Danny Thomas’ ALSAC/St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital Has a Hollywood/Fundraising Connection That Still Shines 50 Years Later

By Abny Santicola

Stephanie Sandler, CEO of The Giving Back Fund, a philanthropic resource to the sports and entertainment communities, says Marlo’s connection to St. Jude, as both a celebrity and as Danny Thomas’ daughter, resonates deeply with the public.

“I think that certainly helps to be recognizable, and the fact that [Danny’s] daughter is involved I think adds to the authenticity of [St. Jude] because people feel that it’s obviously a moving story that she’s continued on after her father has passed,” she says. “It may have been that way even if she wasn’t a celebrity, but the fact that people recognize her as ‘That Girl,’ and she has a very particular personality in the public is, I think, pretty powerful.”