Shannon Mitchell-PERCELL

Shannon D Mitchell-Percell has been with the Legacy Cares Board since 2018, when he joined and was elected Treasurer his first year.  The following year 2019, he was elected as Board Chair and has served in that capacity since.  Shannon was a member and Vice President of the Dallas Red Foundation Board prior to joining the Legacy Cares Board.  DRF was established as a nonprofit that for many years served as the primary fundraising organization for Legacy Cares.  Shannon also was the board Chair who oversaw the rebranding of Legacy Counseling Center to Legacy Cares to better encompass the full services of the organization.  

Shannon has been a long time supporter of nonprofits, volunteerism, political activism, community service and more.

He started at the age of 18 as a volunteer for his hometown and county EMS service as a volunteer, served as one of the founding members of the County Development committee, President-Elect and President of the Lynn County Heart Association, a long term member of the founding Dallas AIDS Walk Steering committee, volunteered with the Stonewall Democrats and more.

Shannon believes that if you have the capacity to give back, it is something you should always do and do it with your full heart and deep love and dedication.

Shannon has had a commitment and compassion for persons living with and affected by HIV & AIDS since the beginning of the pandemic in the 80's as he witnessed friends who contracted the disease and had to suffer in silence and or complete shame without support.  When he himself was living in silence with his sexuality and was not always able to publicly display his own personal struggles and loss of friends in the early years.  

Shannon is happy now to continue to work openly and proudly to support this particular community as well as the entire LGBTQIA+ Community.

One particular question that always stands out to Shannon is:

" How can you be, or why are you so passionate about a particular sickness that does not affect you personally? (Being that you are not positive)

The answer has always been, I love people, and it does affect me personally because of dear friends that have been impacted and I will always do what I can for those who are typically still to this day, considered 'less than'"