St. Jude's Children's Research Hospital
Founding
St. Jude Children's Research Hospital was founded by entertainer Danny Thomas and opened in 1962. It is supported primarily by funds from volunteer contributions raised by ALSAC. The national fund-raising organization was established by Danny Thomas expressly for the purpose of funding St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. St. Jude also receives assistance from federal grants (mainly through the National Institutes of Health and the National Cancer Institute), insurance and investments.
Patients
About 4,300 patients are seen at St. Jude yearly, most of whom are treated on a continuing outpatient basis as part of ongoing research programs. The hospital also maintains 56 beds for patients requiring hospitalization during treatment.
To date, St. Jude has treated more than 19,000 children from across the United States and 60 foreign countries.
Patients at St. Jude are accepted by physician referral when the child or adolescent is newly diagnosed or suspected of having a disease under research and treatment by the St. Jude staff.
ALSAC / St. Jude covers all costs not covered by insurance for medical treatment rendered at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. Families without insurance are never asked to pay.
