St. Jude Eliminates 160 ALSAC Positions

American Lebanese Syrian Associated Charities (ALSAC), which raises funds and awareness for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, is “eliminating approximately 160 positions across the country," according to a May 7 statement by the organization.

Based in Memphis, ALSAC has employees in Nashville and around the country who work closely with Country radio stations on radiothons and other fundraising efforts

In that statement, ALSAC noted the staff reduction represented less than 10% of ALSAC’s total employees. Some employees took “voluntary options” and are included in the workforce reduction.

Rick Shadyac, ALSAC president and CEO, had the following statement on the workforce reduction:

“Assuring responsible stewardship of the gifts and resources entrusted to us by our generous donors is fundamental to our mission at ALSAC, the fundraising and awareness organization for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. Like many nonprofits and for-profit companies across the world, ALSAC is facing significant revenue declines brought about by the coronavirus pandemic.

This includes hundreds of postponed or cancelled dinner, golf, fitness and community events, many of those held across the nation by caring volunteers; the indefinite suspension of tours, visits and on-campus events to protect the safety of our patients, families and employees; and decreased giving from corporate partners and individuals facing their own economic challenges.

Through millions of generous supporters, ALSAC is responsible for raising approximately 80% of the annual operating costs of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital where no family ever receives a bill for treatment, travel, housing, or food because we believe all a family should ever worry about is helping their child live.

I deeply regret having to reduce our workforce, including the offer of voluntary options. These are difficult decisions no leader ever wants to make. But, just as we have done for the past 60 years, ALSAC must carefully manage the support of our generous donors.

This requires difficult, but necessary decisions, to address the unprecedented disruption caused by the pandemic, prepare for growth in the new economy, and ensure the funds entrusted to us by our supporters fuel the continued growth of the lifesaving mission of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital: Finding cures. Saving children.”

In September 2019, ALSAC had 1,240 local employees and 1,592 across its organization, according to Memphis Business Journal research.

For the fiscal year ended June 2018, ALSAC raised $1.4 billion and had expenses of $1.2 billion supporting St. Jude’s operations and its own fundraising apparatus.