With this latest edition of the Alliance Report, sent via email on December 1, we continue to recognize members supporting the Postal Museum and their latest online exhibit, “America’s Mailing Industry”. This week, we would like to recognize St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, and how direct mail has played a vital role in their mission to lead the way the world understands, treats, and defeats childhood cancer and other life-threatening diseases.

St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital takes an active role in supporting the mailing industry, which provides them with the means to reach and receive support from millions. In 2015 alone, the USPS delivered 300 million pieces of mail for St. Jude, as part of their efforts to raise the public donations that fund 75% of St Jude operations.

• As part of the “America’s Mailing Industry” virtual exhibit, St. Jude joined with the Postal Museum to help tell the story of mail, and what an integral part it plays in the support and funding of nonprofits such as themselves.
• To help provide additional publicity, content, and support for “America’s Mailing Industry”, Marlo Thomas recorded a video for YouTube, which is embedded on the sites opening page. With that, she not only communicates to viewers the significance of the mailing industry to their specific efforts, but also helps educate the audience as to just who the “mailing industry” is, and the role they play in everyone’s lives.

To view the video, go to https://youtu.be/-Vlz5SECdx4, or visit the Postal Museum’s site for America’s Mailing Industry by clicking HERE.

• To help defend the nonprofit postage rates used by St. Jude, and to provide support to the Alliance that serves their industry, they play an active role in the Alliance by serving on our Board. Jerry Mathis, Senior Adviser – Postal Relations at ALSAC/St Jude Children’s Research Hospital, joined the ANM Board in December 2015, stating in part “The Alliance is an important part of ensuring that nonprofits have a fair voice when it comes to postal rates and regulations.” Learn more about Jerry on the Alliance website here – http://www.nonprofitmailers.org/board_member/jerry-mathis/.
  

(Excerpted from their profile HERE on the “America’s Mailing Industry” site.)

St. Jude was founded by the late entertainer and humanitarian, Danny Thomas, to fulfill a promise he made to St. Jude Thaddeus as a struggling young entertainer. Striving for success and unsure of his life’s direction, Thomas prayed to St. Jude, the patron saint of hopeless causes, saying: “Show me my way in life, and I will build you a shrine.” Success followed Thomas’ plea and the legendary entertainer set out to fulfill his vow by building a hospital devoted to the care of children. St. Jude opened its doors in 1962. But this would not be just any children’s hospital.

St. Jude also relies on the generosity of millions of supporters to fund its lifesaving mission: Finding cures. Saving children.® Seventy­-five percent of the funds needed to operate St. Jude comes from public contributions, and a direct mail program is a key component of fundraising for the hospital. St. Jude depends on the U.S. Postal Service to deliver more than 300 million pieces of mail per year to its supporters. The mailing industry also provides a means for donors to return their generous donations to St. Jude. St. Jude is one of thousands of nonprofit organizations that rely on the U.S. Postal Service to deliver information and appeals that help raise funds and build awareness to advance their missions. Thanks in part to the professionalism and success of the Commemorative stamp honoring St. Jude founder Danny Thomas U.S. Postal Service, St. Jude doctors and researchers are then able to continue their work to save the lives of children battling cancer and other life­-threatening diseases.

In 2012, the U.S. Postal Service released a commemorative stamp honoring St. Jude founder Danny Thomas. The stamp features an oil­-on-­panel painting of a smiling, tuxedo­-clad Thomas in the foreground with the modern skyline of St. Jude in the background. Tim O’Brien created the artwork for the stamp, Greg Breeding was the designer and William J. Gicker served as the art director. The Danny Thomas stamp was issued in panes of 20 self-­adhesive Forever stamps, which are always equal in value to the current First­Class Mail one­-ounce rate. Although it is no longer available, the Danny Thomas Stamp now enjoys an honored place in countless collectors’ albums.

Thomas saw St. Jude as his ultimate legacy, and – to this day – Thomas’ promise still holds true. No family ever receives a bill from St. Jude.