Tina Turner Shows More Than a Little Tenderness at Target House

St. Jude Children's Research Hospital (ALSAC)
Friday, 20 October 2000

Pop diva Tina Turner demonstrated that she knows 'what love's got to do with it' when she spent time visiting children undergoing treatment for pediatric cancer and other catastrophic childhood illnesses at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital in Memphis, Tennessee, today.

Topping off Tina's visit, which included tours of St. Jude and Target House, a home-away-from-home for families of children receiving treatment at St. Jude, was her presentation of a $250,000 donation to fund pediatric AIDS research at the hospital. Accepting the check on behalf of St. Jude was Tony Thomas, successful entertainment producer and son of the late entertainer and St. Jude founder, Danny Thomas.

Tina's visit to St. Jude and Target House coincided with the final leg of her triumphant U.S. concert tour, Tina One Last Time. It provided a unique opportunity for Tina to return to her birthplace – Tennessee. "I was particularly drawn to the idea of visiting the children having grown up here myself. I know the children come here from all over the country but Tennessee still has a special place in my heart. This is a very wonderful hospital doing groundbreaking work in a place that is still emotional for me."

Upon accepting the donation, Thomas said, "We are thrilled to have Tina Turner here touring St. Jude and Target House. It is a wonderful and uplifting experience for both the children and their parents. We are most grateful for Tina's generous donation."

Tina's relationship with Target goes well beyond her visit to Target House. Target is sponsoring her farewell tour, which began September 20 in Boston and concludes December 6 in Anaheim, Calif., as well as Target Presents: Tina Turner One Last Time Live!, a holiday special airing on the CBS Television Network on December 4 (10:00-11:00 PM, ET/PT). Additionally, Tina is participating in the company's holiday television advertising campaign and will make her "All that Glitters" holiday CD available exclusively at Target stores beginning October 23.

"Tina reigns supreme—not only on the stage and in the recording studio but where it matters the most—with the children," said John Pellegrene, executive vice president of marketing for Target Stores. "We're thrilled that Tina has partnered with us to help make this holiday season extra-special for our guests. Her generous donation to St. Jude further heightens our respect for this remarkable woman."

Tina One Last Time is the entertainer's farewell tour. Backed up by a 12-piece band, including 7 musicians, 5 dancers and back-up singers, the tour has been hailed by critics across the country as her best ever and is the highest grossing tour of 2000. Performing hit after hit spanning her entire career, the spectacular two-hour set includes high-octane versions of early R&B hits, platinum-plus sellers and new songs from her latest platinum album, Twenty Four Seven (Virgin Records).

St. Jude Children's Research Hospital is an internationally recognized biomedical research and treatment center dedicated to finding cures for pediatric cancer and other catastrophic childhood illnesses. All St. Jude patients are treated regardless of their ability to pay. Target House is an upscale, 50-unit apartment complex where long-term patients and their families can live as they undergo treatment at St. Jude. Target Stores committed more than $11 million to create Target House and is committing an additional $8 million for the completion of Target House—Phase II.

Minneapolis-based Target Stores, an upscale discount retailer, and target.com, the online business of Target Corporation (NYSE: TGT), serve guests at 978 stores in 46 states nationwide and online at www.target.com by delivering today's best retail trends at affordable prices. The largest division of Target Corporation, Target Stores gives back more than $1 million a week to its local communities through grants and special programs. Since opening its first store in 1962, Target has partnered with nonprofit organizations, guests and team members to help meet community needs.

For more information, or to contact St. Jude Children's Research Hospital (ALSAC), see their website at: www.stjude.org