Three times the impact: Univision’s Pamela Silva boosts support for St. Jude

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How long have you been supporting St Jude. What was your initial involvement with the organization?

It has been more than 15 years, and it was love at first sight. I had a friend who introduced me to the mission back in Miami. Then, she invited me to come visit the hospital. I think the first time I came here I just knew I wanted to be involved. I knew there was so much more we could do. And the rest is history. 

And how has your motivation to continue to support St. Jude evolved over time?

I have learned that we could also motivate other people to get involved. And I think that the most beautiful thing about St. Jude and its mission is that we could really empower people to feel like they're bigger than themselves by inviting them to ger involved. Because of St Jude, we’ve also built a community throughout the years, whether it's participating in your local walk or run, or a local gala. And I feel like everyone is driven by the same passion, the same heart towards such an important mission. 

Is there a memorable moment that stands out from your visits here that's kind of stayed with you over the years?

I think every time we interact with one of the patients, it really marks your heart. We get to talk to them, to their families, get to know a little bit about their history and then fast forward to when you get to see them again and see how well they're doing. We're always so humbled and moved by the gratitude of these patients and their families. We always remind people that every patient that comes here is treated with the same respect and dignity. They don't get a bill for their stay here, for their medicine for where they're staying. So, it's important to send that message that, they are really thinking of everything here at St Jude for their patient so their families can really focus on just fighting this fight for life with their kids. 

When you first got involved, you were not a mom. How has becoming a mother of a little boy changed your perspective of St. Jude’s mission?

After I became a mother, my commitment to St Jude tripled, and it comes from a place of gratitude, of having my child and empathizing with all those mothers and fathers who are here. I can't even imagine having to do that and then having to worry about the financial strain on top. The emotional toll that these parents and these families go through is so heavy and is so difficult to even start to comprehend what they're struggling with. So, it is fundamental for St. Jude to be able to provide that peace of mind when it comes to the financial bills and comprehensive support.

Through your podcast, “Motherish”, you connect with a lot of bilingual parents. What do you tell moms and dads about the importance of supporting kids globally? 

St. Jude has taught me that this world is a lot smaller than we think. Its outreach really brings us all together. I've known personally patients that have gotten treated with St. Jude protocols based on the research done here in places like Peru, El Salvador, Mexico, and then not even going that much further, even in our own communities in Miami, New York and L.A. We have met and gotten a chance to spend time with a lot of families who have also benefited from St Jude, whether they were treated in a local hospital with the research from St. Jude, or if they were able to come here to get treated. So, this is a hospital that even though it is based here in Memphis, Tennessee, its impact is global.

How do you hope your support for St. Jude influences or inspires other public figures and communities to engage with the hospital's mission? 

I always say that being involved and giving to St. Jude feels so good. It really is so fulfilling to be able to not only tangibly see the impact that you're having when you come to the facilities, when you get to meet the patients, but also the emotional effect that it has on yourself as a person, to be able to fill your cup in that way, where you're thinking, ‘I am doing something great, I am part of something great’. And then, to be able to enroll other people, to also join this mission, since giving them this sense of empowerment is the best gift to our children, friends and family. They could also make such a huge difference. When you hear people saying that anything makes a difference, I always tell them the most that you can give is really the best that we can give.

Are there any lessons you learned from knowing about or personally meeting some of the patients and parents here that has shaped your own parenting or your personal life?  

Absolutely. Every time I come to St Jude, every time I get to share a conversation with one of the patients, one of their mothers, I leave the hospital with more gratitude and with a bigger sense of commitment and responsibility to share the message of St Jude.