'No child should die in the dawn of life.'
That was the dream of Danny Thomas when he founded St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, and it remains his legacy.
When it opened in Memphis, Tenn., in 1962, St. Jude became the first fully integrated children's hospital in the South. For more than 60 years, St. Jude has cared for some of the world’s sickest children regardless of their race, ethnicity, beliefs or ability to pay.
To this day, families have never received a bill from St. Jude for treatment, travel, housing or food — so they can focus on helping their child live.
Our legacy of saving lives
Today, St. Jude is leading the way the world understands, treats and defeats childhood cancer and other life-threatening diseases — like sickle cell.
When St. Jude opened in 1962, the world considered sickle cell disease to be like childhood cancer — a lost cause. Today, St. Jude has one of the largest sickle cell programs in the country, playing a vital role in the research and treatment of this life-threatening disease. Read more about the breakthroughs with sickle cell disease at St. Jude.
Background art by St. Jude patient Kaleb
Our legacy of advancing cures
Dr. Rudolph Jackson, one of the first Black doctors at St. Jude, was a groundbreaking figure in the treatment of sickle cell, childhood cancer, solid tumors and other life-threatening diseases.
While he was at St. Jude, Dr. Jackson built the sickle cell program to such a stature that in the early 1970s, the National Institute of Health hired him to head the federal government’s efforts to fight the disease.
Dr. Jackson and his work were posthumously commemorated on the St. Jude campus in Memphis in 2022 with the dedication of the Hematological Research and Clinical Lab.
Our legacy of hope
You provide hope to our patients and their families. Every child deserves a chance to live their best life and celebrate every moment. When you support St. Jude, you can help make cures possible for kids with cancer and other life-threatening diseases. Together, we can save more lives.
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Elani is ready for the world
St. Jude treated her sickle cell disease — and all the rest of her.
Read about the individualized care patient Elani received at St. Jude >
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Even cancer couldn’t change her inner spirit
After 15 months of treatment at St. Jude, Kenadie is back home enjoying life.
Read about Kenadie, who was diagnosed with high-risk neuroblastoma when she was 8 years old >
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A fighting chance
Liliana was treated for liver cancer at St. Jude at 8 years old. She underwent a liver transplant in early 2023 and has received radiation therapy and chemotherapy.
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St. Jude steps in to save a mother’s only child.
Ava's family left their home in the Bahamas so she could be treated at St. Jude.
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Born with sickle cell disease, Za’Mya thrives
Za'Mya's mom credits St. Jude for the life her daughter is able to lead and includes its supporters among her family and village.
Watch and listen to Za'Mya's story about her journey at St. Jude >
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Aspen's smile lights up a room
Aspen was only a year and ten months when she was diagnosed with stage 4 neuroblastoma.
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'So much support, so much hope'
Griffin was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia when his family was living in Germany. Within hours of his diganosis, he and his mother were on their way to St. Jude.
Our legacy of community
Our community of supporters is an integral part of our mission. Because the majority of St. Jude funding comes from generous individual contributors, St. Jude has the freedom to focus on what matters most – saving kids worldwide regardless of their financial situation. Every dollar makes a difference.
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'I just always knew about St. Jude'
Through workplace, family and fraternity, David McKinney has been a lifelong supporter of St. Jude . Now, he’s encouraging his 6-year-old son to join the mission.
Read about his support of St. Jude >
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The National Pan-Hellenic Council
Join the National Pan-Hellenic Council in supporting St. Jude.
Learn more about NPHC support of our mission >
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Mississippi doctor gives to support St. Jude
Spurred by the mission and inspired by a trailblazer, Dr. Rayford learned more about St. Jude — and he knew this was a cause that deserved his support.
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‘We wanted to give back’
St. Jude helped Memphis school kids by providing science instruction. Now these students are helping the kids of St. Jude.
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Grandmother’s commitment to St. Jude
A desire to support sickle cell disease research fueled Laura Jackson to donate to the mission and then encouraged her granddaughter, too.
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Following lessons from mom
When Damon Willis was a kid, his mother was a nurse at St. Jude, and he still remembers her coming home from work and telling her children about the young patients she cared for.
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Running is this St. Jude Hero’s passion ...
... and St. Jude is her mission. Te’Retta Hall said "I am still at it and don’t plan to stop."
St. Jude around the world
When St. Jude opened in 1962, childhood cancer was largely 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 — anywhere — dies from cancer.
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The St. Jude Global Alliance
Treatments developed 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 countries, however, 1 out of 5 children who develop cancer will survive. We won’t stop until no child dies from cancer, no matter where they live.
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'I had three children ...'
Akua Sarpong lost a daughter to cancer in 2018. Now she is the executive secretary of Lifeline for Childhood Cancer Ghana, a charity that works to save the lives of children with cancer and is a member of the St. Jude Global Alliance.
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A visit with sick children inspires a life's work
Brian Walusimbi is a pediatric cancer advocate whose Ugandan charity partners with with St. Jude in its fight against childhood cancer.
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St. Jude, WHO, create global platform
St. Jude has partnered with the World Health Organization to launch a pilot project to provide medication at no cost to 12 countries around the world.
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'Dream big and nothing can stop you'.
Childhood cancer foundation partners from 13 countries visited St. Jude and learn about fundraising best practices in the ALSAC Global Scholars program.
St. Jude patient Kamryn and his mom
Become part of our legacy
Your support helps ensure a future of scientific discovery and health care equity.
You might be interested in:
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Celebrating Black History Month
Learn more about how St. Jude Children's Research Hospital celebrates Black History Month each year.
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World Sickle Cell Day
Learn about World Sickle Cell Day — including how St. Jude has been researching sickle cell disease since the 1960s — and find ways to support St. Jude kids.
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Matching Gifts
Find out if you can double the impact of your donation to St. Jude through your employer's matching gifts program.
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Become a Monthly Donor
Join our Partners In Hope and learn about how monthly giving makes an impact for St. Jude families.
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Planned giving
With planned giving, you can achieve your financial goals while supporting the lifesaving mission of St. Jude.
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Naming Opportunities - Dedicate Plaques
Find a special place on the St. Jude campus to show your support for patients, families, discoveries and our lifesaving mission with a personalized plaque.
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Fundraise for St. Jude
Find out how you can start fundraising and support the children of St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.
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Memorial donations
You can support the kids of St. Jude in memory of a loved one. Make a donation or create a memorial fund today.
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Childhood Cancer Awareness Month | September
In September, St. Jude raises awareness of pediatric cancer research. Join us this Childhood Cancer Awareness Month.