CORRECTING and REPLACING St. Jude Celebrates: A Legacy of Equity Gala Honors Commitment to Sickle Cell Disease Awareness

CHICAGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jun 3, 2026--

First paragraph, second sentence of release should read: Friday, August 28 (instead of Saturday, June 20) AND second paragraph, first sentence of release should read: The gala highlights the importance... (instead of Held on the weekend of World Sickle Cell Day...)

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The updated release reads: 

ST. JUDE CELEBRATES: A LEGACY OF EQUITY GALA HONORS COMMITMENT TO SICKLE CELL DISEASE AWARENESS

Chicagoans are invited to attend St. Jude Celebrates: A Legacy of Equity, a gala honoring St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital® and its longstanding commitment to advancing research and treatment for life-threatening pediatric diseases, including sickle cell disease and cancer. The event will be held Friday, August 28, at The Wellsley.

The gala highlights the importance of increasing global awareness of sickle cell disease. St. Jude has been committed to researching, understanding, and improving standards of care for people with sickle cell disease since its earliest days. The first grant the institution ever received was for the study of sickle cell disease in 1958. Today, St. Jude leads one of the largest sickle cell programs in the country. The research institution has contributed to major advances in sickle cell disease treatment and continues to explore new cutting-edge curative therapies for the disease.

The evening will feature a special appearance by St. Jude patient Bailey, who was diagnosed with sickle cell disease within a week of her birth, alongside her father as they share their family’s journey and the hope they found through St. Jude.

Guests will enjoy a signature cocktail hour, a curated dinner provided by Boka, and live entertainment.

For more information about tickets, sponsorship opportunities, and event details, visit stjude.org/legacyofequity.

St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital ®

St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital is leading the way the world understands, treats and defeats childhood cancer and other life-threatening diseases. Its purpose is clear: Finding cures. Saving children. ® It is the only National Cancer Institute-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center devoted solely to children. When St. Jude opened in 1962, childhood cancer was largely considered incurable. Since then, St. Jude has helped push the overall survival rate from 20% to more than 80% in the United States, and it won't stop until no child dies from cancer. St. Jude shares the breakthroughs it makes to help doctors and researchers at local hospitals and cancer centers around the world improve the quality of treatment and care for even more children. Because of generous donors, families never receive a bill from St. Jude for treatment, travel, housing or food, so they can focus on helping their child live. Visit St. Jude Inspire to discover powerful St. Jude stories of hope, strength, love and kindness. Support the St. Jude mission by donating at stjude.org, liking St. Jude on Facebook, following St. Jude on X, Instagram, LinkedIn and TikTok, and subscribing to its YouTube channel.

Attendees pose together at the 2025 St. Jude Celebrate: A Legacy of Equity event. Courtesy of ALSAC/St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.

Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams was announced Wednesday as EA Sports’ cover athlete for Madden NFL 27.

On the standard cover, Williams is depicted in a position similar to his pivotal, scrambling, fourth-and-8 jump pass to Rome Odunze in a stirring comeback victory over Green Bay in a wild-card playoff game on Jan. 10.

With his arm cocked to throw and his feet spread, Williams appears to soar above a silhouette of the Chicago skyline that is set against a blue backdrop.

The deluxe edition features a tight shot of Williams with arms crossed over his white game jersey, a dark, night-like background and snow falling around him.

Being featured on the game's cover is “like my childhood dream was coming true,” Williams said in a statement. “I grew up playing Madden and imagining what it would be like to be part of the game."

Williams and the 2025 Bears became synonymous with late-game theatrics last season, staging more than a handful of comeback victories to go with some dramatic rallies that came up just short — including their season-ending playoff loss to the Los Angeles Rams.

“He had a spectacular season and the cover was dope, his kind of little (Michael Jordan) tribute,” Odunze said after the Bears practiced on Wednesday. “I know the Chicagoans are happy to see that one. It was kind of a throwback. It was pretty cool.”

Bears defensive back Tyrique Stevenson also liked the cover.

“It’s tough. I told him he has to sign mine,” Stevenson said. "Definitely proud of him for that. I’m honored to be on a team with someone who is on the Madden cover.”

In 17 regular-season games, Williams passed for a franchise-record 3,942 yards with 27 touchdowns and seven interceptions in his second season since being drafted first overall out of Southern California.

AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/NFL

Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams, right, greets running back Kyle Monangai during the NFL football team's practice Thursday, May 28, 2026, in Lake Forest, Ill. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)