Drew Barrymore, Luis Fonsi, Jon Hamm, Michael Strahan, Sofia Vergara Join Marlo Thomas for the Annual St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital Thanks and Giving® Campaign

MEMPHIS, Tenn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct 29, 2026--

This holiday season, celebrities, leading brands and millions of shoppers nationwide are coming together for the 23rd annual St. Jude Thanksand Giving® campaign. The campaign supports the lifesaving mission of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital: Finding cures. Saving children. ®

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20261029578771/en/

Longtime supporters Drew Barrymore, Luis Fonsi, Jon Hamm, Michael Strahan and Sofia Vergara return to encourage people to give through online donations and in-store purchases of limited-edition products from participating retailers.

“The greatest gift is time, and participation in the St. Jude Thanks and Giving campaign helps give children and families facing some of life's toughest challenges more opportunities for hope, healing and more moments together,” said Ike Anand, president and CEO of ALSAC, the fundraising and awareness organization for St. Jude. “For 23 years, this campaign has united supporters around a shared purpose of helping St. Jude accelerate research and treatment so more children can reach milestones, make memories and look forward to a bright future.”

This holiday tradition continues the legacy of entertainer Danny Thomas, who harnessed the power of celebrities to help establish St. Jude. Today, his children, Marlo, Tony and Terre Thomas, carry that legacy forward with the support of celebrities, retail partners and donors.

"For more than two decades, the St. Jude Thanks and Giving campaign has shown what’s possible when people come together with purpose and compassion," said Marlo Thomas, National Outreach Director for St. Jude. "The impact we see today is driven by an extraordinary community of donors, steadfast partners, and inspiring celebrity friends who all support our mission. Together, we've transformed kindness into lifesaving impact and remain united by a powerful belief that every child deserves the chance to live a full and healthy life."

Celebrity Support

This year, St. Jude celebrity ambassadors were fortunate to film their holiday spots alongside special St. Jude patients, bringing a personal connection to the campaign.

Drew Barrymore:

"I'm honored to support St. Jude and the incredible work it does for children facing cancer and other life-threatening diseases. Spending time with Nova and seeing her joy and determination was truly inspiring. Supporting St. Jude means helping more children pursue their dreams and create lasting memories with the people they love."

Luis Fonsi:

"After many years supporting St. Jude, every visit reminds me why this mission matters. It was so meaningful to visit St. Jude this year and meet patients and their families, including Valentina, who joined me in my campaign spot. Her courage and smile were unforgettable. Children like Valentina show the importance of the lifesaving research, treatment and care, and the hope St. Jude gives to families facing childhood cancer and other life-threatening diseases."

Jon Hamm:

"What impresses me the most about St. Jude is its commitment to continually moving pediatric research forward. Every breakthrough brings new hope for children facing cancer and other life-threatening diseases. I am proud to support this important work and help raise awareness for St. Jude to support children and their families."

Michael Strahan:

“For the past 15 years, I’ve proudly supported St. Jude because of the meaningful difference it makes for children and their families. This year, I had the opportunity to spend time with Dominic, Brooke and Nico, and their resilience and positivity truly inspired me. I’m honored to support St. Jude, a place that provides exceptional care and hope to families while giving kids the opportunity to focus on what matters most—being kids.”

Sofia Vergara:

"St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital continues to inspire me year after year, and I'm honored to support the St. Jude Thanks and Giving campaign for the 15th year. What makes St. Jude so extraordinary is that the discoveries made here are shared to help improve care for children around the world. I'm proud to support an organization whose impact extends far beyond its campus and reaches families across the globe.”

Brands Unite for St. Jude

Participating brands include Domino’s, KAY, HomeGoods ® and Homesense, Chili’s Grill & Bar, Dollar General, AutoZone, Williams Sonoma, J.Crew Factory, Kia, Zales and Jared. Target rejoins the St. Jude Thanks and Giving campaign for the first time this year since 2013.

“Nearly 30 years into our partnership with St. Jude, we continue to find new ways to bring what we each do best on behalf of deserving patients and their families,” said Kiera Fernandez, Target’s Chief Community & Stakeholder Engagement Officer. “This bear is another example — pairing St. Jude’s extraordinary mission with Target’s love of great design and products that bring joy to families. I love that it gives our guests such a simple, meaningful way to be part of that shared story this holiday season.”

Ways to support St. Jude this holiday season include:

Explore the many ways to support St. Jude this holiday season at stjude.org.

About 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 considered largely incurable. Since then, St. Jude has helped push the overall survival rate in the U.S. from 20% to more than 80%, 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.

Marlo Thomas, National Outreach Director for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, with St. Jude patients.

DETROIT (AP) — The Detroit Red Wings have suspended Dylan Larkin without pay and taken him off the roster after they said his agent told the team the center will no longer play for the franchise, growing frustrated by its inability to move him months after he asked for a trade.

“We are disappointed by his decision, particularly given his obligations to the organization and his teammates,” interim general manager Shawn Horcoff said in a statement Thursday, shortly before Detroit hosted Chicago.

Detroit coach Todd McLellan told reporters earlier in the day that Larkin would not play against the Blackhawks, adding that Horcoff was expected to address the move.

Larkin asked for a trade in the offseason after the franchise extended its postseason drought to a decade, but he started the season still on the team but stripped of the captaincy.

“We’ve talked to the teams on Dylan’s list and we’ve taken calls from other teams around the league that have expressed interest in Dylan," Horcoff said. "We just continue to try to find a solution that fits for both sides.”

Messages seeking comment were left with Larkin's agent, Pat Brisson.

Larkin is the second NHL player suspended without pay this fall after requesting a trade during the offseason. Winnipeg did that with goaltender Connor Hellebuyck — a U.S. Olympic teammate of Larkin's — before sending him to New Jersey last week.

Now it's Larkin, who will forfeit roughly $41,000 a day while suspended.

The 30-year-old center has two goals and six assists in 10 games, giving him 278 goals and 649 points in 818 games since making his debut with his hometown Red Wings during the 2015-16 season. Larkin, who is from Waterford, Michigan, was drafted by Detroit No. 15 overall in 2014 after playing for the Wolverines in college.

He was a key player for the United States when it won Olympic gold last February at the Milan Cortina Games.

After missing two games with an upper-body injury, he scored in his season debut — after being booed when he touched the puck on his first shift — to help Detroit beat Ottawa. He scored again on Monday night in a win at Edmonton.

“I wanted to try to do what I could to keep Dylan here in a Red Wings jersey,” Horcoff said. “Clearly, I was unsuccessful doing that.”

Larkin has a full no-trade clause as part of his eight-year contract, which has five years remaining with an annual salary cap hit of $8.7 million. He initially told the Red Wings he would accept a trade to Florida, Minnesota and Vegas before reportedly adding more possibilities in recent weeks.

Horcoff said his goal is to acquire players that can help right away, adding he's open to deals for prospects and draft picks that give the franchise a fair return for someone of Larkin's caliber.

“With the teams that Dylan has on his list, it’s difficult to get something done in a trade like this,” Horcoff said.

Nearly a month into the season, standout defenseman Simon Edvinsson remains unsigned as a restricted free agent. The 23-year-old Swede had nine goals and 25 points in 72 games last year, his second full season in the NHL. Detroit drafted him No. 6 overall in 2021 and he has 19 career goals and 60 points in 175 games.

The Red Wings want him on the team and have no interest in signing and trading him.

“Nothing’s changed," Horcoff said.

In desperately need of good news two weeks ago, the Red Wings signed two-time All-Star forward Alex DeBrincat to a seven-year contract worth $13 million per season.

See AP’s full NHL coverage here

Detroit Red Wings head coach Todd McLellan, standing left, talks with defenseman Justin Faulk, right, during the first period of an NHL hockey game, Saturday, Oct. 17, 2026, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Jose Juarez)

Detroit Red Wings center Dylan Larkin reacts after his attempt was blocked by Seattle Kraken goaltender Philipp Grubauer for a Kraken win during a shootout in an NHL hockey game Tuesday, Oct. 20, 2026, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)

Edmonton Oilers goaltender Tristan Jarry (35) defends the net against Detroit Red Wings' Dylan Larkin (71) during the first period of an NHL hockey game in Edmonton, Alberta, Monday, Oct. 26, 2026. (Codie McLachlan/The Canadian Press via AP)