Thanks and Giving

Thanks and Giving is the national fund-raising program of St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, a leading pediatric treatment and research facility focused on children's catastrophic diseases that was founded by entertainer Danny Thomas. The program, created in 2004, unites celebrities, media, retail and corporate partners in fund-raising activities from Thanksgiving until the New Year.

Thanks and Giving was created by St. Jude National Outreach Director Marlo Thomas and her siblings Terre Thomas and Tony Thomas, children of hospital founder Danny Thomas. Customers nationwide are asked to help raise funds at participating retailers by adding a donation at check out or by purchasing specialty items to benefit St. Jude.

Unique mission of St. Jude

St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, founded by entertainer Danny Thomas, is the only pediatric cancer research center where families never pay for treatments that are not covered by insurance, and families without insurance are never asked to pay. St. Jude is the only pediatric cancer research center that fully pays for lodging, food and travel for patients and their families.

Since opening in 1962, St. Jude has treated children from all 50 states and around the world. St. Jude treats about 250 patients each day, and has 5,400 patients in active status.^[1]

In 1962, the survival rate for acute lymphoblastic leukemia, the most common form of childhood cancer, was 4 percent. Today, the survival rate is 94 percent.^[2]

The hospital's daily operating cost is $1.3 million, which is primarily covered by public contributions. ^[1] Eighty-five cents of every dollar St. Jude receives goes directly to research and treatment.^[3]

Research findings at St. Jude are shared with doctors and scientists all over the world.

2008 corporate partners

2008 celebrity partners

References

External links

• Official website