Emory Winship Cancer Institute honored Ivory Cloud, a Pre-K teacher at Oak Grove Elementary, with the Winship 80 award for her outstanding advocacy and volunteer work.

In 2010 Cloud started a non-profit organization, Dreams of Lois Inc, in honor of her mother, Lois Marie Heckstall, who passed away from breast cancer when Cloud was in elementary school. Cloud’s organization originally focused on mentoring and education young girls and women who had lost their mothers to cancer. However, following the death of her nephew in 2012, Cloud wanted to honor him by doing more to give to the community.

With help from her husband, Dr. Antre’ Cloud and her two daughters, Charity and Chasity, the Cloud family has grown Dreams of Lois into a community outreach program that hosts different events throughout the metro Atlanta community.

Each year Cloud and her dedicated team host an annual pajama and craft party; this year Dreams of Lois collected over 120 pajama sets and donated them to the Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta where children were given the opportunity to select their favorite pajamas.

Additionally, Dreams of Lois also feeds patients and their families during Martin Luther King weekend, hosts an annual Mother’s Day tea, donates new books to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at Northside hospital, and hosts a family fun day in the park, as well as various toys and clothing drives. Donated items are given to schools, daycares, and families in need.

Cloud also advocates for young women to get preventative care. Cloud says, “It is important to know your family history and that there is never a dumb question when it comes to your health. It is extremely important to visit your doctor annually and to follow up with any additional testing.”

With support from her family, friends, and the community Cloud hopes to continue building her organization, volunteering, and educating young women.

“I believe that life is about giving and that love is shown through you daily, ” said Cloud.