2. St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital Math-A-Thon Kick-off!

3. What is St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital? St. Jude, located in Memphis, Tennessee, is the first hospital ever created for the purpose of conducting research to find treatments and cures for catastrophic childhood diseases, mainly cancer. St. Jude is the largest childhood cancer research center in the world!

4. The hospital’s research teams have already discovered new treatment procedures for many illnesses, and the treatments are now used in many countries. Children come from all over the world for treatment at St. Jude. Families without insurance are not turned away and are never asked to pay, so fund- raising for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital is VERY important!

5. Quick Facts About St. Jude *78 inpatient beds *about 260 patients treated each day *children from all 50 states and from all over the world have been treated at St. Jude *daily operating cost is nearly $1.4 million, most of which is covered by public contributions *85% of every dollar received goes into the current and future needs of the hospital

6. Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia *The survival rate of ALL, the most common form of childhood cancer, was only 4% in 1962. *Thanks to research and treatment developments at St. Jude, the survival rate for this once deadly disease is now 94%!

7. How the Math-a-thon Helps The Math-A-Thon is America’s largest education-based fundraiser, and is more than 30 years old! Each year thousands of schools participate, raising millions of dollars for the patients at St. Jude. Participating in the Math-A-Thon makes it possible for St. Jude to treat patients regardless of a family’s ability to pay.

8. St. Jude is the only pediatric (children’s) cancer research center where families never pay for treatments that are not covered by insurance, and families without insurance are never asked to pay.

9. What is the Math-A-Thon? The Math-A-Thon is a way to raise money for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital by doing math problems! The money you raise will go directly to St. Jude to help fund research and treatments for seriously ill children.

10. How Do You Participate? First, have your parents complete the permission slip (you will receive this tomorrow), and return it to your MATH TEACHER! (Permissions are due by December 4.) Second, use the collection envelope to start getting pledges! Ask all of your family and friends to help!

11. How Do the Pledges Work? Here’s how sponsors can to pledge money: Sponsors can make a “flat” donation: they can give you $5, $10, or whatever amount they wish.

12. What Happens When You Turn in Your Permission Slip? You will immediately receive your Math-a- thon Funbook! What is the Funbook? This is a workbook that you can write in to complete the Math-A-Thon. You can take it with you anywhere, and work any time you have a few extra minutes!

13. And be sure to visit www.Mathathon.org to find bonus problems, games, and lots more information about St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital!www.Mathathon.org

14. Now That You Have Your Workbook and Have Been Online… DO THE MATH! Remember, if you have per problem pledges, the more problems you do, the more money you’ll get for St. Jude! Don’t forget the bonus problems that are offered online!

15. Finished All the Math? Now… COLLECT THE PLEDGES! Use the envelope to collect all the money people have promised you! Make sure all checks are made out to ST. JUDE, not HMS! Write the total on the collection envelope!

16. Now That You’re Done, What Do You Turn In? Your MATH teacher will collect the following: 1. Your envelope and money (checks made payable to ST. JUDE)! 2. Your completed Funbook, signed by your parent, with all your work included.

17. When is Everything Due? All money and forms are due to your MATH teacher by Tuesday, January 5. (This will give you plenty of time to collect more money from your relatives over the Thanksgiving and Winter Breaks!!)

18. Why Should You Do the Math-A-Thon? First, and most important, you will be helping very ill children who are much less fortunate than you are! Second, completion of the Math-A-Thon this year will help you fulfill your Student Service Learning requirement, necessary for high school graduation.

19. Finally, you can earn some pretty cool prizes by doing the Math-A-Thon… *All students raising $5 or more will earn a Certificate of Appreciation from St. Jude Hospital. *Students who raise $35 or more will earn the certificate, a T-shirt, and a pass for free entry into Six Flags! *Students who raise $75 or more will earn the certificate, the T-shirt, the Six Flags pass, and a Math-A-Thon backpack!

20. And there’s more…! Students who raise $125 or more can select additional prizes, which are listed on the collection envelope! Finally, HMS can earn prizes, too!

21. Can YOU Make a Difference? YES!!! Last year, the students at HMS raised $17,075.47! Total money raised by HMS students since 1996: $157,741.41!! EVERY penny helps!!

22. So sign up the St. Jude Math-A-Thon! You’ll be glad you did!!