With a snap of the football, The College of Saint Benedict and Saint John’s University raise awareness and funds for the kids of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital®. The partnership began in 2016, led by students who volunteer to share the mission of St. Jude and inspire their friends and family to donate.
Currently led by senior, and longtime St. Jude supporter, Jimmy Buck, the St. Jude Children’s Research Club holds annual fundraisers, with Jimmy always looking for new ways to inspire others.
Jimmy participated in the St. Jude teen committee throughout high school, ranking as a top fundraiser. When he transferred to Saint John’s University his sophomore year and learned about the St. Jude Club, he immediately wanted to get involved.
“Over the past three years, I have supported the club and am now serving as the president,” said Jimmy. “We’ve raised over $150,000 for the kids of St. Jude.”
Every August, the football team comes together calling friends and relatives to donate to St. Jude. “All of our players come together to share the mission of St. Jude and ask for donations,” said Jimmy. “Later in the season, we do a check presentation and share with our supporters why we support St. Jude and ask them to join us.”
Despite being a student-led club, support for St. Jude doesn’t waver. “Year after year, the right people come to give back and help,” said Jimmy. “We find genuine people that want to help make a difference and grow within the club.”
As a future doctor, Jimmy leverages every opportunity to share his love for medicine and giving back. When he learned that the Amazon Prime College Roadshow was coming to his campus, he couldn’t pass up the opportunity to share how he shines on and off the field.
“I submitted my application and was selected to be featured in the show, showcasing my football career and how I support St. Jude,” said Jimmy. “St. Jude has been a huge part of my college experience and it just so happened that they would be filming during our St. Jude check presentation. I hope that I inspire other colleges to bring St. Jude to their campus clubs.”
Graduating in May 2024, Jimmy and the club have been preparing for a new leader of the St. Jude Club. “I’ve been working with the incoming president over the last few months, and he already knows who will take over once he graduates,” said Jimmy. “We have a strong group that continues to step up to make a difference.”
After graduation, Jimmy is heading to Raleigh, North Carolina for an internship at a neurosurgical clinic. “I’m interested in how the brain works,” said Jimmy. “I want to be able to help people in my career and I think mental health, especially among college athletes, isn’t something that is talked about enough.”
As he moves into the next chapter of his career, Jimmy knows that his support and advocacy for St. Jude will continue. “Volunteering is a great way to be involved and help someone,” said Jimmy. “I’m excited for how I can continue to share about St. Jude and inspire others to do the same.”
Volunteering is a great way to be involved and help someone. I’m excited for how I can continue to share about St. Jude and inspire others to do the same.
- Jimmy Buck
