MEMPHIS, Tenn.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–The honored late Don “Dwight” Drinkard received the 2024 St. Jude Hero Among Us Award this evening for his unwavering commitment and remarkable accomplishments in generating funds and promoting awareness for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital®. His family and children accepted the award on his behalf during the St. Jude Heroes® Pasta Party […]
MEMPHIS, Tenn.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–The honored late Don “Dwight” Drinkard received the 2024 St. Jude Hero Among Us Award this evening for his unwavering commitment and remarkable accomplishments in generating funds and promoting awareness for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital®. His family and children accepted the award on his behalf during the St. Jude Heroes® Pasta Party held at the Renasant Convention Center. Drinkard, who passed away in August 2024, dedicated decades to supporting St. Jude through various roles, including serving as the former FedEx St. Jude Classic Director and being one of the pioneers behind the St. Jude Memphis Marathon.
A longtime resident of Memphis, Drinkard merged his enthusiasm for sports with his dedication to the St. Jude mission. He became well-known in the Memphis golf scene, acting as the FedEx St. Jude Classic Director from 1987 until 1999, prior to the tournament being renamed the FedEx St. Jude Championship. Afterwards, he joined ALSAC, the fundraising arm for St. Jude, from 2000 to 2013, and was the inaugural Director of Sports Marketing. In this capacity, he transformed the St. Jude Memphis Marathon from a modest race into a significant event, drawing thousands of participants, volunteers, and spectators to Memphis annually.
“We are privileged to have been able to present Dwight with the 2024 Hero Among Us award. Dwight was deeply committed to aiding the families of St. Jude and created a remarkable legacy. Because of his relentless efforts, the St. Jude Memphis Marathon Weekend has expanded to be the largest single-day fundraiser for St. Jude,” stated Richard C. Shadyac Jr., President and CEO of ALSAC. “Dwight would be overjoyed to see that over 23,000 individuals are participating in this year’s St. Jude Memphis Marathon, an event he played a pivotal role in establishing. Witnessing Memphis filled with supporters for the children and families of St. Jude is deeply inspiring, and Dwight was integral to that.”
Initiatives like the St. Jude Memphis Marathon Weekend play a crucial role in ensuring that families receive no bills from St. Jude for treatment, travel, housing, or food, allowing them to concentrate on assisting their child in living.
About St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital®
St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital is at the forefront of how the world comprehends, addresses, and conquers childhood cancer and other perilous diseases. Its mission is explicit: Finding cures. Saving children.® It stands as the only Comprehensive Cancer Center designated by the National Cancer Institute focused exclusively on children. Since its inception in 1962, when childhood cancer was mainly deemed untreatable, St. Jude has significantly elevated the overall survival rate from 20% to over 80%, and it will continue its efforts until no child succumbs to cancer. St. Jude shares its discoveries to aid doctors and researchers at local hospitals and cancer facilities globally in enhancing the quality of care for even more children. Thanks to generous donors, families are never billed by St. Jude for treatment, travel, housing, or food, enabling them to focus on their child’s well-being. Explore St. Jude Inspire to uncover powerful stories of hope, resilience, love, and compassion. Contribute to the St. Jude mission by donating at stjude.org, following St. Jude on Facebook, engaging with St. Jude on X, Instagram, LinkedIn and TikTok, and subscribing to its YouTube channel.
