Establishment- When late entertainer Danny Thomas opened the doors to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in 1962, he was not just changing the lives of those children who would walk through its doors. He was changing lives across the world. Danny Thomas a struggling young entertainer with a baby on the way, visited a Detroit church and was so moved during the Mass, he placed his last $7 in the collection box. When he realized what he’d done, Danny Thomas prayed for a way to pay the looming hospital bills. The next day, he was offered a small part that would pay 10 times the amount he’d given to the church. Danny Thomas had experienced the power of prayer. Two years later, Danny Thomas had achieved moderate acting success in Detroit, but he was struggling to take his career to the next level. Once again, he turned to the church. Praying to St. Jude Thaddeus, the patron saint of hopeless causes, Danny Thomas asked the saint to “help me find my way in life, and I will build you a shrine.”

St. Jude Children's Research Hospital

262 Danny Thomas Place,

Memphis, TN 38105

The mission of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital is to advance cures, and means of prevention, for pediatric catastrophic diseases through research and treatment. Consistent with the vision of our founder Danny Thomas, no child is denied treatment based on race, religion or a family's ability to pay.

The foremost responsibilities are to the children with catastrophic diseases, their families, and to the donors that have committed their personal resources toward the Mission. To fully meet these responsibilities, St. Jude is committed to an explicit set of values. These values are the standards of behavior that they use to guide their daily actions and decisions. They will ensure that these standards of behavior are adhered to through ongoing training of all personnel working at St. Jude, and by annually evaluating the executive leadership, faculty and staff in their adherence to these values.

St. Jude’s vision is to be the world leader in advancing the treatment and prevention of catastrophic diseases in children. This vision will be pursued by providing outstanding patient care; by conducting basic, translational and clinical research designed to elucidate biological mechanisms, understand disease pathogenesis, improve diagnosis, enhance treatment outcome, prevent diseases and minimize adverse consequences of treatment; and by educating health care and scientific research professionals. Through these efforts they seek to cure and aggrandize the quality of life for an increasing proportion of children who come to them for treatment, and by expanding and sharing knowledge, to advance treatment of children with catastrophic diseases worldwide, while developing strategies to prevent catastrophic diseases in children.

St. Jude is the only pediatric cancer research center where families never pay for treatment not covered by insurance. No child is ever denied treatment because of the family’s inability to pay.

Benevolent and dedicated staff, Senior Team Management and Executive Committee.

Research Resources - Well-equipped facilities staffed with highly trained specialists are widely available to clinical and basic science investigators to support the design, implementation, analysis, interpretation, and reporting of research.

Comprehensive Cancer Center - first and only NCI-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center that is devoted solely focused on children. It illustrates the hospital’s excellence and efforts in patient care, cancer research, patient education and community outreach

Support from the community with donations that help fund research and facilities.

Conduct cancer-related research on outcomes and interventions among pediatric and adolescent populations.

Commitment to donors that every dollar donated will be wisely spent toward achieving the Mission of advancing cures, and means of prevention, for pediatric catastrophic disease through research and treatment.

Disseminate knowledge on how to get involved in the process of getting rid of the plethora of illness.

St. Jude recently completed an extensive expansion program that bolstered the hospital’s research and treatment efforts, more than doubling the size of its original campus. The expansion included the Children’s GMP, LLC, currently the nation’s only pediatric research center on-site facility for production of highly specialized treatments and vaccines; an expanded Department of Immunology; and a new Department of Chemical Biology and Therapeutics for discovery of new drugs. St. Jude now has 2.5 million square feet of research, clinical and administrative space dedicated to finding cures and saving children.

Patients provided with the highest quality of medical and supportive care.

Provide their families with the level of information and support necessary for them to make informed decisions and to become active participants in the care of their children.

No. 1 children's cancer hospital in the U.S., 2010-11 Best Children's Hospital rankings, U.S. - News & World Report

Catastrophic diseases are common no matter the demographic or income level, it is vital to get involved and help the research cause to aid and in end result find cures to these diseases.

St. Jude has to think of ways to approach and find cures for the catastrophic diseases of childhood.

St. Jude has to acknowledge any new clinical trials that have had positive results.

St. Jude has to improve community involvement and awareness of cancer research.

St. Jude has to read about new and successful clinical cancer procedures to be able help their patients.

Patients have to be able to read informative booklets that help explain diseases.

St. Jude is providing treatment to children diagnosed with catastrophic diseases regardless of a family's ability to pay.

Studies are carried out on site at St. Jude and search for the causes and cures to diagnose and best care for children in their battles with life-threatening illnesses.

No child is ever denied treatment because of the family’s inability to pay.

This means any contribution is very helpful to this organization and there are many ways you can contribute.

St. Jude accepts the following types of donations:

Single Gift - A one time donation. Gift in Honor - If you would like to

honor someone through this donation. Gift in Memory - If you would like to

remember someone through this donation.

Monthly - Monthly amount you would like to donate.

Help St. Jude by getting involved in your community.

Those who volunteer are the lifeblood of St. Jude. They provide crucial support services that are vital to the hospital and the well-being of its patients.

There are many hospital and community events you can volunteer in to help St. Jude fulfill its mission.