Signet Jewelers, the world’s largest retailer of diamond jewelry, which includes Kay Jewelers, Zales, Jared and Banter by Piercing Pagoda, announced today a new $100 million commitment to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. Over the past 25 years, Signet has raised $100 million to support children with cancer and other life-threatening diseases, and this new $100 million commitment will further advance research and treatment because no child should die in the dawn of life®.
“We are honored to support the lifesaving research and care that St. Jude delivers to patients every single day,” said Virginia C. Drosos, CEO of Signet Jewelers. “As a part of our core purpose, we are passionate about Inspiring Love through our products, team and in our community.
Treatments developed at St. Jude have helped push the overall childhood cancer survival rate from 20% to more than 80% in the United States and we at Signet are so proud to have been a partner in the fight to increase survivorship. Our next $100 million commitment will help increase this even further and also go toward increasing survival rates around the world, where they are much lower. We won’t stop fighting for a world in which no child dies in the dawn of life.”
Signet’s additional $100 million dollar commitment will also support patients in thriving after surviving childhood cancer through ongoing research and care through the After Completion of Therapy Clinic and St. Jude LIFE Study Program. The St. Jude LIFE Study program is an unprecedented research study aimed at increasing survivorship and also helping cancer survivors to thrive.
The pride and longstanding devotion of Signet can be seen and felt throughout the St. Jude campus in Memphis, Tennessee. A patient family’s first interaction at St. Jude is when they check in at the Patient Registration Area presented by Signet Jewelers. Research from the St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital-Washington University Pediatric Cancer Genome Project, lead sponsor Signet Jewelers helps inform diagnosis and treatment plans.
When a child comes to St. Jude for solid tumor treatment, they have a team of medical experts from The St. Jude Solid Tumor Clinic presented by Signet Jewelers, all dedicated to the child’s treatment and care.
The Patient Care Center Second Floor presented by Signet Jewelers, which has been renovated and is now part of the St. Jude Family Commons – a space for patients and their families to relax and gather in between clinic appointments.
The Kay Research and Care Center is a space for research, education, collaboration, care and treatment.
Patient families and St. Jude staff connect and gather for meals at the Kay Kafe.
“The longstanding commitment and amazing generosity of Signet, its employees and customers is a moving expression of love and an incredible testament to the company’s purpose-driven culture,” said Richard C. Shadyac Jr., President and CEO of ALSAC, the fundraising and awareness organization for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. “Thanks to this awe-inspiring, additional $100 million commitment, St. Jude will continue to help children survive and thrive as it continues in its efforts to help save more of the 400,000 children around the world with cancer and other life-threatening diseases each year.”
Commitments like Signet’s support children like Maelin, her mother Megan, and all St. Jude families who never receive a bill from St. Jude for treatment, travel, housing or food – so they can focus on helping their child live.
Signet will fundraise year-round in three ways: by donating proceeds from the annual sale of plush puppies and bears at its stores, inspiring customers to donate money at the register and on-line, and team member and corporate support through activities like St. Jude Memphis Marathon Weekend, the largest single-day fundraiser for St. Jude. Signet’s over 26,000 North American team members proudly support the work with St. Jude.