Danny Thomas Immortalized; Entertainer And Humanitarian Honored On U.S. Commemorative Forever Stamp

For three years this April, NAFA has partnered with St. Jude's Children's Hospital at the annual Institute & Expo. For 2012, the hospital and its primary benefactor will receive a little extra exposure--on millions of envelopes all over the country.

The United States Postal Service has unveiled a commemorative Forever Stamp honoring legendary entertainer Danny Thomas, the founder of renowned St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. The unveiling took place at a star-studded gala in Los Angeles on January 6 to celebrate Thomas' 100th birthday and St. Jude's 50th anniversary.

"The Danny Thomas stamp, which will be officially dedicated at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital in Memphis, TN, and go on sale on February 16, will become an ambassador for philanthropy, traveling on letters and packages to households and businesses throughout America and the world," said Ed Ruiz, USPS Los Angeles District Manager.

"It also will serve as a lasting tribute to one of America's most beloved and enduring entertainers who worked tirelessly to help the most helpless of all — children with diseases."

"My family is honored that our father will be immortalized in a Forever Stamp not only because of his success in the entertainment industry, but also for his efforts to save the lives of children by founding St. Jude Children's Research Hospital – a place unlike any other in the world," said Marlo Thomas, National Outreach Director, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. "Dad always considered St. Jude – where patients are saved through the latest research and ground breaking treatments without any regard to pay – to be the crowning achievement of his life and career. This stamp is a testament to him on his 100th birthday and St. Jude's 50th anniversary."

Starting January 9, customers began pre-ordering the Danny Thomas Forever Stamp online at usps.com and by phone at 800-782-6724.

Thomas was a star of radio, film, and television. From 1953 through 1964, he received five Emmy nominations for his starring role in Make Room for Daddy, winning in 1953 and 1954 for Best Actor Starring in a Regular Series. The show also received an Emmy for Best New Situation Comedy in 1953 and Best Situation Comedy in 1954.

In 1962, Thomas founded St. Jude with a mission to save the lives of children everywhere. He fervently believed that "no child should die in the dawn of life." Thomas wanted to create a hopeful place that was accepting of all children whether or not the family could afford treatment.

Today, St. Jude is the only pediatric cancer research hospital where no family is ever turned away due to an inability to pay and no family ever pays St. Jude for anything. For fifty years, St. Jude has advanced treatment of such deadly childhood diseases as cancer, saving the lives of children across America. Research at St. Jude has changed how the world treats leukemia, brain tumors, and sickle cell disease, helping push survival rates for childhood cancers from less than twenty percent in 1962 to almost eighty percent today.

Featuring a new portrait of Thomas by artist Tim O'Brien and depicting the hospital he founded in the background, the Danny Thomas Forever Stamp was designed by Greg Breeding.

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