Fast Company has honored St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital as a brand that communicates and demonstrates brand purpose in its third annual Brands That Matter list.
This year’s list selected 165 top brands such as PlayStation, Intel, Blavity, GM and Lowe’s, and evaluated them on relevancy, cultural impact, ingenuity, and business impact. St. Jude was among 68 brands recognized for general excellence and its ability to influence change by uniting people around a common mission. The renowned research institution and pediatric hospital stood out for its global collaborations and strength-in-numbers philosophy.
“We are honored to be recognized among the most iconic brands in the world as we make bold strides to improve the quality of life for families everywhere,” said Richard C. Shadyac Jr., President and CEO of ALSAC, the fundraising and awareness organization for St. Jude. “We attribute our success to listening to the needs of our supporters and meeting them where they are, in authentic ways, as we strive to foster a lasting, deeply personal connection with our mission."
As a brand that matters, St. Jude has taken strides to impact patients around the world. Within hours of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, St. Jude began a large-scale effort to provide safe passage for childhood cancer patients and their families needing to evacuate. The effort, called SAFER Ukraine, relocated more than 1,100 patients and their families to 205 clinics across 29 countries. St. Jude itself welcomed 10 cancer patients and their family members to its campus in Memphis. To accomplish this complex logistical challenge, which required creating a registry of childhood cancer patients and translating medical records, St. Jude and ALSAC worked with a network of partners across the region. This story was shared through an orchestrated effort to global audiences, as ALSAC directed support to impacted partners in Poland and Ukraine – a first in the organization’s history.
“The scale and scope of honorees this year is incredible,” said Brendan Vaughan, Fast Company’s editor-in-chief. “At first glance, there might not be much in common between the brands, but the thread that binds them is a commitment and purpose as a brand and relevance to their audience, whether that’s through fun, games, or healthcare.”
The Fall issue of Fast Company magazine is available online now and on newsstands.
About St. Jude Children's Research Hospital
St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital is leading the way the world understands, treats and defeats childhood cancer and other life-threatening diseases. Its purpose is clear: Finding cures. Saving children.® It is the only National Cancer Institute-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center devoted solely to children. When St. Jude opened in 1962, childhood cancer was considered largely incurable. Since then, St. Jude has helped push the overall survival rate from 20% to more than 80%, and it won't stop until no child dies from cancer. St. Jude shares the breakthroughs it makes to help doctors and researchers at local hospitals and cancer centers around the world improve the quality of treatment and care for even more children. Because of generous donors, families never receive a bill from St. Jude for treatment, travel, housing or food, so they can focus on helping their child live. Visit St. Jude Inspire to discover powerful St. Jude stories of hope, strength, love and kindness. Support the St. Jude mission by donating at stjude.org, liking St. Jude on Facebook, following St. Jude on X, Instagram, LinkedIn and TikTok, and subscribing to its YouTube channel.
About Fast Company
Fast Company is the only media brand fully dedicated to the vital intersection of business, innovation, and design, engaging the most influential leaders, companies, and thinkers on the future of business. The editor-in-chief is Brendan Vaughan. Headquartered in New York City, Fast Company is published by Mansueto Ventures LLC, along with our sister publication, Inc., and can be found online at fastcompany.com.