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. In 2008 we hosted Three Chords for a Cure, Crossroads Concert for Hope, assisted the Sangamon County Fair with a Motorcyle Dice Run, and coordinated several smaller events. In 2009 we hosted Cupid’s Kiss, Oktoberfest, and Jingle Jam. We also co-sponsored the Rock n' Roll for St. Jude Motorcylce Dice Run and Country for a Cause. In 2010 we partnered with several local organizations on behalf of St. Jude, hosting An Evening of Wine & Roses at the Hill Prairie Winery in Oakford IL and Jingle Jam II at the Eagles Club in Riverton IL. We were also involved with Guitar Town, Drum Fest, Spooktacular, The Ghost of Christmas Past, and Celebrity Bartending at the Trading Post.

Plans for our 2011 events are underway.

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.

Merchandise

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