herself wore during a commercial with Gordon McKernan Injury Attorneys!
The Lady Tigers won the game by a score of 82 to 77!
Lady Tigers Star Players
Alexis Morris - #45
Alexis, a senior, is a point guard for the LSU Lady Tigers. She is from Beaumont, Texas and previously attended Texas A&M University. During her career at Legacy Christian High School, Alexis was named the 2017 Gatorade Player of the Year and the Texas Association of Private and Parochial Schools 3A Player of the Year for all four years of her high school career.
These accomplishments cemented Alexis’ legacy as the #6 point guard and #18 overall player, according to ESPN HoopGurlz. Alexis was named the Southeastern Conference (SEC) Player of the Week for the week of February 15, 2022 and has averaged 15 points per game in her senior season, ranking #15 in the SEC.
Congratulations on all of your accomplishments, Alexis, and thank you for dedicating every point to TS awareness!
Angel Reese - #10
Angel, currently a sophomore, is a forward for the LSU Lady Tigers. During her high school career at St. Frances Academy in Baltimore, she was ranked the #2 overall player and #1 wing in the class of 2020, according to ESPN, along with the title of McDonald’s All-American. As a result of her accomplishments, the Baltimore Sun named Angel Player of the Year and All-Metro First Team! She was also nominated to the USA Today First Team
and competed in the GEICO Nationals before winning with Team Takeover in the Elite Youth Basketball League National Championship.
During Angel’s college career, she played two seasons at the University of Maryland and became the first sophomore since 1975 to register a double-double. This means that out of the categories of rebounds, points, blocks, steals, and assists, Angel scored 10 in two of them in each game of the season. For example, scoring 10 points and getting 10 rebounds: this is a huge accomplishment! This cemented her place in the First Team All-Big 10 and Big 10 All-Freshman team.
Angel was also honored with the title of AP All-American team and became a Lady Tiger at LSU as an accomplished student-athlete. We applaud all of your hard work and accomplishments, Angel, and we appreciate your support of TS awareness with every shot!
A Very Generous Donation to TSF!
By the end of February, Alexis and Angel had scored 293 points, which would have meant a $5,860 donation. But this is not where the story ended! Through its partnership with LSU Women’s Basketball, Gordon McKernan Injury Attorneys generously offered to nearly double its donation to TSF, for a grand total of $10,000! Mr. McKernan presented the check to Coach Mulkey in a ceremony at the firm’s office in Baton Rouge.
This very kind and thoughtful donation is greatly appreciated! With this $10,000, Gordon McKernan Injury Attorneys and LSU are making a tangible difference in the lives of individuals with TS and their families all across the country. We at TSF are forever grateful for your generosity. Together we can make a difference!
Our Heartfelt Thanks
TSF extends a huge thank you to Coach Mulkey and her family, Alexis Morris, Angel Reese, the entire Lady Tigers basketball team, and Gordon McKernan Injury Attorneys for working together to organize this amazing fundraising effort during TSAM 2023! A special shout-out to Emily Gaffney, as well, who helped represent Gordon McKernan Injury Attorneys in interviews and spreading the word about this event!
This partnership is an example of a powerful collaboration to take a stand for TS and make a difference. Each and every one of your efforts is monumental and greatly appreciated! And Scout, you will always be remembered as a beautiful butterfly and a spark for change!
We hope this partnership inspires all of you to continue your awareness efforts and keep the momentum going for the rest of 2023 and beyond! Take a look at our recent blog post to learn about all of our accomplishments during TSAM 2023!
Partner with TSF!
Did you know that your business or organization can support TS awareness and research and promote itself at the same time? Visit our Community Partnership page to learn more about the following:
- Corporate national partnerships, a program of sustained charitable giving that literally changes the lives of patients and families with TS. Current national partners include Novo Nordisk, Pfizer, Genentech, Columbia Bank, Manasquan Bank, and Investors Bank.
- Professional partnerships, which ensure that women and children living with TS will benefit from advocacy, education programs, and new science. These partnerships can take the form of research, events, or volunteerism. TSF professionally partnered with Kean University, Brookdale Community College, Monmouth University, and Rutgers University.
- Media and celebrity partnerships can lend a voice to TSF’s mission by helping to bring awareness and support to TS. TSF is looking for highly visible, non-commissioned individuals and families to be spokespersons for TS!
- Event participation and sponsorships can provide recognition when you give monetary or volunteer support in nationwide events that are geared to empower and engage the TS patient and professional communities. Become a part of Team TSF!
- Community partnerships are great if you need community service hours or are looking for a team building activity to give back to your community Just submit a volunteer application and letter of interest to TSF! Our current Community Partners include Phi Theta Kappa; various colleges, middle schools, and high schools; and Girl Scouts of the USA.
- The National Council of State Leaders is a team of professional and patient advocates. This group of state leaders is devoted to improving the lives of individuals affected by TS. Learn more on the NCSL website.
Geaux Tigers, and best of luck in the Sweet 16!
Sources
Gordon McKernan Injury Attorneys
Gordon McKernan To Use NIL Partnerships To Raise Money for Turner Syndrome Research, Gordon McKernan Injury Attorneys
Women’s Basketball To Raise Awareness for Turner Syndrome, LSU Sports
Coach Mulkey’s video in memory of Scout Marie Fuller, LSU Women’s Basketball – Twitter
LSU Women’s Basketball Player Roster – Alexis Morris, LSU Sports
LSU Women’s Basketball Player Roster – Angel Reese, LSU Sports
Written by Canon Pham, TSF volunteer blog writer. Edited and designed by Susan Herman, TSF Blog Coordinator.
© Turner Syndrome Foundation, 2023
