St. Jude patient Alanna with her mom
This Leap Day, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital® rang the Opening Bell at The Nasdaq MarketSite in Times Square.
"On this Leap Day, we’re so grateful to be able to share the St. Jude mission with millions by ringing The Nasdaq Opening Bell — and we deeply hope it will help people think about the extra good they can do in the world with this extra day,” said Richard C. Shadyac Jr., President and CEO for ALSAC, the fundraising and awareness organization for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. "St. Jude is in the midst of a bold plan to raise global survival rates for the six most common types of childhood cancer from 20 percent to 60 percent by 2030 and will soon be providing free cancer medicines to countries in need. This kind of major impact for good wouldn’t be possible without generous donors who help ensure families never receive a bill from St. Jude for treatment, travel, housing or food – so they can focus on helping their child live."
The bell-ringing ceremony is generally reserved for publicly-traded companies. However, today America’s largest healthcare nonprofit seized the opportunity to encourage people everywhere to do more good in the world with this extra day. The ceremony kicked off the St. Jude Leap Day Challenge, a campaign that invites supporters to leap into saving more lives by donating $29, enjoying a 29% discount at its gift shop or tuning into the annual Urban Cares for St. Jude Kids nationwide audiothon.
Explore other ways to get involved this leap year.
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. When St. Jude opened in 1962, childhood cancer was considered largely incurable. Since then, St. Jude has helped push the overall survival rate from 20% to more than 80%, and it won't stop until no child dies from cancer. St. Jude shares the breakthroughs it makes to help doctors and researchers at local hospitals and cancer centers around the world improve the quality of treatment and care for even 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. Support the St. Jude mission by donating at stjude.org, liking St. Jude on Facebook, following St. Jude on X, Instagram, LinkedIn and TikTok, and subscribing to its YouTube channel.
Media Contact
Ruth Klamper
Ruth.Klamper@alsac.stjude.org