The hospital, located in Memphis TN is the result of Danny Thomas making a promise. As a struggling young actor, Danny prayed to the Patron Saint of Lost Causes - St. Jude. He promised that if the saint would take care of him and his family, he would build a shrine in his honor. The shrine would be a hospital for needy children, where they would be cared for regardless of race, religion or ability to pay, where no suffering child would EVER be turned away. Now, Danny's children continue to keep that promise.