Program Background
What is the St. Jude Children's Research Hospital?
St. Jude is one of the world’s premier centers for research and treatment of catastrophic diseases in children, primarily pediatric cancers. It treats children from around the world without regard to race, religion, creed or ability to pay. ALSAC/St. Jude, the fund-raising arm, covers all costs not covered by insurance for medical treatment rendered at St. Jude. Families without insurance are never asked to pay. St. Jude also enjoys a worldwide reputation as a teaching facility and freely shares its scientific discoveries with doctors and scientists everywhere.
What are its core beliefs?
St. Jude was built upon the belief that "no child should die in the dawn of life" and that conviction still holds true today in the hearts of St. Jude employees. The institution has a clear mission, unstoppable desire and an unquenchable passion to protect and nurture the health of children everywhere.
Who is behind it?
St. Jude was founded by the late entertainer Danny Thomas. It is supported primarily by funds from volunteer contributions raised by ALSAC/St. Jude. The fund-raising organization, which has dozens of offices throughout the country, was established by Danny Thomas expressly for the purpose of funding St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.
Why does St. Jude Children's Research Hospital exist?
More than 50 years ago, Danny Thomas, then a struggling entertainer with little money, knelt in a church before a statue of St. Jude Thaddeus, the patron saint of hopeless causes. Thomas asked the saint to "show me my way in life." His prayer was answered, and soon he moved his family to pursue career offers. A few years later, Thomas again prayed to St. Jude and pledged to someday build a shrine to the saint.
Throughout the next years, Thomas’ career prospered through films and television, and he became nationally-known. He remembered his pledge to build a shrine to St. Jude and he began discussing with friends what concrete form his vow might take. Gradually, the idea of a children’s hospital, possibly in Memphis, took shape.
In 1955, 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.
Thomas' dream -- St. Jude Children's Research Hospital -- opened its doors in 1962 and is now internationally recognized for the study and treatment of catastrophic diseases in children. The work underway at St. Jude is creating rapid advances on a global scale. With unmatched access to the world's most sophisticated scientific and information technology, St. Jude researchers are on the forefront of unlocking the mysteries to some of today's most dreaded diseases, including pediatric cancers, AIDS, sickle cell disease and infectious diseases.
St. Jude & Sigma Nu Fraternity
How is Sigma Nu involved?
Sigma Nu is a collegiate partner of St. Jude's in the fight against catastrophic childhood disease. Members will have a wide variety of opportunities to help out by getting involved with both local and national programs. More specifically, St. Jude's has established a program specifically for Sigma Nu chapters: Sigma Nusball.
What is Sigma Nusball?
Sigma Nusball is a flag football tournament that has been created exclusively for Sigma Nu. Sigma Nu chapters, and participating student or community groups, will raise money for St. Jude through a letter-writing campaign, which is a part of the flag football tournament and “Kickoff Pep Rally.”
The Chapter will be responsible for the following items in the planning process of the tournament:
- Find a location for the tournament at little or no cost.
- Recruit teams of 10-11 members from sororities or other student groups.
- Assign chapter members to each team to serve as coaches and cheerleaders. The “coach” is responsible for the team's fund raising, communication and motivation
- Each member of the chapter participates in a letter-writing campaign.
- Organize, promote and attend a Kick-off Pep Rally the night before the tournament and run the tournament itself.
So, how do you and your chapter members actually raise funds for St. Jude? First, St. Jude will develop a fund-raising letter that explains how Sigma Nu is helping the children of St. Jude. Second, each chapter member and tournament participant will be responsible for addressing up to 50 letters to family, friends, teachers, alumni, co-workers, etc. Finally, each team participating in the tournament will be responsible for approximately 500 letters, which is 50 letters per team member for a team of 10.
How does a chapter get involved?
Getting involved in St. Jude Children's Research Hospital is easy. Follow these simple steps and your chapter will be on its way to helping ensure that "no child should die in the dawn of life."
- Make a decision to host a Sigma Nusball tournament, or another fund-raising event to benefit St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.
- Fill out the Chapter Commitment Form (Commit to the Helping Hand).
- Shortly after making the commitment, your chapter will be contacted by a St. Jude representative and will receive a Sigma Nusball Tournament Playbook complete with step-by-step guidelines on how to conduct a successful event. With dozens of regional offices across the United States, St. Jude field staffers are always available to personally assist the chapter as they plan and host their tournament or event.
- Host a Sigma Nusball Tournament, or similar event, complete with awards and prizes for the tournament champions, etc.
- Report the results of the tournament, or event, to Sigma Nu Headquarters.
To learn more about St. Jude Children's Research Hospital go to their website at www.stjude.org.
