St. Jude Children's Research Hospital earns Secretary of Defense Employer Support Freedom Award

St. Jude Children's Research Hospital has been named one of 15 recipients of the Secretary of Defense Employer Support Freedom Award from the Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR) of the Department of Defense. The award is the highest honor given by the U.S. government to employers for their exceptional support of employees who serve in the National Guard and Reserve.

"We deeply appreciate our employees who serve in the military for their contributions to the St. Jude mission and to our country," said James R. Downing, M.D., St. Jude president and chief executive officer. "We are honored to receive this recognition and gratified to know that our employees appreciate our support of them and their families during times of deployment."

In April, the ESGR named 30 award finalists, which were selected from 2,864 U.S. corporations that were nominated by their employees who serve in the guard or reserve, or their family members. Senior Department of Defense officials, business leaders and prior awardees then selected the top recipients.

To assist its military employees, St. Jude created in 2010 a Military Support Resource Group. The internal group hosts events for veterans, active-duty military personnel, reservists and those who have immediate family members in the military. It also provides family-member assistance, recognizes and celebrates achievements within the group, and organizes calls with employees and family members of those who are deployed.

In 2012, the hospital unveiled the Military Tribute Wall, which recognizes hospital employees who are current service members and veterans. The wall features military awards and highlights military-related events. St. Jude also recruits veterans, guardsmen and reservists for employment through hiring events and the Department of Defense's Hero2Hired program.

In recent years, the hospital has been recognized by ESGR for its support of military employees including the Patriotic Employer Award, the Pro Patria award and the Above and Beyond Award. The 2014 recipients will be honored at the 19th annual Secretary of Defense Employer Support Freedom Award ceremony in the Pentagon in September.

In 1996, the Secretary of Defense Employer Support Freedom Award was instituted under the auspices of the National Committee for Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR). In 1972, the ESGR was established as a Department of Defense agency. Its mission is to gain and maintain employer support for guard and reserve service.

SOURCE St. Jude Children's Research Hospital