Founder's Day
Celebrating the opening of St. Jude over 60 years ago
On February 4, 1962, founder and entertainer Danny Thomas' dream came to life. It began as a wild idea and became an unlikely movement.
St. Jude founder Danny Thomas with a patient
Over 60 years ago a hospital opened in Memphis, Tenn.
The overall survival rate for childhood cancer was 20%, and hospitals were still segregated in much of the South.
With St. Jude, 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 they can focus on helping their child live.
Our mission goes global
Today, treatments developed at St. Jude have helped push the overall survival rate for childhood cancer in the U.S. to more than 80%. But we can do more. In many developing countries, fewer than one in five children with cancer will live.
Recently, St. Jude launched a historic six-year, $11.5 billion strategic plan — in the midst of a global pandemic — that will expand patient care and accelerate research in the U.S. and globally for children with catastrophic diseases.
It takes supporters
For over 60 years, supporters of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital have been united around one purpose: that no child should die in the dawn of life. Treatments for pediatric cancer can last up to three years and cost an average of $425,000 — and up to $1 million per patient.
Unlike other hospitals, the majority of funding for St. Jude comes from generous donors.
Terre, Tony and Marlo Thomas
It takes a family
Danny's children took up the mantle after he passed away in 1991. They have dedicated their lives to helping us continue our lifesaving mission: Finding cures. Saving children.®
Be a part of Danny's dream
Use #forStJude to share what you love about St. Jude.
Help us fulfill Danny’s dream that "No child should die in the dawn of life."
Carry on the mission wherever you go
Browse the St. Jude Gift Shop for apparel, kids' toys, office supplies and more.
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Sharing a birthday with St. Jude
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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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Saving All Kids
St. Jude cares for some of the world’s sickest children regardless of their race, ethnicity, beliefs, or ability to pay.
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St. Jude in the civil rights era
From the beginning, Danny Thomas wanted St. Jude to help all desperately ill boys and girls, regardless of a family’s race, religion or financial status.
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Our unique operating model
There are great research institutions, great hospitals and great charities — we’re all three. See how we’re funded, how our operating model works and our plans for the future.