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St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, founded in 1962, is a leading
pediatric treatment and research facility focused on children's catastrophic
diseases. It is located in Memphis, Tennessee. It is a nonprofit medical
corporation chartered as a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization under IRS
regulations.
History
St. Jude was founded by
 entertainer
Danny Thomas on the premise that "no child should die in the dawn of life."
Thomas named the hospital for Saint Jude Thaddeus, the Catholic patron saint
of hospitals, desperate cases and lost causes. Thomas was a struggling young
entertainer when he knelt in a Detroit church before a statue of St. Jude
Thaddeus and asked the saint to "show me my way in life and I will build you
a shrine."
Thomas's prayer was answered, and he soon moved his family to Chicago to
pursue career offers.
Danny Thomas turned to his fellow Americans of Arabic-speaking heritage.
Believing deeply that these Americans should, as a group, thank the United
States for the gifts of freedom given their parents, Danny Thomas also felt
the support of St. Jude would be a noble way of honoring his immigrant
forefathers who had come to America.
Danny Thomas’ request struck a responsive chord. In 1957, 100
representatives of the Arab-American community met in Chicago to form ALSAC®
with a sole purpose of raising funds for the support of St. Jude Children’s
Research Hospital.
ALSAC is the fundraising organization of St. Jude. Since St. Jude opened
its doors in 1962, ALSAC has had the responsibility of raising the necessary
funds to keep the hospital open. They raise hundreds of millions annually
through benefits and solicitation drives among Americans of all ethnic,
religious and racial backgrounds. Today, ALSAC is the nation’s second
largest health-care charity and is supported by the efforts of more than 1
million volunteers nationwide.
The Hospital
Discoveries at St. Jude have completely changed how doctors treat
children with cancer and other catastrophic illnesses.
Since St. Jude was established, the survival rate for acute
lymphoblastic leukemia, the most common type of childhood cancer, has
increased from 4 percent in 1962 to 94 percent today. St. Jude has
treated children from across the United States and from more than 70
countries.
Doctors across the world consult with St. Jude on their toughest cases,
in which there is no cure for or is a severe case of it. Also, St. Jude
has an International Outreach Program to improve the survival rates of
children with catastrophic illnesses worldwide through the transfer of
knowledge, technology and organizational skills. |
"We are a beacon of light in a parent's darkest night." |
Funding
All medically eligible patients who are accepted for treatment at St. Jude
are treated without regard to the family's ability to pay.
St. Jude is the only pediatric research center in the United States where
families never pay for treatments that are not covered by insurance, and
families without insurance are never asked to pay.
In addition to providing medical services to eligible patients, St. Jude
also assists families with transportation, lodging, and meals. Three
separate specially-designed patient housing facilities—Grizzly House for
short-term (up to two weeks), Ronald McDonald House for medium-term (two
weeks to 3 months), and Target House for long-term (3 months or
more)—provide housing for patients and up to three family members, with no
cost to the patient.
These policies, along with research expenses and other
costs, cause the hospital to incur more than $1.5 million in operating
costs each day. Around $180,000 is covered by patient insurance, the
remaining $1.34M/day is funded by charitable contributions.
To cover these costs, ALSAC conducts many national fund-raising events
and activities. |
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St. Jude also has a merchandise catalog called the Hope Catalog. The
catalog contains everything from shirts to office items, and from patient
art to "Give Thanks" wristbands.
Shop the I Love St. Jude Virtual Gift Book
(popup)
Show your support for St. Jude with our wide
assortment of 'I Love St. Jude' apparel, bags, accessories and more. As
always, your purchase through the Hope Gift Book benefits the children at
St. Jude.
About St. Jude Thaddeus
Saint Jude was one of the Twelve Apostles of Jesus. He is generally
identified with Thaddeus, and is also variously called Jude of James,
Jude Thaddaeus , Judas Thaddaeus or Lebbaeus. He is sometimes identified
with Jude, brother of Jesus, but is clearly distinguished from Judas
Iscariot, another disciple and later the betrayer of Jesus.
In the Roman Catholic Church he is the patron saint of desperate cases
and lost causes.
Saint Jude's attribute is a club. He is also often shown in icons with a
flame around his head. This represents his presence at Pentecost, when
he received the Holy Spirit with the other apostles. Occasionally he is
represented holding an axe or halberd, as he was brought to death by one
of these weapons. In some instances he may be shown with a scroll or a
book (the Epistle of Jude) or holding a carpenter's rule. |
Saint Jude Thaddeus by
Georges de La Tour. c. 1615-1620 |
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