Danny Thomas (1912–1991)
A successful comedian and actor, Danny Thomas promised God that if he found his way in life, he would build a shrine to St. Jude, the patron saint of hopeless causes. That shrine became a research hospital that changed pediatric medicine forever.
Key Philanthropic Activities
- St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital: Founded the hospital in 1962 with the rule that no family pays for anything.
- ALSAC: Established the fundraising organization (ALSAC) to ensure the hospital’s financial future, mobilizing the Lebanese-American community.
- Pediatric Cancer: The protocols developed at St. Jude helped push the survival rate for childhood leukemia from 4% in 1962 to over 94% today.
- Open Source Science: Mandated that St. Jude freely share its research discoveries with doctors worldwide.
