Hailey Tran
Danny Thomas, born Amos Muzyad Yaqoob Kairouz, was an American philanthropist, actor, singer, producer, and comedian. He founded St. Jude Children's Research Hospital in Memphis, Tennessee, in 1962. The hospital is a paediatric treatment and research centre that focuses on childhood catastrophic diseases, especially cancers. It is a non-profit medical corporation and patients are not charged for care. Thomas founded the hospital after he prayed to St. Jude Thaddeus, the patron saint of hopeless causes, for help with his struggling career and personal life. He vowed to build a shrine to St. Jude if his prayers were answered. Thomas' career did indeed take a turn for the better, and he went on to become a successful entertainer. He then used his platform to raise funds for the hospital, which was to be his shrine to St. Jude.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name of the hospital | St. Jude Children's Research Hospital |
| Founder | Danny Thomas |
| Year founded | 1962 |
| Location | Memphis, Tennessee |
| Type of hospital | Pediatric treatment and research hospital |
| Focus | Children's catastrophic diseases, particularly leukemia and other cancers |
| Funding sources | Government grants, insurance recoveries, donations, American Lebanese Syrian Associated Charities (ALSAC) |
| Annual donations | $2 billion (in the 2021 fiscal year) |
| Daily operating costs | $1.7 million |
| Age group treated | Patients up to age 21, and for some conditions, up to age 25 |
| Treatment costs for patients | Free of charge |
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What You'll Learn
- Danny Thomas founded St. Jude Children's Research Hospital
- The hospital was built as a shrine to St. Jude Thaddeus
- Thomas fundraised for the hospital with his wife, Rose Marie
- Thomas founded the American Lebanese Syrian Associated Charities (ALSAC) to fund St. Jude
- Thomas was honoured for his work with St. Jude
Danny Thomas founded St. Jude Children's Research Hospital
Danny Thomas, born Amos Muzyad Yaqoob Kairouz, founded St. Jude Children's Research Hospital in Memphis, Tennessee, in 1962. Thomas was an American comedian, actor, singer, producer, and philanthropist.
Thomas founded the hospital as a shrine to St. Jude Thaddeus, the patron saint of hopeless causes. As a struggling young entertainer, Thomas once prayed to St. Jude, vowing that if the saint helped him find success, he would "build a shrine" to him. Thomas's career soon took off, and he became one of the biggest stars of radio, film, and television.
In the early 1950s, Thomas began discussing with friends how he could fulfil his vow. The idea of building a children's hospital in Memphis took shape, with the support of local business leaders and Memphis Cardinal Samuel Stritch, who was Thomas's lifelong spiritual advisor. By 1955, Thomas and his supporters decided that the hospital would be more than just a general children's hospital; it would be a unique research institution devoted to curing catastrophic diseases in children, such as cancer, sickle cell, and other deadly diseases.
Thomas and his wife, Rose Marie, tirelessly raised funds for the hospital, travelling across the United States to share his dream with anyone who would listen. Thomas also turned to his fellow Americans of Arabic-speaking heritage, believing that they should collectively thank the United States for the gift of freedom.
St. Jude Children's Research Hospital opened its doors in 1962, with the premise that "no child should die in the dawn of life". The hospital has since become a leading centre in paediatrics, focusing on pediatric cancer and other catastrophic illnesses. It does not charge patients for care, travel, housing, or food, ensuring that families can focus solely on their child's health.
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The hospital was built as a shrine to St. Jude Thaddeus
St. Jude Children's Research Hospital was founded by entertainer Danny Thomas on February 4, 1962, in Memphis, Tennessee. Thomas founded the hospital as a shrine to St. Jude Thaddeus, the patron saint of hopeless causes.
Thomas first turned to St. Jude when he was a struggling young entertainer with a baby on the way. He prayed for help finding his way in life, vowing to "build a shrine" to St. Jude if the saint came through for him. Soon after, Thomas began finding work, eventually becoming one of the biggest stars of radio, film, and television.
True to his word, Thomas used his success and influence to fulfill his vow to St. Jude. In the early 1950s, he began discussing with friends and supporters what form his vow should take. The idea of a children's hospital in Memphis, Tennessee, began to take shape, with Thomas envisioning a research hospital devoted to curing catastrophic diseases in children.
Thomas and his supporters raised funds to build and maintain the hospital, with local business leaders in Memphis joining the cause in 1955. Thomas and his wife, Rose Marie, travelled across the United States to share his dream and raise funds. Thomas also turned to Americans of Arabic-speaking heritage, encouraging them to support St. Jude as a way of thanking the United States for the freedom it had given their parents.
St. Jude Children's Research Hospital opened its doors on February 4, 1962, with the mission that no child should die in the dawn of life. The hospital has since become a world-renowned research institution, leading the way in childhood cancer research and treatment. It provides groundbreaking treatment and research, expert staff, and customized care for some of the world's sickest children, regardless of their race, ethnicity, beliefs, or ability to pay.
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Thomas fundraised for the hospital with his wife, Rose Marie
Danny Thomas, a struggling young entertainer, prayed to St. Jude Thaddeus, the patron saint of hopeless causes, in a Detroit church. He vowed: "Show me my way in life, and I will build you a shrine." Soon after, his career took off, and he became an internationally known entertainer through films and television.
Thomas founded the St. Jude Children's Research Hospital in Memphis, Tennessee, in 1962. The hospital was founded on the premise that "no child should die in the dawn of life". It is a secular institution not affiliated with any religious organization, focusing on treating and researching catastrophic illnesses in children, especially leukemia and other cancers.
Thomas' legacy includes a lifelong dedication to fundraising for charity. He was honored for his work with St. Jude Children's Research Hospital by President Ronald Reagan, who presented him with a Congressional Gold Medal in 1983. Thomas passed away in 1991, but his dream lives on through his family and the hospital he founded.
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Thomas founded the American Lebanese Syrian Associated Charities (ALSAC) to fund St. Jude
Danny Thomas, born Amos Muzyad Yaqoob Kairouz, was an American of Lebanese-Syrian descent. He was a successful entertainer, actor, comedian, singer, producer, and philanthropist.
Thomas founded the St. Jude Children's Research Hospital in Memphis, Tennessee, in 1962. The hospital was founded on the premise that "no child should die in the dawn of life". It is a pediatric treatment and research hospital that focuses on children's catastrophic diseases, particularly leukemia and other cancers. The idea for the hospital came from a prayer Thomas made to St. Jude Thaddeus, the patron saint of hopeless causes, in a Detroit church. He prayed for help to provide for his family, and in return, he promised to build a shrine to the saint.
Thomas founded the American Lebanese Syrian Associated Charities (ALSAC) in 1957 to fund St. Jude. ALSAC is a semi-independent entity that primarily raises funds and promotes awareness for St. Jude. Thomas turned to his fellow Americans of Arabic-speaking heritage to support his cause, believing that these Americans should thank the United States for the gift of freedom given to their parents. Thomas and his supporters raised funds to build the hospital and supplement its annual operations. Thomas and his wife, Rose Marie, travelled across the United States, sharing his dream and raising funds. They visited 28 cities in 32 days, and Thomas also performed benefit shows that brought major entertainment stars to Memphis.
Thomas's legacy includes a lifelong dedication to fundraising for charity, and he received recognition for his work with St. Jude, including a Congressional Gold Medal presented by President Ronald Reagan in 1983. Thomas died in 1991, but his dream lives on through the continued work of St. Jude and his family's ongoing support.
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Thomas was honoured for his work with St. Jude
Danny Thomas, born Amos Muzyad Yaqoob Kairouz, was an American philanthropist, actor, comedian, singer, and producer. He founded the St. Jude Children's Research Hospital in Memphis, Tennessee, in 1962. The hospital is a leading centre in paediatrics with a focus on paediatric cancer. Thomas was honoured for his work with St. Jude Children's Research Hospital in several ways. Firstly, in 1983, President Ronald Reagan presented Thomas with a Congressional Gold Medal. Secondly, on February 16, 2012, the United States Postal Service issued a first-class forever stamp honouring Thomas as an entertainer and humanitarian. The stamp features an oil-on-panel painting depicting a smiling Thomas in a tuxedo, with St. Jude Children's Research Hospital in the background.
Thomas was also inducted into the Television Hall of Fame in 1990, a year before his death in 1991. Thomas's legacy includes a lifelong dedication to fundraising for charity. He fervently believed that "No child should die in the dawn of life." Thomas and his wife, Rose Marie, travelled across the United States to raise funds for the hospital, visiting 28 cities in 32 days. Thomas also leveraged his fame to raise funds, organising benefit shows that brought major entertainment stars to Memphis.
Thomas founded St. Jude Children's Research Hospital after making a vow to St. Jude Thaddeus, the patron saint of hopeless causes. As a struggling young entertainer, Thomas visited a Detroit church and prayed for help with his looming hospital bills. He then promised to build a shrine to St. Jude if he found success in his career. Thomas's career flourished, and he became an internationally known entertainer. He fulfilled his vow by founding St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, which has become an international beacon of hope for catastrophically ill children worldwide. The hospital is the first fully integrated hospital in the South, treating children regardless of race, religion, or financial status.
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Frequently asked questions
No, Danny Thomas founded the St. Jude Children's Research Hospital in Memphis, Tennessee.
Danny Thomas was a struggling entertainer with a baby on the way. He prayed to St. Jude Thaddeus, the patron saint of hopeless causes, and vowed to "build a shrine" if he found success.
It is a paediatric treatment and research hospital that focuses on treating children's catastrophic diseases, especially leukemia and other cancers. It is a secular institution not affiliated with any religious organisation.
The hospital was founded on 4 February 1962.
The hospital is funded by donations. While some donations come from government grants and insurance recoveries, the principal source of funding comes from the American Lebanese Syrian Associated Charities (ALSAC).
