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St. Jude is an inclusive place of hope for 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 patient Za'Mya

 
 
Image of the St. Jude campus

When he was a struggling entertainer, Danny Thomas prayed to St. Jude, the patron saint of hopeless causes: "Help me find my way in life, and I will build you a shrine." When Danny became successful, he made good on his promise and founded St. Jude.

 

Entertainer Danny Thomas founded St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, which opened in 1962, as a unique research hospital devoted to children. More than just a treatment facility, this would be a research center dedicated to saving kids with catastrophic diseases.

 
 

He vowed to make St. Jude an inclusive place, a place of hope for kids with life-threatening diseases, as well as their families .

And no matter what, families have never received a bill from St. Jude for treatment, travel, housing or food — so they can focus on helping their child live. 

Our patients receive the customized care they need to treat childhood cancer and other life-threatening diseases, no matter what barriers they may face.

 

 
An African American family -- a mom, dad and three children hold hands and walk down a sidewalk on a spring day

St. Jude patient Jordyn (third from left) with her family in 2019

 
 
St. Jude patient Za'Mya and her mother

St. Jude patient Za'Mya and her mother

 

We’re thankful for St. Jude.

St. Jude patient Za'Mya's mother

 

The first research grant that St. Jude ever received, in 1958, before the hospital was even built, was for the study of sickle cell diseaseSt. Jude subsequently launched the first comprehensive study of sickle cell disease and its impact on the African-American population.

 
 

In more ways than one, St. Jude was a pioneer

Equity is at the heart of our lifesaving mission: Finding cures. Saving children.®

 
 
St. Jude patients and siblings Javon and Jakayla with their mom
 

Without St. Jude, my children wouldn't be here.

Lisa, Javon and Jakayla's mom

 

Lisa and her children were all treated at St. Jude for acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), a type of blood cancer. St. Jude has increased the survival rates for  ALL from 4% before opening in 1962 to 94% today.

 
 
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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.

 
 

In 2018, The Links Incorporated awarded St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital a $1 million Legacy Grant to help advance sickle cell research, testing and treatment. 

 

Because of this grant, St. Jude was able to work in three areas to apply its cutting-edge research and lifesaving work to help children of African descent, both domestically and internationally, navigate and overcome the effects of sickle cell disease (SCD).

— Kimberly Jeffries Leonard, Ph.D., President of The Links Incorporated

 
 

Today, our lifesaving mission continues

Our stories continue to reflect our founder's vision that St. Jude be a place of hope and inspiration.

 
 

Plan your giving to St. Jude

Choose the planned giving option that is right for you and achieve your financial and personal goals while making an impact on the lives of children fighting cancer and other life-threatening diseases.

 
St. Jude patient Ava paints a picture.

St. Jude patient Ava

Charitable bequests

Lengthen your legacy by leaving a bequest to St. Jude in your will or estate plan. When you give to St. Jude through a bequest, you make an impact far beyond your lifetime.

More on Bequests

 
 
 
St. Jude patient Kaleb gets a big hug from his mother in a portrait taken on the campus of St. Jude.

St. Jude patient Kaleb and his mom

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. 

More on IRAs

 
 
 
St. Jude patient Eri'Elle smiles for a photo.

St. Jude patient Eri'Elle

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.

More on DAFs

 
 
 
St. Jude patient Ay'Den smiles with his mother in a portrait taken on the St. Jude campus.

St. Jude patient Ay'Den and his mom

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. 

More on CGAs

 
 
 
 

What sets St. Jude apart as a charity?

The majority of funds needed to operate and sustain St. Jude must be raised from our generous supporters.

 
 

St. Jude has the highest rating on Charity Navigator.
Read the impact report >

 
 
 
 

When you make a gift, 82 cents of every dollar supports the treatment, research and future needs of St. Jude.
See how we're different >

 
 
 
 
 

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