Founded by Danny Thomas, using his fame and name as an entertainer, in 1962, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital opened in front of a crowd of 9,000 in Memphis, Tennessee.  The mission of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital is to advance cures, and means of prevention, for pediatric catastrophic diseases through research and treatment.  St. Jude shares the breakthroughs it makes, and every child saved at St. Jude means doctors and scientists worldwide can use that knowledge to save thousands more children.  Many families come to St. Jude thinking it’s like any other hospital, but because of our supporters, families never receive a bill from St. Jude for treatment, travel, housing or food.  Consistent with the vision of the founder, no child is denied treatment based on race, religion or a family’s ability to pay.