St. Jude Children's Research Hospital® names Tri Delta Fraternity Partner of the Year

MEMPHIS, Tenn., July 28, 2014 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Delta Delta Delta Fraternity recently was honored as Partner of the Year for its outstanding commitment to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital^® – raising nearly $30 million for the hospital since 1999 and pledging to raise another $60 million in the next 10 years – to combat childhood cancer and other deadly diseases.

The organization's most recent commitment is the largest from any single partner in St. Jude history. Specifically, it will provide St. Jude families a place to call home while at the hospital. The on-campus, short-term housing facility has been renamed Tri Delta Place to recognize the fraternity's deep passion for helping St. Jude patients.

The ALSAC/St. Jude Boards of Directors and Governors celebrates outstanding partners, volunteers and donors that raise awareness and funds for the hospital's lifesaving work through its annual ALSAC/St. Jude Volunteer Appreciation Awards program. Collegiate and alumnae members of Tri Delta were recognized for their commitment to helping St. Jude kids and for helping spread and ignite a passion for the hospital's mission to others.

"The generosity and support Tri Delta has provided to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital is simply remarkable," said Richard Shadyac Jr., CEO of ALSAC/St. Jude. "We are incredibly grateful to these inspiring women who continue to raise funds and awareness for the St. Jude mission. On behalf of everyone at St. Jude, we congratulate Tri Delta on being named Partner of the Year and say thank you for all they have done and continue to do for the kids of St. Jude."

St. Jude has been Tri Delta's official philanthropic beneficiary since 1999. Through programs such as the Sincerely Yours letter-writing campaign, which enlists members to craft letters to family and friends, to its participation in St. Jude Give Thanks. Walk., which raised more than $230,000 in 2013, Tri Delta has been able to raise funds and awareness for the hospital's lifesaving mission.

Support from alumnae chapters, which raised more than $207,000 in 2013 through local galas and fundraising events, is a leading force in ensuring that no family ever receives a bill from St. Jude for treatment, travel, housing or food, letting them focus on what is most important – helping their child live.

Through its partnership, Tri Delta has provided support and comfort to many St. Jude patients through funding a Teen Room – a 13- to 19-years-old-only hangout for patients – early fulfillment of a $10-million pledge to dedicate the Patient Care Floor in the Chili's Care Center, and its most recent feat – raising $15 million in just three and a half years. 

For more information about Tri Delta's partnership with St. Jude please visit www.tridelta.org/philanthropy.

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 deadly diseases. St. Jude has the world's best survival rates for the most aggressive childhood cancers, and treatments invented at St. Jude have helped push the overall childhood cancer survival rate from 20 percent to 80 percent since we opened more than 50 years ago. St. Jude is working to drive the overall survival rate for childhood cancer to 90 percent in the next decade. St. Jude freely shares the breakthroughs we make, 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 and 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.

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SOURCE St. Jude Children's Research Hospital