Danny Thomas / ALSAC Pavilion

The life of Danny Thomas and the history of ALSAC and St. Jude Children's Research Hospital are commemorated in the Danny Thomas/ALSAC Pavilion, located on the campus of St. Jude.

No child should die in the dawn of life

The architecturally unique building contains memorabilia of late entertainer Danny Thomas, the founder of St. Jude, who dreamed that "no child should die in the dawn of life."

The Pavilion is home to Emmy Awards and accolades for Thomas’ television show Make Room for Daddy, as well as other entertainment and lifetime achievements.

Part of the Pavilion is dedicated to Thomas’ life as a humanitarian, highlighting the awards and honors he received for his work on behalf of the world’s children. A centerpiece of this exhibit is Thomas’ Congressional Gold Medal, the highest civilian award given by Congress.

A rich heritage

You’ll also learn the history surrounding the founding of St. Jude and the institution's accomplishments in the fight against catastrophic childhood diseases. You’ll be introduced to the rich ethnic history and successes of the American Lebanese Syrian Associated Charities (ALSAC), the fundraising organization of St. Jude, and the millions of generous people who support the hospital’s lifesaving mission.

The architectural layout of the Danny Thomas/ALSAC Pavilion emits a star-like shape with five alcoves surrounding the rotunda. Considered to be a modernistic representation of the world, the Pavilion’s design symbolizes the far-reaching scope of ALSAC and the work of St. Jude.

Terrazzo flooring, with a radiating geometric pattern, lines the entry to the Pavilion. Inside the dome, marble-sheathed columns support a cupola, elaborately painted in blues and greens with accents of magenta and purple, indicative of the colors of the Mediterranean. Arched panels, calligraphically inscribed in Arabic and translated in English, sum up the founder and hospital's mission:

"He who denies his heritage has no heritage."
"No child should die in the dawn of life."
"Those who work for the good are as those who do the good."

The funds to build the Pavilion were raised by the Thomas family and members of the ALSAC/St. Jude Boards of Directors and Governors, the governing body of St. Jude and ALSAC.

Visiting the Pavilion

The safety of patients, families, and employees is always the top priority at St. Jude. For this reason, our campus and patient housing are secure, gated facilities accessible only to patients and families, employees, and approved visitors. All guests must be invited by a St. Jude or ALSAC host and pre-registered for security purposes.

In-person tours to the public are not available at this time. However, you can still experience St. Jude through a virtual tour. Explore common spaces, visit care areas, see a research lab, meet patients and families, and along the way, learn about our founder, Danny Thomas and the mission of St. Jude.

If you have further questions about the Danny Thomas/ALSAC Pavilion, please email info@stjude.org.