Grambling State alumnus Rev. Davince Taylor has recently reached out to current students and alumni to help raise money for a costly medical procedure.
Rev. Taylor was informed that he was experiencing kidney failure in May 2011. He has since undergone peritoneal dialysis, which he was able to administer at home. But he recently discovered his need for a transplant and has asked for help.
The procedure itself costs $170,000 and with other added expenses such as medications, transportation and lifelong check-ups, he and his family and friends have organized a few fundraisers to help defray the costs.
Though insurance is covering the greater cost of the procedure, Taylor has to pay about 10 percent of the cost.
The Davince Taylor Donation Fund has been set up at Capitol One Bank.
“The fundraising is in its beginning stages, and so far we’ve only raised about $1,000,” said Taylor.
One fundraiser currently under way is a gas card raffle, where buying a $1 ticket might win you a $50 or $70 gas card.
There is also a fundraiser in the park Oct. 13 in Coushatta, hosted by Spring Field Baptist Church. A Kidney Awareness Walk is being set up in Haynesville.
The GSU alumnus, who is a member of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity and a Mason, hopes to not only raise money for his personal procedure but to raise awareness about kidney diseases and encourage others in the community to become organ donors.
“I wanted to reach out to Grambling because we’ve always been like family and looked out for each other so I wanted to inform them first. I want the people in the community of Grambling to know that African American males are among the highest cases as well,”said Taylor.
Taylor serves as the associate pastor at New Pilgrim Rest in Arcadia. He is the father of a 16-year-old daughter and husband to Shanairy Taylor, who may be a possible transplant match.
“I’ve been fortunate enough to find a match in my spouse, so guess I married the right woman,” he concluded.