By Travel with Kate, on December 4, 2014

Save lives with Expedia+ rewards

It is my absolute pleasure to announce that Expedia is making a massive effort to support St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital® during this holiday season. And it is in your hands to make a huge impact with a click of a button and—if you so desire—zero out of pocket expense.

St. Jude was founded by my grandfather, Danny Thomas. His dream was bold. He believed that “no child should die in the dawn of life.”

So, in 1962, he opened the doors to St. Jude, a research center and hospital under one roof, and set out to cure the most catastrophic diseases the children of our world face. Today, St. Jude is not simply a hospital; it is a beacon of hope for parents and children everywhere.

St. Jude freely shares the breakthroughs its doctors make, and every child saved at St. Jude means scientists worldwide can use that knowledge to save thousands of others. Families never receive a bill from St. Jude for treatment, travel, housing, or food—because all a family should worry about is helping their child live.

Here is how you can help. When booking your holiday travel with Expedia, you can donate your earned Expedia+ rewards points to St. Jude Children’s Hospital®. Instead of saving them for yourself simply pass them along to the kids of St. Jude. (You also can donate the old-fashioned way, with cash or credit.)

Even Santa’s getting in on the action! Arguably, Santa travels more than anyone during the holiday season. And this year he’s ditching his sleigh and flying coach around the world. Don’t believe me?

In the adjacent video, Santa battles through security lines, navigates through terminals, and squeezes himself into cozy coach seats while traveling around the world. His last stop is, of course, Memphis, as he drops by St. Jude to give all the kids a few early Christmas presents and donate all the points he earned along the journey.

Click here to donate your Expedia+ Rewards points or funds directly to St Jude!

If you are not an Expedia+ rewards member yet, please make sure to sign up. Not only can you accrue points to redeem travel, but also you can enjoy other perks; being a member means you will get exclusive member-only packaged deals as you shop.

Come join in the spirit of giving by helping to find cures and helping to save children with St. Jude and Expedia.

A number of my fellow Expedia Viewfinder bloggers have written about the extraordinary St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital on their own blogs. Each has discussed unique and impressive facts about the institution. Here are the blogs our bloggers have published so far:

How to travel and give to help the kids of St. Jude

Excited About Expedia’s Partnership with St. Jude

Santa flies coach with Expedia to help St. Jude save lives

Santa Flies Coach (for Kids)

Stay tuned and keep visiting this page for links to posts in our series.

What sort of donations do you like to make during the holiday season?