St. Jude Children's Research Hospital/ALSAC

While we were founded in 1962, St. Jude’s story began much earlier. Our founder, Danny Thomas, was once a struggling entertainer Early in his career, he prayed to St. Jude Thaddeus, the patron saint of lost causes, “Help me find my way in life and I will build you a shrine.“ In the following years, Danny’s career flourished. But he never forgot that prayer or that promise. And he decided that the shrine he would build, would be St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. The hospital was created on the premise that “No child should die in the dawn of life.” At the time, cancer was particularly devastating, with only 20% of children diagnosed even surviving into adulthood. Much in line with St. Jude being the patron St. of lost causes, many doubted Danny and thought it was hopeless to try and fight such a pointless battle. Danny had an exceptional idea, he also wanted to ensure that children were able to receive treatment regardless of race, religion or financial status. Given that the country was still in the throes of segregation and deeply divided in many other ways, this seemed idealistic to say the least. Yet Danny Thomas could not be deterred, and managed to raise an army of visionaries just like yourself who made this mission possible. Today, just 50 years later, over 80% of children with pediatric cancer live into adulthood.

The mission of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital is to advance cures, and means of prevention, for pediatric catastrophic diseases through research and treatment. Consistent with the vision of our founder Danny Thomas, no child is denied treatment based on race, religion or a family’s ability to pay. We treat children from all over the globe, and recently partnered with the World Health Organization. No family ever receives a bill from us, not for housing, treatment, transport or food, because all a family should have to worry about is helping their child live. The research done at the hospital is freely shared, in fact, treatment protocols at John Hopkins for pediatric cancer is based on the research and treatments created at St. Jude.