Founder's Day celebration at St. Jude
Celebrating the legacy of our founder, Danny Thomas, and the opening of St. Jude on Feb. 4, 1962
It was all because of one man's dream — that "no child should die in the dawn of life."
St. Jude founder Danny Thomas with a patient
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.
St. Jude has 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 supporters 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.
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
Unlike other hospitals, the majority of funding for St. Jude comes from generous donors.
Because of your support, we can provide children cutting-edge treatments not covered by insurance, at no cost to families.
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.
Your support helps us continue our lifesaving mission: Finding cures. Saving children.®
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Timeline: From Dream to Reality
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ALSAC Preamble
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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
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