St. Jude Children's Research Hospital (Memphis, Tenn.). St. Jude Children's Research Hospital opened in 1962 thanks to founder Danny Thomas, who had a dream that "no child should die in the dawn of life." The hospital is named for St. Jude Thaddeus, the patron saint of hopeless causes.
Now, clinicians at the hospital treat approximately 7,800 patients each year suffering from catastrophic childhood illnesses. The 56-bed research hospital was nationally ranked in one pediatric specialty by U.S. News & World Report for 2015-16, clocking in at No. 6 in the nation for pediatric cancer care. Through decades of research, St. Jude has increased the survival rates for acute lymphoblastic leukemia from 4 percent before 1962 to 94 percent today.
Only 12 percent of the money to operate the hospital comes from insurance recoveries, and 10 percent comes from grants. Unlike most other hospitals, the budgeted costs of St. Jude are largely covered by public contributions, and no children are denied treatment at the hospital, regardless of their family's ability to pay.
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