Celebrating 25 Years of Life-changing Comforts at St. Jude Target House

Imagine facing one of the greatest challenges of your life while you are living miles — if not states or even countries — away from the comforts of your home. That’s everyday reality for kids like Cypress (above) battling serious health conditions at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in Memphis. And for 25 years, we’ve wrapped these kids and their families in comfort, support and love through Target House, a no-cost home-away-from-home where nearly 5,000 families have lived while their children receive treatment at St. Jude. It’s a milestone anniversary, and a special part of Target’s broader, 120-year-and-counting legacy of creating deep, lasting relationships in our communities.

“Every day, the incredible team at St. Jude Children’s Hospital embraces courageous families from around the world. We’re honored to play a role in caring for members of our community who need it most with Target House,” says Kiera Fernandez, Target’s chief community impact and equity officer. “Every time I visit Target House, I’m so appreciative of St. Jude, a longtime Target partner that shares our commitment to serving all families in ways that best support their needs.”

Bringing the Joy

This year, the Target team celebrated by pulling out all the stops for families and kids living at Target House. Families filled Target House’s courtyard early, excited for games, treats and a chance to be free from the daily routine of appointments, lab visits and clinics. Parents took a break and enjoyed the scene of their kids simply being kids: laughing, decorating hats, getting face paint and having silly string fun with Bullseye.

These moments of connection add up to more than just one day of fun. It’s a reflection of how Target House has been making a lasting impact on the lives of children for 25 years and counting, helping us live out our purpose of delivering joy to families every day.

Building a Legacy

In 1996, we announced our commitment to build a long-term residential facility, free of charge to families of children receiving treatment at St. Jude. Since opening its doors in 1999, Target House has been a haven for the St. Jude community of families, offering a place of warmth, comfort and belonging. With nearly 100 fully furnished apartments, Target House has served close to 5,000 families, providing care and support during challenging times.

And each one of those families has a story to tell about the courage and resilience of children facing tough battles every day with hopeful hearts. When 14-year-old Gabrielle and her mother Carolyn came to St. Jude from Jamaica earlier this year, they knew they were in for a fight: Gabrielle had been suffering in excruciating pain for months and needed surgery, radiation and chemotherapy for kidney cancer. Today she’s thriving under treatment at St. Jude. “I may be sick, but I don’t feel sick because my doctors and nurses do everything in their power to make me feel happy,” says Gabrielle. Her mom is happy to see her daughter continue to heal and even continue with her studies. “St. Jude is everything,” shares Carolyn. “Because of St. Jude, my daughter is alive today.”

More than 2,000 miles away in Guatemala, Luna was a toddler diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia. She’d already gone through years of treatment for this common type of childhood cancer. After doctors there referred her family to St. Jude, Luna and her father Mario made the journey to the U.S. Luna’s faced her diagnosis and treatment with bravery and optimism; she’s known for her curiosity, playful spirit and constant laughter. “St. Jude has been a blessing. Luna’s not only better, but now there are possibilities for her,” says Mario.

Patients like Gabrielle and Luna and their families are the heartbeat of Target House and guide the purpose behind our partnership with St. Jude. Together with our partners, Target has given $65 million to St. Jude since 1996. Target’s incredible team members have also given back through the years, volunteering their time, talents and resources in Memphis to uplift St. Jude and help provide unforgettable experiences for Target House families.

“What makes our partnership with St. Jude so important? It’s grounded in the values we share. St. Jude’s values mirror Target’s values and culture of care — that’s how we’re making an impact that we can actually see and feel for this community,” says April Rehberger, senior manager, corporate citizenship, Target.