St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital®, founded by the late entertainer Danny Thomas, is one of the world’s premier centers for the research and treatment of pediatric cancer and other catastrophic childhood diseases. St. Jude is the first and only pediatric cancer center to be designated as a Comprehensive Cancer Center by the National Cancer Institute. Children from all 50 states and from around the world have come through the doors of St. Jude for treatment, and thousands more around the world have benefited from the research conducted at St. Jude – research that is shared freely with the global medical community. St. Jude is the only pediatric cancer research center where families never pay for treatments that are not covered by insurance.

The Minden St. Jude auction began on KASO 1240 AM radio four decades ago and has grown to become a four-day telethon and raffle that is simultaneously broadcast on the local radio and cable station. Since it’s inception, the Minden St. Jude auction has raised over $4 Million for children’s research benefitting St. Jude, and Minden’s citizens hold the claim of raising more money for St. Jude, per capita, than any other city: $40 per person.

Last year’s event raised an amazing $$1,330,226.00! It is obvious to see that the people of Northwest Louisiana take tremendous pride in this cause because they continue to overwhelming support this event to provide life saving treatments for children suffering with cancer.

This community’s amazing support will be evident again when the Minden 42nd Annual St. Jude Auction begins. This year’s event will be held Thursday, February 1st through Sunday, February 4th. Hundreds of enthusiastic volunteers and donors will return to the Minden Civic Center for a weekend of food, chili-cook-offs, entertainment, blood-drives, and of course fundraising for this important cause. This event which began as a one-day radio auction selling jams and cakes has evolved into a four-day televised festival which ends with the drawing for the Grand Prize choice between a 2017 GMC Yukon Denali or $50,000 Cash (less tax withheld)!