pledge to build a shrine to the saint if he would show him the way .
In the years that followed , Danny ’ s career flourished through films and television , and he became an internationally known entertainer . He remembered his pledge to build a shrine to St . Jude .
In the early 1950s , Danny began discussing with friends what concrete form his vow might take . Gradually , the idea of a children ’ s hospital , possibly in Memphis , Tennessee , took shape . In 1955 , Danny Thomas and a group of Memphis businessmen who had agreed to help support his dream , seized on the idea of creating a unique research hospital devoted to curing catastrophic diseases in children . More than just a treatment facility , this would be a research center for the children of the world .
Danny started raising money for his vision of St . Jude in the early 1950s . By 1955 , local business leaders who had joined his cause began area fundraising efforts , supplementing Danny ’ s benefit shows that brought scores of major entertainment stars to Memphis . Often accompanied by his wife , Rose Marie , Danny crisscrossed the United States by car , sharing his dream and raising funds at meetings and benefits . The pace was so hectic that he and Rose Marie once visited 28 cities in 32 days . Although Danny Thomas and his friends raised the money to build the hospital , they now faced the daunting task of funding its annual operation .
To solve this problem , Danny , of Lebanese descent , turned to his fellow Americans of Arabicspeaking heritage . Believing deeply that these Americans should , as a group , thank the United States for the gifts of freedom given their parents , he also felt the support of St . Jude would be a noble way of honoring his immigrant forefathers who had come to America .
Danny ’ s request struck a responsive chord . In 1957 , 100 representatives of the Arab-American community met in Chicago to form ALSAC with a sole purpose of raising funds for the support of St . Jude Children ’ s Research Hospital .
Since that time , with national headquarters in Memphis and regional offices throughout the United States , ALSAC has assumed full responsibility for all the hospital ’ s fundraising efforts , raising hundreds
of millions annually through benefits and solicitation drives among Americans of all ethnic , religious and racial backgrounds . Today , ALSAC is the nation ’ s second largest health care charity and is supported by the efforts of more than one million volunteers nationwide .
Through striking improvements in the care of pediatric leukemias and numerous forms of solid tumors , St . Jude has brought about improved health care for children all over the world . St . Jude ’ s physicians and scientists have pioneered treatments that have helped push the overall survival rates for childhood cancers from less than 20 percent , when the hospital opened in 1962 , to 80 percent today .
From a promise of “ Help me find my way in life , and I will build you a shrine ” to the fulfillment of his dream , Danny lived to see his little hospital become an international beacon of hope for the catastrophically ill children of the world . The founder of St . Jude and ALSAC died on February 6 , 1991 , just two days after joining patients , parents and employees to celebrate the hospital ’ s 29th anniversary . He was laid to rest in a family crypt at the Danny Thomas / ALSAC Pavilion on the grounds of the hospital . On July 12 , 2000 , Rose Marie passed away and now lies with her beloved husband in the hospital ’ s Memorial Garden . Today , their children , Marlo , Terre and Tony , carry on their parents ’ work and remain a driving force in fulfilling their father ’ s mission . Danny Thomas is gone , but his dream lives on .
St . Jude and the USAPA have been working together for a relatively short period of time , but in just two short years , the governing body of the sport of pickleball has raised nearly $ 25,000 !
Because of partners like the USAPA , St . Jude is able to fulfill its mission that families never receive a bill from St . Jude for treatment , travel , housing or food — because all a family should worry about is helping their child live . If you have any upcoming tournaments or events and would like to create your own fundraiser for St . Jude around it , please reach out to your St . Jude team at 1.800.457.2444 or email specialevents @ stjude . org and they will help you get started . •
JULY / AUGUST 2018 | MAGAZINE 39