For Salma Bushala-Hamud and Harold Hamud, supporting Providence St. Jude Medical Center is more than a commitment; it’s part of who they are

Spend even a few minutes with Salma Bushala-Hamud and Harold Hamud, and you quickly see what matters most: family, community and caring for others.

That perspective and a deep commitment to giving back have shaped their decades-long relationship with Providence St. Jude, one that began more than 30 years ago after cancer first touched their family.

Years later, when Salma faced her own diagnosis of stage 3 colon cancer, the choice of where to receive treatment felt clear. The outstanding care she received deepened the couple’s commitment to the hospital.

At the center of that experience was her oncologist, David Park, M.D. “He listens. He takes the time. He includes your family in everything,” she says. “You feel comfortable, you feel secure and you know you’re getting the best care.”

An enduring commitment
A big part of the couple’s connection to Providence
St. Jude comes to life through A Walk Among the Stars, the Foundation’s signature annual fashion show and fundraiser that celebrates cancer patients and survivors as they take to the runway and share their stories. 

Over nearly three decades, Salma has served on the committee and chaired the event multiple times, helping shape an experience that is as meaningful as it is inspiring. Each year, Salma and Harold open their home to the models, welcoming them early in the process as they prepare for the event. What begins as a simple gathering quickly becomes something more.
“They come in a little unsure at first,” she says. “And then you watch them transform. They start to feel like family. They relax, they laugh, they connect.”

Over the weeks leading up to the runway, that sense of connection deepens, especially for Salma. “When they find out I’ve been through it too, there’s a different kind of bond,” she says. “It’s not just an event. It’s something they carry with them.”

Staying close to the work
Longtime donors since 1994, both Salma and Harold have taken on leadership roles within the organization. Salma has served on the Foundation board and, after completing her term, chose to return. She also serves on the Foundation’s Oncology Leadership Council, helping to guide and advocate for cancer care in the community.

Harold serves on the ministry board of trustees and the Foundation’s finance committee, where he helps navigate the complex decisions required to support the hospital’s future.
“It’s eye-opening,” he says. “You see the needs, the challenges and how important it is to support the hospital so it can continue to provide the care people rely on.”

Together, they approach their involvement the same way they approach everything else: as doers. It’s a gratitude that shows up not just in words, but in action, year after year, gift after gift, moment after moment.

“Salma and Harold lead with both heart and action,” says Dub Drees, chief philanthropy officer, Providence St. Jude Memorial Foundation. “They engage in ways that bring others along, strengthening the entire community around our mission.”