Retired teacher begins legacy support after inspiring St. Jude visit
Louis Kingsboro hopes his gift will continue advances in sickle cell disease research and treatment
January 29, 2025 • 2 min
When he toured the campus of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Louis Kingsboro was awed by the spirit and resilience of the young patients.
“The artwork of the children was simply beautiful,” Louis recalls. “After my visit, St. Jude was on my heart, and I said, ‘I need to do something for the children just in case Jesus calls me home.’”
He decided to include St. Jude in his trust, leaving the hospital a legacy gift to help with the hospital’s lifesaving mission.
“I don’t have a wife or kids, and what little bit I have, I designated it to go to St. Jude because I support and believe in the work there,” he says. “I liked what I saw when I visited, and it inspired me so much.”
His first visit to St. Jude was in 2010 and the last time was in 2019 when he attended The Danny Thomas–St. Jude Society annual gathering for supporters who have left the hospital a legacy gift.
A retired special needs teacher in Illinois for two decades, Louis appreciates receiving updates on the work happening at St. Jude, including the groundbreaking advances with sickle cell disease.
“I have the sickle cell trait, so I follow this research and all the other incredible work at St. Jude,” Louis says.
He was also moved to learn that families never receive a bill from St. Jude for treatment, travel, housing or food – so they can focus on helping their child live.
“My hope for St. Jude is, of course, to increase the cancer survivor rate,” he says. “A breakthrough for sickle cell treatment, and just continue to put the awareness out there about how much St. Jude is needed for these children and families.”
