Founder's Day celebration at St. Jude
Celebrating the legacy of our founder and the opening of St. Jude more than 60 years ago.
St. Jude founder Danny Thomas with a patient
Who founded St. Jude?
Founded by Danny Thomas on Feb. 4, 1962, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital opened in Memphis, Tennessee. It was all because of one man's dream — that "no child should die in the dawn of life."
In 1962, a hospital opened in Memphis, Tennessee
When St. Jude opened, the overall survival rate for childhood cancer was 20%, and hospitals were still segregated in much of the South.
With St. Jude, Danny Thomas' vision ensured that a new kind of care dawned. Children were treated regardless of their race, ethnicity, beliefs or a family’s ability to pay.
To this day, families never receive a bill from St. Jude for treatment, travel, housing or food — so a family can focus on helping their child live.
Our mission goes global
Treatments developed at St. Jude have helped raise the survival rate for children with cancer in the United States, where 4 out of 5 children survive cancer. In many countries, however, 1 out of 5 children who develop cancer will survive.
In 2022, St. Jude launched a historic six-year, $12.9 billion strategic plan that will expand patient care and accelerate research in the U.S. and globally for children with catastrophic diseases.
Every child deserves a chance to live their best life and celebrate every moment. When you support St. Jude, you can help make cures possible for kids with cancer. Together, we can save more lives.
St. Jude volunteers at the St. Jude Memphis Marathon® Weekend
You're part of our legacy
Since we opened, our supporters have allowed St. Jude to provide treatments at no cost to families.
Treatments for pediatric cancer can last up to three years or more and the average cost is approximately $450,000 including travel, housing and food, but the individual cost of care can vary greatly.
Your support enables us to provide treatments for patients like Misheel. Because unlike other hospitals, the majority of funding for St. Jude comes from generous donors.
When St. Jude opened in 1962, childhood cancer was largely considered incurable. Since then, St. Jude has helped push the overall survival rate from 20% to more than 80%, and we won't stop until no child dies from cancer.
Terre, Tony and Marlo Thomas
A family's dedication
Danny's children took up the mantle after he passed away in 1991. The Thomas family has dedicated their lives to helping us continue our lifesaving mission.
Because of your support, we can provide children cutting-edge treatments not covered by insurance, at no cost to families.
St. Jude patient Misheel
Misheel was diagnosed with brain cancer in July 2023. Despite her own diagnosis, she has refused to let her illness keep her from spreading joy to others.
“She is trying her best to show kids that things can happen, but there are always good ways to go through it,” said her mother, Undrakh.
Your support helps us continue our lifesaving mission:
Finding cures. Saving children.®
You might also be interested in:
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Sharing a birthday with St. Jude
Five-year-old Della will celebrate her sixth birthday on the same day St. Jude opened its doors in 1962. She wants to mark the occasion by raising money for the kids of St. Jude.
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February is Black History Month
Learn more about how St. Jude Children's Research Hospital celebrates Black History Month each year.
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Timeline: From Dream to Reality
Explore the scientific milestones that have marked St. Jude's progress from the beginning to present.
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ALSAC Preamble
Read the preamble to the ALSAC Constitution that St. Jude and ALSAC founder Danny Thomas signed in 1957. ALSAC raises the funds and awareness for St. Jude.
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About St. Jude
St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital is a leading pediatric cancer center. Learn more about St. Jude.
