November 04, 2024 03:17 PM Eastern Time

Drew Barrymore, Lainey Wilson, Jon Hamm Ring in Holiday Season With St. Jude Thanks and Giving

Top brands unite with longtime supporters Sofia Vergara, Michael Strahan, Luis Fonsi to raise funds for childhood cancer research and treatment

MEMPHIS, Tenn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--St. Jude Thanks and Giving^® is kicking off its 21st year of uniting celebrities, retailers and consumers to support St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital^® and its lifesaving mission to treat and defeat childhood cancer and other life-threatening diseases.

“Nothing prepares you for hearing the words “your child has cancer.”

For the first time, actor, producer and talk show host Drew Barrymore joins the annual campaign, along with country music artist Lainey Wilson and actor Jon Hamm. Longtime celebrity supporters Sofia Vergara, Michael Strahan and Luis Fonsi will share the mission of St. Jude with their fans. The signature holiday campaign invites shoppers to support St. Jude by making online and in-store donations or purchasing limited-edition products from some of the nation’s top retailers.

“For more than two decades, the St. Jude Thanks and Giving campaign has been a holiday tradition that unites millions of supporters around the lifesaving mission of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital,” said Richard C. Shadyac Jr., President and CEO of ALSAC, the fundraising and awareness organization for St. Jude. “We’re incredibly thankful for our celebrity friends, partners and donors from all walks of life who are members of our St. Jude family. Their generosity helps St. Jude provide vital research and treatment for kids with cancer and other life-threatening diseases so they can live their best life and celebrate every moment.”

The campaign echoes the founding of St. Jude by entertainer Danny Thomas, who drew on his star power to raise funds toward opening a research hospital that would treat children at no charge to their families. Today, his children Marlo, Tony and Terre Thomas and other celebrities lend their voice and support to this beloved cause.

Celebrity Support

Drew Barrymore

“I’m truly honored to unite with St. Jude this holiday season because its mission is incredibly meaningful to me. As a mother, I truly understand the impact a child’s health has on a family and there is nothing like the power of community coming together to support families through hard times. Join me and let’s bring joy, hope, and healing to the brave children and families of St. Jude.”

Lainey Wilson

“Music moves my soul and so do the kids at St. Jude. I am honored to have spent time with them and their families and seen firsthand what supporting St. Jude truly means. From learning about the impact of music therapy at St. Jude to seeing artwork by kids throughout the research hospital, I continue to be inspired by St. Jude families. I’m proud to join my country music family to bring much needed awareness to the lifesaving mission of St. Jude, one that is sustained by generosity every day from people of all walks of life.”

Jon Hamm

“Teaming up with St. Jude for over twenty years to shine a light on its work to improve survival rates for childhood cancer and other life-threatening diseases means the world to me. Being part of this historic St. Jude Thanks and Giving campaign gives us all a chance to make a real difference in the world and in the lives of St. Jude patients and their families.”

Michael Strahan

“Nothing prepares you for hearing the words “your child has cancer.” The breakthroughs and care by St. Jude help families find the hope and healing they need to live a full and impactful life. From my family to yours, let’s come together this holiday season and support the lifesaving mission of St. Jude to treat and defeat childhood cancer and other catastrophic diseases to help kids everywhere.”

Sofía Vergara

“Life is deeply precious. The incredible work of doctors, researchers and staff at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital gives kids with cancer and other life-threatening diseases a chance to live their best life. It’s an honor to be a part of this campaign each year and see all of us unite for this amazing purpose.”

Luis Fonsi

“I consider St. Jude part of my family and find every chance I can to get involved with its lifesaving mission to help raise childhood cancer survival rates around the world. My wish this holiday season is that everyone can unite with loved ones and find a way to support St. Jude.”

Brands Unite for St. Jude

Well-loved brands participating this year include Domino's, Kay Jewelers, Chili's, HomeGoods, AutoZone, Williams Sonoma, Kia, Dollar General, JOANN, DXL Big + Tall, Melting Pot, HSN, Denny's, J.Crew Factory, Zales, Jared the Galleria of Jewelry, and Banter by Piercing Pagoda, among others.

“At HomeGoods, we hold our friends at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital very close to our hearts. What makes us most proud is the impact our collective work has had on thousands of St. Jude kids and families. It is because of our generous customers and the passion and hard work of our teams, that we have been able to raise over $78 million since 2010 for this incredible organization,” said Victoria Shonkoff, SVP and Marketing Director for HomeGoods & Homesense. “St. Jude has been instrumental in helping advance our social purpose mission, Find Home Anywhere, to help people find a sense of home wherever they are. Through our collaboration, we are one step closer to accomplishing this goal by creating a home away from home for the patients of St. Jude.”

Ways to support St. Jude this holiday season:

Audiences nationwide can tune in to NBC’s TODAY Show, where St. Jude will be featured on the Monday before Thanksgiving and each day that week, with special segments featuring St. Jude patients’ stories of hope, inspiration and survivorship.
Domino’s^® customers can add a donation or round up their total charge in-store, online, over the phone and through the Domino’s app.
Kay Jewelers, Zales, Jared and Banter by Piercing Pagoda will contribute proceeds from the sale of plush puppies and bears, and customers can contribute at the register and online.
HomeGoods^® & Homesense customers can give at the register and can buy limited-edition snow globes and holiday boxed cards with 50% of the purchase price benefitting St. Jude.
AutoZone^® customers can give at the register throughout the holidays.
Williams-Sonoma, Inc. customers can purchase limited-edition holiday products including spatulas, dinnerware, candles, ornaments and gift cards with proceeds benefitting St. Jude, and can also donate in-store or online at time of purchase.
JOANN customers can donate $1, $5, or $10 at checkout in stores or purchase patient art fabric designs on JOANN.com.
Melting Pot guests can donate $10 and receive a Donate and Dine Card valid for $20 off a future purchase of $50 or more or donate $20 and receive a Donate and Dine card valid for $40 off a future purchase of $100 or more.
J.Crew Factory customers can purchase co-branded specialty products including t-shirts, socks, ornaments, and patches with 50% of the purchase price benefitting St. Jude, and can also donate in-store and online.

Funds raised by these brands will help ensure that families never receive a bill from St. Jude for treatment, travel, housing, or food ― so they can focus on helping their child live.

Explore the many ways to give back to the kids of St. Jude this holiday season.

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 largely considered 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.