Danny Thomas founded St. Jude Children's Research Hospital in 1962 after praying to St. Jude Thaddeus and vowing to build a shrine if he found success in show business. St. Jude conducts research to advance cures and prevention of pediatric catastrophic diseases and provides treatment regardless of families' ability to pay. The hospital recently expanded its facilities and now has over 2.5 million square feet dedicated to finding cures and saving children with cancer and other life-threatening diseases.