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St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital
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First Mother:
As a mother you don't want to have to worry about this bill that's coming.
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But then she needs this chemo.
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That's a decision you shouldn't have to make.
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Second Mother [in Spanish]:
The fact that St. Jude doesn't charge one cent to us, removes all the stress, all the
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worries, and allows us to focus on our daughter.
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Third Mother:
That was the first thing, I was like, how are we gonna do this?
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When St. Jude told us that we didn't have to pay a single bill, I was like, wow!
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They pretty much have saved us.
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Father:
It's like the world has been lifted off your shoulders and now your focus is supporting this child.
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First Mother:
There is not another hospital like St. Jude.
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The patient care is unmatchable.
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It saved my life.
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It saved my daughter's life.
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It saved our family.
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The History of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital
Built on one man’s vow to change the lives of thousands of children and families across the globe, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital® is leading the way the world understands, treats and defeats childhood cancer and other life-threatening diseases.
St. Jude was founded by the late entertainer and humanitarian, Danny Thomas, to fulfill a promise he made to St. Jude Thaddeus. Striving for success and unsure of his life’s direction, Thomas prayed to St. Jude, the patron saint of hopeless causes, saying: “Show me my way in life, and I will build you a shrine.” Success followed Thomas’ plea and the legendary entertainer set out to fulfill his vow by building a hospital devoted to the care of children. St. Jude opened its doors in 1962, but this would not be just any children’s hospital. Then and now, St. Jude is unique.
There are great hospitals. There are great research institutions. There are great charities. St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital® is all three. St. Jude turns laboratory discoveries into lifesaving treatments for cancer and other life-threatening diseases. St. Jude also encourages research collaboration through our online databases St. Jude Cloud and St. Jude Cure4Kids. These programs allow other doctors and researchers to access the scientific breakthroughs happening at St. Jude and treat childhood cancer around the world. What’s more, families never receive a bill from St. Jude for treatment, travel, housing or food — so they can focus on helping their child live.
St. Jude relies on the generosity of millions of supporters to fund its lifesaving mission: Finding cures. Saving children.® In the years ahead, about 89% of the funds needed to sustain and grow St. Jude, must be raised, from public contributions and a direct mail program is a key component of this fundraising. St. Jude depends on the U.S. Postal Service to deliver more than 300 million pieces of mail per year to its supporters. The mailing industry also provides a means for donors to send their generous donations to St. Jude.
St. Jude is one of thousands of nonprofit organizations that rely on the U.S. Postal Service to deliver information and appeals that help raise funds and build awareness to advance their missions. Thanks in part to the professionalism and success of the U.S. Postal Service, St. Jude doctors and researchers are able to save even more lives.
Treatments invented at St. Jude have helped push the overall childhood cancer survival rate from 20 percent to more than 80 percent in the U.S. since it opened more than 60 years ago.
The Danny Thomas Stamp
In 2012, the U.S. Postal Service released a commemorative stamp honoring St. Jude founder Danny Thomas on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the opening of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. The stamp features an oil-on-panel painting of a smiling, tuxedo-clad Thomas in the foreground with the modern skyline of St. Jude in the background. Tim O’Brien created the artwork for the stamp, Greg Breeding was the designer and William J. Gicker served as the art director. The Danny Thomas stamp was issued in panes of 20 self-adhesive Forever stamps, which are always equal in value to the current First-Class Mail one-ounce rate. Although it is no longer available, the Danny Thomas Stamp now enjoys an honored place in countless collectors’ albums.
Thomas saw St. Jude as his ultimate legacy, and – to this day – St. Jude staff, faculty, allies and supporters work hard to honor that legacy.
“Success in life has nothing to do with what you gain in life or accomplish for yourself.
It’s what you do for others.”
– Danny Thomas
Learn more about St. Jude and how you can support their lifesaving mission by visiting stjude.org.
