Tau Kappa Epsilon Announces Historic $33 Million Commitment to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital
Largest philanthropic commitment ever made by a men's fraternity
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Tau Kappa Epsilon (TKE) announced a $33 million commitment to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital®, the largest single philanthropic commitment ever made by a men’s fraternity. The pledge comes as TKE celebrates fulfilling its 2019 announcement to raise $10 million in 10 years, accomplishing that goal three years ahead of schedule.
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Photo Courtesy ALSAC/ St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital
The announcement was shared during the biennial TKE Conclave in New Orleans on July 31, where fraternity members and alumni gathered to celebrate the fraternity’s partnership with St. Jude and its impact on children facing cancer and other life-threatening diseases.
“This announcement reflects the extraordinary commitment of TKE members, alumni and supporters who have rallied behind the St. Jude mission for generations,” said Donald Aldrich, CEO of Tau Kappa Epsilon. “We are proud to build on that momentum with a new $33 million commitment that will help advance lifesaving research and create hope for the families of St. Jude.”
This latest commitment, which runs from 2026 through 2041, will support the Immunology Department on the fifth floor of the Inspiration4 Advanced Research Center at St. Jude. The department plays a critical role in understanding the molecular foundations of disease and advancing discoveries that can lead to new treatments and cures for children around the world.
“We are profoundly grateful to Tau Kappa Epsilon for this extraordinary commitment and for the generations of support its members have provided to the children and families of St. Jude,” said Ike Anand, President and CEO of ALSAC, the fundraising and awareness organization for St. Jude. “This investment will help accelerate research, fuel innovation and expand the reach of St. Jude discoveries around the world. Because of dedicated partners like TKE, St. Jude has helped increase the overall childhood cancer survival rate from 20% to more than 80%, and together we are working to ensure that every child has the opportunity to benefit from the cures and treatments of tomorrow.”
This pledge represents the fourth major fundraising initiative in TKE’s partnership with St. Jude. The relationship began in 1978 when St. Jude founder Danny Thomas, a member of TKE’s Gamma Nu chapter at the University of Toledo, asked his fraternity brothers to support his dream that “no child should die in the dawn of life.” Through philanthropy events, campuswide fundraisers and alumni engagement efforts, TKE chapters across North America have helped advance the St. Jude mission for nearly five decades.
Support from partners like TKE helps ensure families never receive a bill from St. Jude for treatment, travel, housing or food—so they can focus on helping their child live. This generosity helps St. Jude give every child a chance to live their best life and celebrate every moment.
To learn more about the partnership between Tau Kappa Epsilon and St. Jude, visit stjude.org/tke.
St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital®
St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital is leading the way the world understands, treats and defeats childhood cancer and other life-threatening diseases. Its purpose is clear: Finding cures. Saving children.® It is the only National Cancer Institute-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center devoted solely to children. When St. Jude opened in 1962, childhood cancer was largely considered incurable. Since then, St. Jude has helped push the overall survival rate from 20% to more than 80% in the United States, and it won’t stop until no child dies from cancer. St. Jude shares the breakthroughs it makes to help doctors and researchers at local hospitals and cancer centers around the world improve the quality of treatment and care for even more children. Because of generous donors, families never receive a bill from St. Jude for treatment, travel, housing or food, so they can focus on helping their child live. Visit St. Jude Inspire to discover powerful St. Jude stories of hope, strength, love and kindness. Support the St. Jude mission by donating at stjude.org, liking St. Jude on Facebook, following St. Jude on X, Instagram, LinkedIn and TikTok, and subscribing to its YouTube channel.
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