This summer I had the opportunity to intern at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in Memphis, Tennessee. Getting paid to work for the most beautiful, life-changing place on earth was an absolute dream come true. My summer was truly one of a kind, yet very hard to explain. Words do not describe the amount of gratitude I have for my experience in Memphis, but my role at St. Jude does require a bit of an explanation. And for those who do not know much about the mission of St. Jude, it can seem a bit confusing.
In talking about my internship, most people assumed that I worked as a nurse or a research assistant. As an English major, I can assure you that my role had absolutely nothing to do with STEM.
Many individuals know about St. Jude from tv commercials, Facebook ads, or Dominos pizza boxes; however, very few people know what it is that makes St. Jude one of the most successful nonprofits in the country.
If you know nothing about St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital it is important for you to understand the following: this hospital, unlike any other medical institution in the world, treats patients for FREE. St. Jude runs its research, treatments, housing, dining services and day to day operations solely off of donations. Patients treated at St. Jude are patients for life, and no family has or ever will receive a bill. I’m obviously no math wiz, but this unique quality is something that never fails to blow my mind.
In a world where everything comes with a price tag, where does this insane amount of money come from? The fundraising organization under St. Jude is the American Lebanese Syrian Associated Charities (ALSAC). ALSAC is responsible for all of those tv commercials and promotions you see on Facebook. With the goal of creating a hospital where no family receives a bill, founder Danny Thomas opened ALSAC to raise funds and awareness for the mission of his hospital. Before opening the hospital, Danny and his ALSAC team literally went door to door across the country asking people to invest in his dream.
In my very limited knowledge of medicine, I can tell you that medical treatment is very far from cheap. When Danny first opened St. Jude, he believed that it would cost around $100,000 to operate the hospital for a year. In 2019, it costs $2.8 million to operate the hospital for one single day. The St. Jude/ ALSAC team is responsible for raising 75% of that money.
On the surface, St. Jude is a hospital for children with catastrophic diseases– specifically pediatric cancer. While this establishment does treat sick children, they do so much more. Under the St. Jude umbrella there three key operations: medical treatment, medical research, fundraising. St. Jude treats children with cancer, actively researches the cure for cancer, and makes sure that no family pays for anything during treatment. The lives of these children are in the hands of St. Jude, and all families have to worry about is keeping their child strong.
To make a long story short, my role with St. Jude was in the ALSAC youth development department. This department works with youth organizations who fundraise for St. Jude. As a member of Tri Delta sorority, I was very familiar with St. Jude fundraising before the start of my internship. My sorority has a huge philanthropic partnership with St. Jude, so the mission of this incredible hospital is something that Tri Delta members hold very close to our hearts. My summer at St. Jude showed me how important it is to involve youth organizations in nonprofit fundraising, and how powerful it is to bring young adults together for a common cause.
Before learning about St. Jude, I spent my early years of life violently uncomfortable with the idea of fundraising. Whether participating in Jump Rope for Heart in elementary school or collecting coins for March of Dimes in high school, I always hated the idea of asking people for donations of any kind. In becoming involved in my philanthropy, I developed a new relationship with fundraising, one that has become one of my biggest passions.
My generation is known for asking questions. Why should I fundraise? Why raise money for this organization? Where is the money going? How will this experience benefit me? How can I make a difference? This summer helped me answer all of those questions.
Through social media outreach, college students are changing the face of fundraising and nonprofit work. I’ve done it, I’ve seen it, I’ve worked with it, and I can tell you for a fact that we are making a difference in this world. It is because of young philanthropists that institutions like St. Jude can operate. Any amount of money raised for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital goes towards saving a child’s life. You don’t have to be a doctor, a surgeon, a scientist, or a physician to help save lives. You don’t have to be a millionaire, a politician, or a celebrity to change the world for the better.
Nonprofit support and fundraising help people come together to make a change– and if there is anything we need in this world, it’s change. Some people choose not to fundraise or donate to charities because they don’t think their contribution will create an impact. I’ve seen the impact with my own eyes! I’ve seen children beat cancer as a result of donations! Spare yourself one drink at happy hour and donate to St. Jude, or the World Wildlife Fund, or Planned Parenthood, or the American Heart Association. Find a charity that fits your passions and work to make this crazy world a better place.
This summer I experienced more love, inclusion, acceptance, and selflessness than I have in my whole life. I feel confident in my ability to make a difference and my ability to spread love at all costs. In my opinion, St. Jude is the best nonprofit in the world. With passion, love, and incredible donors, they are curing cancer as we speak!
Thank you St. Jude for the summer of my dreams. I am honored to have interned at the most empowering and life-changing place on earth. I can’t wait to continue celebrating life and spreading your beautiful mission.
“Success is not built on what we accomplish for ourselves. Its foundation lies in what we do for others.” – Danny Thomas
All images are the author’s own