St. Jude Children's Research Hospital

While the FedEx St. Jude Classic^® is always a great entertainment event, its true purpose is to generate funds for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. We're proud to report that over the past 18 years, the FedEx St. Jude Classic has generated over $13.3 million for this worthy cause.

"St. Jude is the world's largest childhood cancer research center in terms of number of patients and treatment successes," said Keven Demsky, managing director, sponsorship marketing for FedEx. "We are proud that our sponsorship of the tournament enables us to help children and we extend our thanks to the players, the spectators, the volunteers, and the many other corporations who support this event."

Benefiting St. Jude Children's Research Hospital

The children at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital may never attend a golf tournament, but golf and the people in Memphis and the Mid-South play a major role in their care. St. Jude was founded in 1962 by the late entertainer Danny Thomas, and has become one of the world's premier childhood cancer research centers.

Since St. Jude became the tournament's sole beneficiary in 1970, the event has generated almost $14.7 million toward the fight against childhood catastrophic diseases. 91% of this amount, over $13.3 million, has come in the past 18 years alone - since FedEx^® Corporation became title sponsor of the event in 1986.

A Haven of Hope

The hospital is non-sectarian and cares for all patients who are admitted by a physician referral. There is no financial test for admission, and a patient has never been denied admission due to an inability to pay.

Among the hospital's proudest success stories are the striking results in treating lymphocytic leukemia. When the hospital opened, less than four percent of children diagnosed with this most common form of childhood leukemia survived. With treatments and protocols developed at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital - and now employed throughout the world - the survival rates have risen to over 80 percent.

Patient care at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital is based on the concept pioneered by its staff physicians, allowing most patients to receive cancer care on an outpatient basis. St. Jude is a hospital without walls and a model for hospital care in the future. It is truly a "Haven of Hope."

The Patient Learning Center

St. Jude Children's Research Hospital officials announced in 1995 that equipment and furnishings in the hospital's Patient Learning Center would be endowed by and named for the FedEx St. Jude Classic (FESJC).

The Patient Learning Center provides invaluable resources and instruction for patients who cannot attend school while receiving treatment. The FESJC earmarked $100,000 as startup funds for this important facility in 1995.

In addition, the hospital established the FESJC Patient Learning Center Fund to ensure that equipment and furnishings in the Patient Learning Center are up to date. Additional contributions to this fund - from the FESJC and other individuals - will serve this function in future years.