Meet Andrea Hall of Shak’s Hope Foundation in Plantation

Today we’d like to introduce you to Andrea Hall.

Thanks for sharing your story with us Andrea. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
Shak’s Hope Foundation is the brainchild of my daughter Shakira Martin, she started her non-profit in January 2016. The mission is to raise awareness and improve the quality of lives of those living with Sickle Cell Anemia in South Florida and Jamaica. Shakira lost her battle due to complications from Sickle Cell on August 3, 2016, at the age of 30. I am now the director of Shak’s Hope Foundation. We have a board of dedicated Shak’s Warriors and volunteers who continue to spread awareness as we preserve Shakira’s legacy. My daughter was all about the feel-good, she often said when you live in chronic pain daily, it is about the small things that get you through. We do events annually. We have Treasures, Shak’s Hope Domino Tournament, Christmas party, and toy drive. We hosted an Easter Treat in areas in Montego Bay and Black River where we partner with the Sickle Cell Unit at the University of the West Indies. We collect donations of toiletries, toys, clothing, and provide a day of fun with food, drinks, and games. It is not how Shakira died but how she lived. I continue to spread awareness daily in everything I do, It is a blessing to be able to give back it is how I get through my day. My goal is to make Sickle Cell a household name like Cancer, to encourage people to know their sickle cell status and support someone living with Sickle Cell.

Has it been a smooth road?
The road was not smooth but the outlook is everything. Watching your child in chronic pain is devastating, there was not much I could do to take it away. I would rub her back and legs, put a heating pad on her body to try and relieve the pain. She taught me about escaping to a happy place I’m your mind to get away from pain by thinking happy thoughts. The beach became my happy place. The small things that provide the feel-good is everything to get you through your day. It works for me and that is one of our missions at Shak’s Hope pouches with feel-good items, to lift the spirits of patients.

We’d love to hear more about your work.
I work for American Express Centurion Servicing. I thought after my daughter, I would have to go part-time as I was now the director of Shak’s Hope Foundation. Amex is about charity and giving back. I can spread awareness in the workplace and get volunteers when we do our event to spread awareness.

What I am proud of is how I have taken this sadness living with an invisible disease and impacting lives in a positive way. The service to others is the greatest blessing.

I also wear many other hats. I am working on marking a Rum punch that was my Mother’s recipe. I host monthly Sip and Shops selling clothing and accessories at my home and last but not least, I am a part of a Caribbean group Sundown we host parties three times a year, we are Trinidad, Barbados, and Jamaica where I am from. All our events, we give back to Shak’s Hope Foundation. We are about diversity.

Is our city a good place to do what you do?
South Florida is a great city that is full of diversity. What we need volunteers and grants for us to continue making a positive difference.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.shakshope.com
• Phone: 954.228.0625
• Email: shakshope@gmail.com
• Instagram: @shakshope
• Facebook: Facebook/shakshope
• Other: www.shakshope.com

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