St Jude's Fervent Family Program

The St. Jude Leadership Society (SJLS) is a distinguished membership of high-achieving high school students who share a desire for leadership, service, and community, as envisioned by the founder, Danny Thomas. Five of our highschool students have been selected, among hundreds of other applicants in the city, to take part in such an experience. During a six month period, the selected members have been given the opportunity to use and develop their leadership abilities while simultaneously raising funds and awareness for the children of St. Jude.

The mission and vision of St. Jude Children's Research Hospital is to “advance cures, and means of prevention, for pediatric catastrophic diseases through research and treatment. Consistent with the vision of our founder Danny Thomas, no child is denied treatment based on race, religion or a family's ability to pay.” SJLS allows our students to give back through service and leadership and consequently develop a unique leadership development opportunity for high school students. They provide members with meaningful leadership development sessions that can be carried on throughout high school and beyond. These sessions have been extremely beneficial as well as interactive, allowing for our students to make broader connections with social skills, problem-solving skills, and self-development. As part of their leadership, each member is challenged to fundraise a minimum of $2,500 that will go towards supporting the kids of St. Jude.

The connections you are able to build from such an opportunity provide opportunities for members to gain insight from mentors, peers, and St. Jude's executives along the way. During each session, students receive a variety of resources, training, and tools to get started and develop their fundraising plans. It provides our students with leverage to get creative with their mentors to develop a strategy that will positively impact children and families at St. Jude.

It's been an eye-opening experience, and many PVS members can agree that it's been an opportunity they cherish far beyond words.