MEMPHIS, Tenn., Feb. 23, 2017 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- During the 13th annual St. Jude Thanks and Giving® campaign, generous shoppers, corporate partners and celebrities once again helped transform the holiday season into a time of giving thanks by raising more than $107 million to support the St. Jude mission of finding cures and saving children battling cancer and other life-threatening diseases.
Throughout the holiday season, shoppers donated at more than 70 corporate partners representing a cross-section in retail, restaurant, travel, hospitality, media and more. By raising more than $18.2 million, Best Buy emerged as the top fundraising partner during the campaign. In addition, Kmart achieved a major milestone by surpassing more than $100 million raised for St. Jude over the last 11 years.
The 2016 campaign got a boost of awareness from a star-studded roster of celebrities including returning supporters Jennifer Aniston, Sofia Vergara, Michael Strahan, Jimmy Kimmel, Luis Fonsi, and many more who joined Marlo Thomas in lending their time and talents in support of the mission of St. Jude.
"As a result of the incredible support and generosity we receive from the public during the St. Jude Thanks and Giving campaign, we are able to continue conducting innovative research while providing exceptional care to our young patients," said Marlo Thomas, National Outreach Director for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. "This outpouring of compassion also allows us to keep my father's founding promise that no family ever pays St. Jude for anything -- not for treatment, travel, housing or food."
This year, leading companies and brands expanded their efforts to support the campaign in a variety of ways – from in-store fundraising to unique cross-promotions, events and online/mobile features. New partners including Zales, The Diamond Store; Piercing Pagoda; 7-Eleven; Lane Bryant; and Toys"R"Us, joined returning campaign partners Best Buy; Kmart; Kay® Jewelers; Domino's; HomeGoods; ANN INC.; Chili's Grill & Bar; AutoZone; New York and Company; Williams-Sonoma, Inc.; and many more in asking shoppers to support St. Jude through in-store and e-commerce initiatives, specialty merchandise and social media engagement.
"We are proud to stand alongside St. Jude, thanks to the generosity of Best Buy's customers and employees, and help contribute to the research, treatment and hope to defeat childhood cancer and other life-threatening diseases," said Paula Baker, chief human resources officer, Best Buy. "With so many individuals today being personally affected by a friend, family member or loved one having cancer, this is a cause we can all relate to and support passionately."
Once again, the St. Jude Thanks and Giving campaign benefitted from week-long exposure on NBC's TODAY show, which featured several in-depth stories chronicling the journeys of St. Jude patients and the discoveries that made them possible.
"St. Jude is so fortunate to have world-class partners who have set the standard for corporate social responsibility by uniting millions of people each year for a common purpose, to help St. Jude find cures and save the lives of seriously ill children," said Richard Shadyac Jr., President and CEO of ALSAC, the fundraising and awareness organization for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. "We are unbelievably grateful for our partners, their dedicated employees and customers who year after year demonstrate a tremendous commitment to the mission of St. Jude."
To learn more about St. Jude, please visit www.stjude.org.
About 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. It is the only National Cancer Institute-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center devoted solely to children. Treatments invented at St. Jude have helped push the overall childhood cancer survival rate from 20 percent to 80 percent since the hospital opened more than 50 years ago. St. Jude is working to drive the overall survival rate for childhood cancer to 90 percent, and we won't stop until no child dies from cancer. St. Jude freely shares the discoveries it makes, and every child saved at St. Jude means doctors and scientists worldwide can use that knowledge to save thousands more children. 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. Join the St. Jude mission by visiting stjude.org or following St. Jude on facebook.com/stjude and twitter.com/stjude.
SOURCE ALSAC/ST. JUDE CHILDREN'S RESEARCH HOSPITAL
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