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. Our purpose is clear: Finding cures. Saving children. ®

Why Danny Thomas opened St. Jude

More than 70 years ago, Danny Thomas was a young entertainer with a baby on the way. Work wasn't easy to come by, and his despair grew. He turned to St. Jude Thaddeus, the patron saint of hopeless causes, and vowed:

Show me my way in life, and I will build you a shrine.

That prayer marked a pivotal moment. Soon after, he began finding work, eventually becoming one of the biggest stars of radio, film and television in his day. He was on Make Room for Daddy, later known as The Danny Thomas Show. 

Danny used his fame to fulfill his vow and to change the lives of thousands of children and families. In 1962, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital opened in front of a crowd of 9,000 in Memphis, Tenn. 

LOCAL STATISTICS

Indiana

Active Patients 71

Alumni Patients 103

Inactive Patients 141

Other Patients 186

Total Patients 501

Referring Physicians 169

Illinois

Active Patients 302

Alumni Patients 392

Inactive Patients 419

Other Patients 712

Total Patients 1825

Referring Physicians 278

Kentucky

Active Patients 126

Alumni Patients 168

Inactive Patients 284

Other Patients 272

Total Patients 850

Referring Physicians 318

Six key points to St. Jude

1. No Bill - Families never receive a bill from St. Jude for treatment, travel, housing or food—so they can focus on helping their child live.

 2. Every Child - Every child deserves a chance to live their best life and celebrate every moment. When you support St. Jude, you help give kids with cancer around the world that chance. Together, we can save more lives.

3. New 20/80 - When St. Jude opened in 1962, childhood cancer was 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.

4. DEI&B - St. Jude cares for some of the world’s sickest children regardless of their race, ethnicity, beliefs, or ability to pay. Our patients receive the customized care they need to treat childhood cancer and other life-threatening diseases, no matter what barriers they may face.

5. No Cost - Because of your support, we can provide children cutting-edge treatments not covered by insurance, at no cost to families.

6. Global 1 in 5 - Treatments invented at St. Jude have helped raise the survival rate for children with cancer in the United States, where 4 out of 5 children survive cancer. In many developing countries, however, 1 out of 5 children diagnosed with cancer will survive. We won’t stop until no child dies from cancer, no matter where they live. 

We share our scientific discoveries with the world.

Families never receive a bill from St. Jude for treatment, travel, housing or food.