Hi, Marlo and Jennifer here--posting together!
For a few years, we had a great time playing mother and daughter on Friends. Not only did we share tons of laughs together (and who couldn't laugh on the set of Friends?), but we also discovered that our most famous TV characters had a shared legacy as women. In a way, Friends' Rachel Green was not all that different from That Girl's Ann Marie -- they were both independent, strong-minded and funny. So I guess you could say that, in the annals of TV history, we're cross-generational soul-sisters!
But far from a Hollywood TV studio, we forged a bond that was even more lasting for us -- by joining together to help familes who are fighting for the lives of their children.
Since 2006, Jen has donated her time and talent by filming spots for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, sharing the screen with one or more of our adorable St. Jude kids. You've probably seen the spots on TV (or in movie theaters, or even on airplanes). One mother did, and it changed her life. She had a very sick little girl named McKenna, whose symptoms -- chronic headaches -- persisted, even after several consultations with the family doctor. Then the mom saw one of Jen's St. Jude spots, featuring a child with brain cancer, who had suffered the same symptoms. Empowered by what she saw, she rushed her daughter to St. Jude for treatment. That little girl is alive today.
McKenna's mom wrote Jennifer a touching letter, thanking her for guiding her to St. Jude -- and for Jen, the experience was profoundly moving. Can you imagine anything more rewarding than knowing that you somehow helped save a child's life? And for Marlo, seeing that little girl survive was one more more example of why she and her sister Terre and brother Tony have held fast to their lifelong commitment to St. Jude, which was founded by their dad, Danny Thomas, in 1962.
If we had to pick one part of this special collaboration that's been the most fulfilling for us, it would have to be our participation in the annual St. Jude Thanks and Giving campaign. Created in 2004, Thanks and Giving is an unprecedented coming together of the nation's leading retailers, top media and corporate partners and celebrities -- and all in an effort to raise vital funds for St. Jude, which for nearly half a century has been saving the lives of children with cancer and other catastrophic diseases.
The campaign launches Thanksgiving week, and it asks shoppers across the country to "Give Thanks for the Healthy Kids in your Life, and Give to Those Who Are Not." They they can do this by shopping at our partner stores where they see our green magnifying glass logo. This year, more than 60 brands are participating in St. Jude Thanks and Giving--from Kmart and CVS/pharmacy, to DICK'S Sporting Goods and Kay Jewelers, to Williams-Sonoma and Target--and all of these fabulous retailers will once again be asking shoppers if they'd like to add a donation to St. Jude when they're making their purchases. To date, the St. Jude Thanks and Giving campaign has raised more than $248,000,000 for the children of St. Jude. That's almost a quarter of a billion dollars. It's been an amazing and heartfelt journey.
Both of us continue to be inspired by our St. Jude Thanks and Giving work, and we hope to keep it going for many years to come. So this holiday, if you're tooling around the TV dial (or YouTube or Hulu), and catch the two of us doing our mother-daughter bit on a classic episode of Friends -- and you get a little nostalgic for our old partnership -- remember that our act is still alive and well at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. And please join us in making this year's St. Jude Thanks and Giving campaign the best ever. That would be your single greatest gift of friendship.
Follow Marlo Thomas on Twitter: www.twitter.com/MarloThomas
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Levi Ben-Shmuel: Suffering, Thanksgiving and the Book of Job
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A few months ago we had a santa choking or some such nonsense and again now we have a real killer i believe in texas massacring a family dressed as santa. Of course the santa outfit can be a disguise but i dont think so. It is some mental conflict in the individual killer's head,and it should be noted santa is a children's figure,some inversion of values may be at work,also if the killed were children that would be another element to look into. A random house not likely...probabaly a targeted family.
Just like a military man at a party was supposedly in an arguement and was shot and is now
paralyzed from the waist down. Of course the details are sketchy and its hard to fill in the holes. There may have been a discussion about football,and an ensuing firing of an armament,not likely. He just came back home,a festive time,he may have been targeted,either for his uniform or some personal problem,family issues,but it was at a personal family gathering supposedly so there were not likely strangers there and everyone was known...its hard for others to comment on these crimes both of children missing and shootings since officials need to elaborate more on details...but perhaps they dont want to release all details to the public....we hope the victim is able to cope...
I may write about this case for the next few days! It is important that the young very lovely girl with the crazy eyeglasses which brings out something very photogenic about this girl...from all angles she is cute. I wonder if that is the reason why since there were two infants she was kidnapped and not the other . What do we know? we thank the community offering $30000 in reward money for her safe return. It is hard for us to delve into
this case since a single parent, a father ,guardian of this child reported her missing 10 days ago.
The mother was reportedly recovering from some narcotic problems...there are myriad familial problems which complicates this case? The police are offering,fbi,few leads so its hard to be of much help?A random kidnapping(not likely taken from her bed in the morning or wherever with the door locked). Then we would have to assume someone else associated with either parent,perhaps there's a custody issue that has not been released to the media, that is why no crime is being reported but she is just missing...i do believe the police forces should be more fourthcoming with the family situation which could help plug some holes in the investigation and bring this girl home...if a stranger is involved and targeted her or its random another line of investigation is needed...
I doubt that with all the world problems this article is the last you should read...and i doubt ms anniston with a baby in hands would bother reading anything from a stranger from far away...Years ago i enjoyed and still do all those wacky and slapstick and touching that girl episodes..the star of friends and so many movies her career just will get bettter and better and i anticipate with glee all the good and satisfying roles she will portray in the future. I relish seeing these movies so keep working...st judes. I am very surprised here i was looking at all these newspaper covers,why whoose garnering all this attention and captures all our hearts, but the altruistic work and empathic spirit shows a side of the star not realized or escapes the public view of her. Lets blame all those newspaper editors and tabloid articles and misleading photos for leading us astray....what kind of heart doe she really have and is she so well disposed that her newly born baby is the big winner of a pleasently disposed personality..it's christmas and i should say i really dont know this star
thanks for that
That is NOT St. Jude Children's Research Hospital in Memphis, Tennessee. You are referring to
St. Jude Medical, Inc., a medical device company based in Minnesota which has NO affiliation with St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.