Calkins: Richard Shadyac Jr. on his legacy, the future, Memphis — and some sports stuff, too
Richard C. Shadyac Jr., CEO of ALSAC, the fundraising and awareness arm of St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, speaks during The Daily Memphian’s commercial real estate seminar at Memphis Botanic Garden on Dec. 5, 2024. (Brad Vest/Special to The Daily Memphian)
Geoff Calkins
Geoff Calkins has been chronicling Memphis and Memphis sports for more than two decades. He is host of "The Geoff Calkins Show" from 9-11 a.m. M-F on 92.9 FM. Calkins has been named the best sports columnist in the country five times by the Associated Press sports editors, but still figures his best columns are about the people who make Memphis what it is.
After 16 years, Richard Shadyac Jr. has stepped down as CEO of ALSAC, the fundraising and awareness organization of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. I caught up with him Thursday to get his thoughts on his legacy, the hospital’s future, Memphis and some of the sports projects he has been involved in since he arrived. You can read my column on Shadyac’s departure here. What follows are some other highlights from our conversation.
Daily Memphian: What are you most proud of?
Richard Shadyac Jr.: I’m most proud of the lives that we’ve touched. I think about this in terms of live all the time: 8,500 families, kids, come to St. Jude every single year. So you want to put a multiplier on that, times 16, that doesn’t count the research that impacts kids all across the United States and the globe. And then I think about the impact that St. Jude is now having by being in 80 countries.
This is an excerpt of this story. To read more, please click here and subscribe.
Topics
Richard Shadyac Jr. Memphis ALSAC St. Jude Children's Research Hospital Subscriber OnlyThank you for being a subscriber to The Daily Memphian. Your support is critical.
As a 501(c)3 nonprofit news organization with a hybrid business model, we rely on a mix of revenue from subscriptions (50%), advertising, events and miscellaneous earned income (25%) and fundraising (25%).
Please consider making a fully tax-deductible donation or other contribution to The Daily Memphian today.
👉 Your subscription pays for you to read all our journalism.
👉 Your donation powers the work we do to reach everyone else with the news.
We believe an informed Memphis is a better Memphis. If you agree, join our growing list of donors now.
Geoff Calkins on demand
Never miss an article. Sign up to receive Geoff Calkins' stories as they’re published.
Enter your e-mail address
Related stories
Generational blend: Son opens cafe inside father’s restaurant
Mustapha Mustapha, the owner of Sam’s Main Street Eatery, felt his space needed something more. His son wanted to run his own coffee shop. So, they brewed a plan.
Memphis wrap star, former St. Jude patient meet on reality show
After filming on “The Ultimate Gift Wrapping Challenge” wrapped in Pennsylvania, Vanessa West and Adrienne Myers met again — this time back home in Memphis over lunch at La Baguette.
Calkins: How do you celebrate turning 50? If you’re Memphis Pom, you dance.
Memphis Pom is 50! Time flies when you’re having fun. So how is the group going to celebrate? With a reunion dance at Friday’s game, of course.
Comments
Want to comment on our stories or respond to others? Join the conversation by subscribing now. Only paid subscribers can add their thoughts or upvote/downvote comments. Our commenting policy can be viewed here.