Tessa Quinn
St. Jude Children's Research Hospital was founded by entertainer Danny Thomas on February 4, 1962, in Memphis, Tennessee. The hospital was founded on the premise that no child should die in the dawn of life. Thomas, a Maronite Catholic, had made a promise to St. Jude Thaddeus, the patron saint of hopeless causes, years before the hospital was founded. Thomas vowed to build a shrine to the saint if he was shown a way to succeed in life. Thomas kept his promise and used his fame to fulfill his vow, changing the lives of thousands of children and their families.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Reason for starting the hospital | Danny Thomas was inspired by a sermon in a Detroit church to pray to St. Jude Thaddeus, the patron saint of hopeless causes, and vowed to build a shrine if St. Jude showed him the way in life |
| Thomas wanted to build a hospital where no child was turned away due to race, religion, or any other reason, after reading an article about a young Black child who died because hospitals refused to admit him due to his race | |
| Thomas also wanted to express his gratitude for the way America welcomed immigrant families of Arabic-speaking descent, including Lebanese and Syrian communities | |
| Location | Memphis, Tennessee |
| Funding | Fundraising began in 1957 with support from the Arab-American community and Thomas' Hollywood friends |
| Opening date | February 4, 1962 |
| Initial budget | $1 million per year |
| Current operating cost | Approximately $2 million per day, with 75% of the funds coming from private donations |
| Services | Leading research and treatment for childhood cancer and other life-threatening diseases, with a focus on removing the financial burden from families |
| Achievements | Improved childhood cancer survival rates, with overall survival increasing from 20% in 1962 to over 80% today |
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What You'll Learn
Danny Thomas's vow to St. Jude Thaddeus
St. Jude Children's Research Hospital was founded by Danny Thomas in 1962. The hospital's name comes from Saint Jude Thaddeus, the patron saint of hopeless causes, to whom Thomas had made a vow.
Danny Thomas was a struggling entertainer who, with a baby on the way, found himself nearly broke. He gave his last $7 to a Detroit church, praying for guidance from St. Jude. He vowed to the saint, "Show me my way in life, and I will build you a shrine."
Thomas's prayer to St. Jude marked a turning point in his life. Soon after, he began to find work, eventually becoming one of the biggest stars of radio, film, and television. As one of the world's most famous celebrities, Thomas kept his vow to St. Jude and decided to use his fame to help children and families in need.
Thomas initially envisioned a general children's hospital in the South, where no child would be turned away due to race, religion, or any other reason. This vision was inspired by an article he read about a young Black child who was hit by a white driver in Mississippi. The child died because hospitals in the area refused to admit him due to racial discrimination.
Thomas worked tirelessly to raise funds for his dream hospital, reaching out to his Hollywood friends and the Arab-American community. Fundraising began in 1957, and in 1962, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital opened its doors.
Today, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital is a world-renowned institution, leading the way in understanding, treating, and defeating childhood cancer and other life-threatening diseases. The hospital has made groundbreaking advancements in treatment methods and research, improving the survival rates for various childhood cancers. True to Thomas's vision, families never receive bills for treatment, travel, housing, or food, allowing them to focus solely on their child's health.
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Thomas's desire to help children with cancer
Soon after, Thomas began to find work, eventually becoming one of the biggest stars of radio, film, and television. He wanted to use his fame to fulfill his vow and make a difference in the lives of children and families facing serious illnesses. Thomas's vision was to create a hospital that would provide treatment and care for children with cancer and other life-threatening diseases, regardless of their race, ethnicity, beliefs, or ability to pay.
Thomas wanted to ensure that no family would receive a bill for treatment, travel, housing, or food, so they could focus solely on their child's health and recovery. This vision became a reality when St. Jude Children's Research Hospital opened its doors on February 4, 1962, in Memphis, Tennessee. The hospital has since become a world-renowned research institution, leading the way in understanding, treating, and defeating childhood cancer and other deadly diseases.
The impact of St. Jude Children's Research Hospital has been significant. The overall childhood cancer survival rate has increased dramatically, with the hospital conducting groundbreaking research and providing customized care for some of the sickest children worldwide. Thomas's dedication to helping children with cancer has left a lasting legacy, and his vision continues to save lives and bring hope to families facing these devastating diseases.
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Thomas's fundraising efforts
Thomas turned to his fellow Americans of Arabic-speaking descent to support St. Jude, believing that this group could thank the United States for the freedoms given to their parents and honour their immigrant forefathers. In 1957, 100 representatives of the Arab-American community met in Chicago to form ALSAC®, with the sole purpose of raising funds for St. Jude.
Thomas also rallied a group of Memphis businessmen to help build the hospital, and they decided it should be a research institution dedicated to curing childhood cancer and other deadly diseases. Thomas wanted to remove the financial burden of treatment costs for families so that they could focus on their child's health.
Today, St. Jude has a multi-billion-dollar operating budget, with 75% of the money coming from private donations from nine million active donors. The hospital has become a world leader in developing new treatments for children with cancer and conducts groundbreaking research to defeat childhood cancer and other life-threatening diseases.
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Thomas's gratitude to America
Thomas's desire to give back to America was deeply personal and rooted in his own experiences as a struggling young man. He had once vowed to St. Jude Thaddeus, the patron saint of hopeless causes, that he would build a shrine if he found success in his career. Soon after, Thomas began to find work and rose to prominence in radio, film, and television. True to his word, he used his fame and fortune to fulfil his vow, not only to St. Jude Thaddeus but also to the country that had given him and his family so much.
Thomas's vision for St. Jude was not merely about providing medical care but also about breaking down barriers and ensuring equal access to healthcare for all children, regardless of race, ethnicity, or ability to pay. This inclusive philosophy was ahead of its time, making St. Jude the first integrated children's hospital in the South. Thomas's commitment to accessibility and equality in healthcare reflected his deep gratitude for the opportunities America had afforded him and his ancestors.
Thomas's gratitude and desire to give back extended beyond the Arab-American community. He reached out to his Hollywood friends, including Frank Sinatra and Sammy Davis Jr., to enlist their support and spread the word about St. Jude. Through their involvement in fundraising dinners and events, Thomas mobilised a diverse range of Americans to contribute to his vision, demonstrating his inclusive approach to giving back to the country that had welcomed him and his family.
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Thomas's vision for an integrated hospital
Thomas's vision for the hospital was influenced by his own experiences with financial hardship and his gratitude towards the United States for welcoming immigrant families. He wanted to create a shrine to St. Jude that would be a general children's hospital located in the South, where no child would be turned away due to race, religion, or financial constraints. Thomas's mentor, Cardinal Samuel Stritch, recommended Memphis, Tennessee, as the location for the hospital.
Thomas wanted to build a unique research institution where the world's best doctors and scientists would collaborate to cure childhood cancer and other deadly diseases. He believed that families should not have to bear the financial burden of treatment costs, allowing them to focus solely on their child's health. To fund the hospital, Thomas turned to the Arabic-speaking community in the United States, believing that supporting St. Jude would be a way for them to express gratitude for the freedoms and opportunities America had offered their immigrant ancestors.
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Frequently asked questions
Thomas started the hospital as a shrine to St. Jude Thaddeus, the patron saint of hopeless causes. He had made a promise to the saint years before the hospital was founded, vowing to build a shrine if the saint helped him find success.
Thomas was a struggling entertainer with a baby on the way. He was worried about providing for his family and prayed to St. Jude Thaddeus, asking the saint to "show me my way in life, and I will build you a shrine." Soon after, he found success in radio, film, and television.
Thomas wanted to create a fully integrated children's hospital in the South, where children from all backgrounds could receive treatment. He wanted to remove the burden of treatment costs so families could focus on their child's health.
