Our Beginning

Friends & Fans for St. Jude was organized in 2006 to bring together local music artists and their fans in an effort to raise money and awareness for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. Our first event was held in conjunction with a Fan Appreciation Party hosted by City Limits Band with invited guest, Saturday Nite Special. The success of that program inspired a smaller event later that year, where musicians from different genres of music joined together for a wonderful night of entertainment for a great cause. Through their inspiration, Friends & Fans for St. Jude continued after City Limits Band disbanded, and in 2007 we held a Celebration of Hope in their honor. Jenni DeMarco, Saturday Nite Special, Still Kick’n, TNT and the Dynamite Cowboys, and Hoosier Highway performed.

Friends & Fans for St. Jude continues to grow stronger, throughout central Illinois, this year hosting Three Chords for a Cure, Crossroads Concert for Hope, and several smaller events. All proceeds benefit St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.

St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital

Located in Memphis, St. Jude is a world premier center for research and treatment of catastrophic diseases in children, primarily pediatric cancers. About 4,700 patients are seen yearly, and St. Jude has treated children from all 50 states and more than 70 foreign countries. St. Jude is the only pediatric research center where families never pay for treatment not covered by insurance, and families without insurance are never asked to pay.

Events

Friends & Fans for St. Jude held a number of events in 2007, including raffling an All American Acoustic “Guitar of Hope”; Celebrity Car Wash; lia sophia Jewelry Open House; and bake sales. Together with our all-day “Celebration of Hope” music event, we raised over $11,100 for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.

This year we are hosted Three Chords for a Cure on June 1 in Lincoln, IL, and are coordinating Crossroads Concert of Hope on September 7, in Springfield, IL. We are also assisting the Sangamon County Fair with their Motorcyle Dice Run on June 21, and participating in several music events throughout the summer. Check our Events Page for additional details.

2008 Guitar of Hope

The 2008 Crossroads Guitar of Hope
has begun its journey, with Keith Urban,
Dierks Bentley (pictured above), Charlie Daniels,
Jack Ingram, James Otto, T Graham Brown,
Luke Bryan, and Confederate Railroad autographing it.
The drawing will be held on September 7,
with tickets currently available at all F&F events.

Merchandise

The Friends & Fans for St. Jude CD and commemorative t-shirt can now be ordered online through PayPal. Each is $10 each, plus shipping and handling. Visit our Merchandise Page for more information.