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Danny Thomas Forever Stamp Available Today
The United States Postal Service today issued a new commemorative Forever Stamp honoring one of America’s legendary entertainers and humanitarians: Danny Thomas. The stamp may be purchased at Post Offices, online at usps.com and by phone at 800-782-6724.
“Throughout his career, Danny Thomas received many honors, including a 1953 Emmy Award and the Congressional Gold Medal,” said Guy Cottrell, chief postal inspector, U.S. Postal Service, who was the dedicating official. “Today, through the issuance of this new stamp, his inspirational life story, and the story of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, will be shared with countless others through the U.S. Mail.”
Cottrell encouraged wide use of the stamp. “Most of all, we would like to see these stamps displayed prominently on cards and letters,” he said. “That way, they can spread the word about St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital to homes and offices across the nation and around the world.”
Joining Cottrell to dedicate the stamp were Tony Thomas, son of Danny Thomas and St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital board member; Richard C. Shadyac Jr., chief executive officer, ALSAC, the fundraising organization of St. Jude; Dr. William E. Evans, director and chief executive officer, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital; and Stephen Kearney, manager, Stamp Services, U.S. Postal Service.
In 1962, Thomas founded St. Jude with a mission to save the lives of children everywhere. He fervently believed that “no child should die in the dawn of life.” Thomas wanted to create a hopeful place that was accepting of all children whether or not the family could afford treatment.
Today, St. Jude is the only pediatric cancer research hospital where no family is ever turned away due to an inability to pay and no family ever pays St. Jude. For 50 years, St. Jude has advanced treatment of such childhood diseases as cancer, saving the lives of children across America. Research at St. Jude has changed how the world treats leukemia, brain tumors and sickle cell disease, helping push survival rates for childhood cancers from less than 20 percent in 1962 to almost 80 percent today.
Featuring a new portrait of Thomas by artist Tim O’Brien and depicting the hospital he founded in the background, the Danny Thomas Forever Stamp was designed by Greg Breeding.
Customers may view the Danny Thomas Forever Stamp, as well as many of this year’s other stamps, on Facebook at facebook.com/USPSStamps, through Twitter @USPSstamps or on the website Beyond the Perf at beyondtheperf.com/stamp-releases/2012. Beyond the Perf is the Postal Service’s online site for background on upcoming stamp subjects, first-day-of-issue events and other philatelic news.