Actor, comedian and producer Sofia Vergara drew a record crowd to the Los Angeles Convention Center during opening night of the LA Art Show on February 5. Vergara hosted a private reception for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital® to raise awareness and support for its lifesaving mission: Finding cures. Saving children.®
St. Jude is leading the way the world understands, treats and defeats childhood cancer and other life-threatening diseases. Events like this help ensure families never receive a bill from St. Jude for treatment, travel, housing or food — because all they should worry about is helping their child live.
Three magical St. Jude moments happened during opening night of the LA Art Show.
Tony Thomas and Jason Thomas Gordon, son and grandson of hospital founder Danny Thomas, greeted attendees to share Danny’s legacy and celebrate progress in the fight to end childhood cancer.
Vergara reunited with St. Jude patient Cole, 13, on the red carpet. They first met in 2018 when Cole was receiving continuing care at St. Jude after he had a cancerous brain tumor removed at a local children’s hospital. Since then, Cole has finished his treatment plan.
And artist Robert Vargas painted live portraits, including one of Cole, for donations to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. Vargas recently toured St. Jude in Memphis, where he painted portraits to bring joy to patient families.
Special thanks to the LA Art Show for donating 100 percent of Patron ticket sales and 15 percent of general ticket sales on opening night to St. Jude.
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. Its purpose is clear: Finding cures. Saving children.® 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% to more than 80% since the hospital opened in 1962. St. Jude won't stop until no child dies from cancer. St. Jude 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. Because of generous donors, families never receive a bill from St. Jude for treatment, travel, housing or food, so they can focus on helping their child live. Visit St. Jude Inspire to discover powerful St. Jude stories of hope, strength, love and kindness. Join the St. Jude mission by visiting stjude.org, liking St. Jude on Facebook, following St. Jude on Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn and TikTok, and subscribing to its YouTube channel.
Media Contact:
Nancy Newton
ALSAC/St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital
Nancy.Newton@stjude.org
(901) 275-2580