On May 4, the Louisville Urban League and partners from around the city are hosting a Bone Marrow and Blood Drive in support of Judge Erica Lee Williams and thousands more facing deadly diseases.

Right now, thousands of patients are desperately searching for their genetic match. On March 17, Judge Williams became one of those patients after being diagnosed with leukemia. She is now in need of a bone marrow transplant in order to save her life. 

A graduate of Western Kentucky University and the University of Kentucky J. David Rosenberg College of Law, Erica has served as a presiding judge in Jefferson District Court since 2009. She serves on the Board of Directors for the Governor’s Scholars Program and the Louisville Bar Association and she formerly served on the Board of Fund for the Arts. In 2020, Judge Williams served as a keynote speaker for the 100 Wise Women and has been recognized as one of Business First’s Enterprising Women to Watch. A graduate of the Leadership Louisville Class of 2014, she has also been heralded as one of Louisville Magazine’s 50 most powerful people in Louisville. She is married to Jason C. Williams, a partner with Frost Brown Todd and they have one 9-year-old daughter.

While she has stood out amongst her peers and other leaders in her profession, she and her family now stand in solidarity amongst a crowd of many seeking a donor. There is a national blood shortage and Black people, in particular, are three times less likely to find a bone marrow donor. Young adult (18-44) donors are especially needed to help patients in need of a life-saving blood stem cell donation. Adding more potential donors to the bone marrow registry is crucial to give every patient an equal chance at finding their match. 

You can help us change all of that!

Regardless of age, you can give blood on May 4. We recommend making an appointment by visiting tinyurl.com/lul77442 or calling 800-775-2522. If you are between the ages of 18 and 44 we encourage you to stop by the Norton Healthcare Sports & Learning Center and get registered as a bone marrow donor (no appointment necessary). It only takes 2 minutes to save a life.

Thank you for your support!

DONATION FAQs

People have questions about donating blood or the bone marrow registry. Helpful information on each can be found at the link below.

• Bone Marrow Donation FAQs: https://bethematch.org/support-the-cause/donate-bone-marrow/donation-faqs
• Blood Donation FAQs: https://kybloodcenter.org/why-donate/frequently-asked-questions