St. Jude Children's Research Hospital® And More Than 70 Leading Brands Ask Consumers To #GiveThanks During Annual St. Jude Thanks and Giving® campaign

MEMPHIS, Tenn., Oct. 18, 2017 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- This holiday season, the St. Jude Thanks and Giving^® campaign will unite consumers across the nation as they shop at more than 70 leading brands in-store and online to donate funds to support the ongoing battle to end childhood cancer and other life-threatening diseases. The campaign uniquely brings together celebrities, media, retail and corporate partners in asking consumers to donate while they shop and support the lifesaving mission of St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.

Throughout November and December, consumers are asked to support the campaign by shopping at one of the campaign's partners and sharing what they #GiveThanks for on social media. What began as a holiday-focused fundraising effort by St. Jude 14 years ago has now grown into an annual tradition that raises funds to directly support the St. Jude mission of finding cures and saving children.

"The St. Jude Thanks and Giving campaign has become a vital part in our fundraising efforts for the hospital," said Marlo Thomas, National Outreach Director for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. "The continued generosity of our corporate partners, celebrity friends and the millions of holiday shoppers who support our mission year after year is a blessing for which we are very grateful. It is because of their efforts that we are able to continue groundbreaking research and treatment all while keeping our founding promise that no family receives a bill from St. Jude for anything -- not for treatment, travel, housing or food -- because all a family should worry about is helping their child live."

St. Jude partners represent a cross-section of brands including retail, restaurant, travel, hospitality, media and beyond. Top returning campaign partners include Best Buy; Kmart; Domino's; Kay^® Jewelers; HomeGoods; ANN INC.; AutoZone; Williams-Sonoma, Inc.; New York & Company; Carnival; Mazda; Christopher & Banks; Dollar General; Brooks Brothers; Marshall's; DXL; Claire's; GNC and many more.

"For the past five years Best Buy has been honored to partner with St. Jude Children's Research Hospital to help find cures and save children through the St. Jude Thanks and Giving campaign," said Paula Baker, president of U.S. retail stores, Best Buy. "Last year, our customers nd employees donated more than $18.2 million – the highest of any fundraising partner – and we look forward to another year of continuing this work."

This year, campaign partners continue to find new ways to grow their efforts in supporting St. Jude Thanks and Giving – from in-store fundraising to unique cross-promotions, events and online/mobile features.

Partner highlights include:

• Best Buy has exciting plans to build upon the $18.2 million the company raised during last year's campaign by allowing customers to give through their credit card signature pads or online at BestBuy.com. 
• Kmart will launch #UglySweaterforBetter, an ugly holiday sweater campaign, as part of this year's campaign.
• The annual plush campaign from Kay^® Jewelers benefiting St. Jude features Aiden and Avery. Each plush retails for $13.99 with all proceeds benefiting St. Jude.
• Domino's is offering consumers the opportunity to donate to St. Jude via in-store, telephone, online and mobile orders, as well as the purchase of a St. Jude Meal Deal during the campaign timeframe. For each Meal Deal purchased, Domino's will donate $1 to St. Jude.
• Several St. Jude partners are offering merchandise during the holidays to benefit St. Jude including Brooks Brothers, Hammermill, HomeGoods, HSN, Kmart, Pottery Barn, Pottery Barn Kids, Pottery Barn Teen, New York & Company, TUMI, west elm, Williams-Sonoma, and others.
• JOANN will inspire customers to "Make to Give" back to St. Jude this holiday season. The activation will encourage customers and social users to make unique, handmade ornaments in-store to benefit St. Jude. JOANN will also offer customers the opportunity to donate at checkout across all 870 store locations.

NBC's TODAY show will help launch the campaign the Monday before Thanksgiving, with special appearances by Marlo Thomas and St. Jude patients featured each day that week. The campaign receives additional support from national theatre partners including AMC, Cinemark USA, Regal Entertainment Group, and many others that showcase a star-studded St. Jude Thanks and Giving trailer. American Airlines provides backing via in-flight video promotion, inclusion in their in-flight magazines and on social media. In addition, AccentHealth, America's leading waiting room media network, shows the St. Jude PSA in physician offices nationally.

"During one of their busiest times of the year, our dedicated St. Jude Thanks and Giving partners make our mission of finding cures and saving the lives of children an integral part of their holiday," said Richard Shadyac Jr., President and CEO of ALSAC, the fundraising and awareness organization for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. "We give thanks for their generous support, and the millions of people around the world who contribute so that we are able to help the many families who turn to St. Jude for lifesaving care and groundbreaking research for their children." 

To join the fight against childhood cancer this holiday season:

• Donate at stjude.org and visit the site to learn more.
• Shop with participating businesses and donate at the register. Visit stjude.org for a complete list of partners.
• Follow @StJude on social media and find a photo (or snap a new one) of what you are thankful for. Then post the photo to Instagram, Twitter or Facebook tagging @StJude and #GiveThanks.

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, and we won't stop until no child dies from cancer. St. Jude freely shares the discoveries 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 ALSAC/St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital

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