Thank you for joining us for the tenth annual St. Jude Hope and Heritage Gala in New York City on April 25, 2026. Guests enjoyed cocktails, dinner, a live auction, a Give to Live paddle raise, dancing and more to benefit the lifesaving mission of St. Jude: Finding cures. Saving children.®
The St. Jude Hope and Heritage Gala honors the inspiring legacy of Danny Thomas, founder of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, and celebrates his Middle Eastern heritage. Danny founded ALSAC (American Lebanese Syrian Associated Charities) in 1957 as a fundraising and awareness organization. The generous contributions of the Middle Eastern community, both then and now, have been integral to fulfilling Danny’s vision that “no child should die in the dawn of life.”
Matching gifts are an easy way to increase your donation to St. Jude — at no additional cost to you! Many employers support your altruistic efforts by offering matching gift programs to your favorite charities. Check if your employer will match your gift to St. Jude or contact us at matchinggifts@stjude.org.
All proceeds from this event benefit St. Jude, where families never receive a bill for treatment, travel, housing or food — so they can focus on helping their child live.
For information on sponsorship and other inquiries for next year's event, please contact Kelly Stillwagon at kelly.stillwagon@alsac.stjude.org or (347) 491-9345.
Highlights from Hope and Heritage Gala 2025
St. Jude patient Liliana and her family
Treatments developed at St. Jude have helped push the U.S. childhood cancer survival rate from 20% to more than 80%. Yet, around the world, about 1 in 5 will survive. That’s why we’re helping make lifesaving treatments available to more children in more places — because where they live shouldn’t determine if they live.
St. Jude patient Liliana and her family
Choose the right planned gift for you
St. Jude patient Han, pictured with family
IRA charitable contributions
If you're 70 ½ or older, you can contribute to St. Jude from your IRA and potentially receive tax benefits. You can have your IRA administrator use our sample letter.
St. Jude patient Nora Kay
Donor-advised funds
You can recommend a grant from your donor-advised fund by calling your fund manager or by signing in to your granting institution and selecting St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.
St. Jude patient Maelin-Kate
Gifts of stock
When gifting stock, you can reference our transfer form, or call us at (800) 395-4341 to inform us of your gift, so we can properly acknowledge your gift and provide you with a tax receipt.
St. Jude patient Franser
Charitable gift annuities
Charitable gift annuities may interest you if you want to transfer cash or securities to St. Jude and receive lifetime payments for yourself or a loved one.
Highlights from Hope and Heritage 2025
Thank you to our committee
John Abi-Habib • Marc Ayoub • Mona Aboelnaga Kanaan • Edwin Baladi • Joe Elhilow • Nawal Gergi • Henry Habib • George Jalinos • Dina Jazrawi • Edward Joseph • Hady Kfoury • Miranda Khourisader • Sherif Lotfi • Elise Merhige • Rita Oussani • Nicole Petrick • Dalal Preidel • Michelle Sayegh • Sam Shaheen • Ralph Succar • Jim Tweel
Thank you to our sponsors
Presenting Sponsor
Diamond Sponsors
Ruby Sponsor
Emerald Sponsors
Gold Sponsors
Finding cures. Saving children.® Everywhere.
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Lebanese pediatric cancer charity partners with St. Jude amid years of crisis and instability to save kids
For 21 years, CCCL has worked with St. Jude to save the lives of children with cancer in Lebanon and, increasingly over the past decade, displaced children.
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King Hussein Cancer Center in Jordan continues long partnership with St. Jude to help more children with cancer
For 22 years, the King Hussein Cancer Center and the King Hussein Cancer Foundation have partnered with St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital to save the lives of children with cancer in Jordan and across the Middle East., including Raghad.
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Restaurateur of Lebanese-Syrian descent inspired by Danny Thomas’ ‘unconditional love’
Lydia Massaad sees it as her mission to follow in the St. Jude founder’s footsteps, lighting his path, to share this lifesaving mission with the world.
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World Health Organization, St. Jude collaborate against childhood cancer
New global childhood cancer effort aims to cure at least 60 percent of children with six of the most common kinds of cancer worldwide by 2030.
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From Syria to St. Jude, a refugee recounts a harrowing journey to save his son
In desperation, Hussam knocked on every door he could think of after his son was diagnosed with eye cancer, and found help in an unlikely place.
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St. Jude Care in Jordan
Thanks to St. Jude Global’s work in Jordan, more children with cancer are getting access to quality care.
Get involved locally
Find additional events, volunteer opportunities and more ways to connect with St. Jude supporters in New York, New Jersey and Connecticut.
