Since learning about the incredible work of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Rick Mantei has generously donated to the organization. As a proud father of two young daughters, Mantei understands the preciousness of children and says he “can’t imagine the heartbreak of these parents watching their child fight this illness.” Therefore, every year he contributes to the organization to further its capacity to continue to research, educate and fight to save the lives of children around the world. 

St Jude Children’s Research Hospital, founded by entertainer Danny Thomas in 1962, is named in honor of St. Jude Thaddeus, described as “the patron saint of hopeless causes.” Since its founding, the hospital has been a beacon of hope in the fight to cure cancer, leukemia/lymphoma, sickle cell disease, and immunodeficiency diseases. At St. Jude’s, no child is denied treatment based on race, religion, or a family’s ability to pay, consistent with Thomas’ vision that “No child should die in the dawn of life.” St. Jude has helped to push the overall survival rate for childhood cancer from just 20% to 80% since its founding, not only in the United States but also throughout the world by sharing its research with hospitals and researchers globally. 

To learn more about St. Jude and how you can give and get involved, go to www.stjude.org/about and click on “Ways to Give” to see how you can impact the lives of children all over the world who are battling life-threatening diseases.