Stars return in television and digital spots to encourage people to support St. Jude and #GiveThanks this holiday season
This holiday season, Jennifer Aniston, Sofia Vergara, Michael Strahan, Jimmy Kimmel and Luis Fonsi will once again join St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital® National Outreach Director Marlo Thomas in promoting the St. Jude Thanks and Giving® campaign. Each celebrity supporter will star alongside St. Jude patients in national television spots and digital shorts encouraging people to support St. Jude while holiday shopping.
Now in its fourteenth year, the St. Jude Thanks and Giving campaign has transformed the holiday season into a time of giving thanks by raising awareness and funds for the ongoing battle to end childhood cancer and other life-threatening diseases. Throughout November and December, consumers are asked to support the campaign by shopping with more than 70 national leading brands and spreading the word by sharing what they #GiveThanks for on social media.
“The St. Jude Thanks and Giving campaign is a holiday tradition that I love to be a part of each year,” said Jennifer Aniston. “I have the privilege to work with these brave, beautiful children, as they face the fight of their young lives. To be a part of the St. Jude family, who continue to make a difference and help save children’s lives with your continued support, is an honor and such an inspiration to me.”
The national television commercials will debut Thanksgiving week and run through the end of the year. In addition to national awareness commercials, several St. Jude celebrity friends appear in online videos, including Lily Aldridge, Kelsea Ballerini, Banda MS, Jekalyn Carr, Brett Eldredge, Alejandra Espinoza, Ashley Greene, Laurie Hernandez, Adamari Lopez, Tye Tribbett and The Property Brothers, Drew and Jonathan Scott.
“We are deeply thankful that these incredible stars lend their time and talents to support St. Jude,” said Marlo Thomas, National Outreach Director for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. “Year after year, they open their hearts to the children of St. Jude. Their generosity and commitment help us raise awareness and the critical funds that allow doctors and scientists to continue their groundbreaking research and lifesaving treatments.”
St. Jude supporters will also be able to purchase merchandise crafted by their favorite celebrities and retailers to benefit St. Jude. This year, Sabrina Soto has designed a sherpa blanket with proceeds directly benefiting the hospital. Brooks Brothers, Domino’s, HomeGoods, HSNi, Kmart, New York & Company, Pottery Barn, Pottery Barn Kids, Pottery Barn Teen, TUMI, west elm and Williams-Sonoma all feature products that give back to St. Jude.
Created in 2004 by Marlo, Terre and Tony Thomas — children of St. Jude founder Danny Thomas — the St. Jude Thanks and Giving campaign began as a holiday-focused fundraising effort and has grown into an annual tradition that unites celebrities, media, retail and corporate partners to support the lifesaving mission of St Jude.
The campaign’s national television spots will air on network and cable television channels, as well as online, in both English and Spanish. In addition, a star-studded St. Jude Thanks and Giving movie trailer is shown by national theatre partners including AMC, Cinemark Holdings, Inc., Regal Entertainment Group, and many others. American Airlines provides backing via in-flight video promotion, inclusion in their in-flight magazines and on social media. In addition, Outcome Health, America's leading waiting room media network, shows the St. Jude PSA in physician offices nationally. All of the spots, as well as exclusive behind-the-scenes footage, will debut online in late November.
Sofia Vergara with St. Jude patient Ian.
Additional Celebrity Quotes:
Sofia Vergara
“Every year I’m so excited to make new friends like Ian and Alana, patients at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. They are so courageous in their fight against childhood cancer. They are truly an inspiration to me,” said Sofia Vergara. “The St. Jude Thanks and Giving campaign makes it easy for all of us to help the children of St. Jude. So please join me this holiday season to help save the lives of children with cancer worldwide.”
Michael Strahan with St. Jude patient Brieanna.
Michael Strahan
“The amazing children of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital continue to be my biggest inspiration. Even though they are fighting for their lives, they manage to have a smile on their face,” said Michael Strahan. “I am honored to lend my time to raising awareness to support the St. Jude mission of finding cures and saving children. By participating in the St. Jude Thanks and Giving campaign, your support helps ensure that St. Jude won’t stop until no child dies from cancer.”
Jimmy Kimmel with St. Jude patient Mikayla.
Jimmy Kimmel
“Parents shouldn’t have to focus on anything other than helping their child get better,” said Jimmy Kimmel. “St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital helps ease some of the burden because no family ever receives a bill for treatment, travel, housing or food. All a family has to worry about is helping their child live. I encourage everyone to help in the battle against childhood cancer and other life-threatening diseases by donating to St. Jude this holiday season. Please join me during the St. Jude Thanks and Giving campaign to help fight childhood cancer.”
Luis Fonsi with St. Jude patient Alberto.
Luis Fonsi
“The recent natural disasters over the last few months have been devastating, and have also reminded me how strong the human spirit is,” said Luis Fonsi. “It is that spirit you find in the children of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital who courageously fight their battle against childhood cancer. During this holiday season, join their fight by participating in the St. Jude Thanks and Giving campaign by donating or shopping wherever you see the St. Jude logo.”
To join the fight against childhood cancer this holiday season:
- Donate at stjude.org and visit the site to learn more.
- Shop with participating businesses and donate at the register. Visit stjude.org for a complete list of partners.
- Follow @StJude on social media and find a photo (or snap a new one) of what you are thankful for. Then post the photo to Instagram, Twitter or Facebook tagging @StJude and #GiveThanks.
About St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital
St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital is leading the way the world understands, treats and defeats childhood cancer and other life-threatening diseases. It is the only National Cancer Institute-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center devoted solely to children. Treatments invented at St. Jude have helped push the overall childhood cancer survival rate from 20 percent to 80 percent since the hospital opened more than 50 years ago. St. Jude is working to drive the overall survival rate for childhood cancer to 90 percent, and we won’t stop until no child dies from cancer. St. Jude freely shares the discoveries it makes, and every child saved at St. Jude means doctors and scientists worldwide can use that knowledge to save thousands more children. Families never receive a bill from St. Jude for treatment, travel, housing or food – because all a family should worry about is helping their child live. Join the St. Jude mission by visiting stjude.org or following St. Jude on facebook.com/stjude and twitter.com/stjude.