Luis Fonsi has built a career on connection. Through music, yes, but also through something deeper and far more enduring: service. In a recent interview with HOLA!, the global superstar opened up about his long-standing commitment to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital as part of this year’s St. Jude Thanks and Giving campaign, a partnership that has quietly and powerfully changed lives for more than 17 years.
This is not celebrity philanthropy as a side project. This is a relationship rooted in time, trust, and firsthand experience.
© Getty ImagesA Mission That Turned Into a Lifelong Commitment
Fonsi’s connection to St. Jude began well before 2009, the year he helped launch the organization’s first-ever Spanish-language Thanks and Giving campaign. From the beginning, the pull was emotional and immediate. “It was just an honest connection from day one,” Fonsi shared. “Once I really got to understand St. Jude’s mission and what they do and how they do it, and the fact that they’re saving lives and finding cures, it stayed with me.”
Visiting the hospital in Memphis became a turning point. Speaking directly with doctors, nurses, children, and families reshaped how he viewed his role as an artist with influence. What struck him most was not only the groundbreaking research but the humanity of the model itself.
Families at St. Jude never receive a bill for treatment, travel, housing, or food. Their only job is to focus on their child. “To me, that’s so powerful,” Fonsi said. “That’s all because of generous donors. It’s important to raise awareness and bring everybody together. The fact that I have a platform and a voice, and I can use my music to do that, is just as important to me as putting out a song or an album.”
Creating Space for the Latin Community
One of Fonsi’s most impactful contributions came from a simple but critical observation. Early on, he noticed that many St. Jude campaigns weren’t reaching Spanish-speaking audiences. “I said, how can I help, especially for the Latin community?” he explained. “I wanted to be a messenger. To put into words what I saw and help people understand that St. Jude is saving lives. That’s really what it comes down to.”
That question led to the first Spanish-language Thanks and Giving campaign in 2009, opening the door for millions of families to connect with St. Jude’s mission in their own language. It was representation with purpose, and it worked.
The Families Who Stay With Him
Over the years, Fonsi has returned to St. Jude many times, and each visit has left a mark. The moments that linger most are the conversations with parents at the very beginning of their journey.
“Hearing families explain the moment they’re told their child has cancer… now that I’m a father, you really put yourself in those shoes."
He recalls meeting families from Puerto Rico, Mexico, and Central America, many of whom left their homes, countries, and other children behind to move to Memphis for treatment. St. Jude, he says, removes the crushing financial fear so families can focus on love, presence, and hope. “It’s the little things,” Fonsi noted. “The colored walls, the energy from everyone, from the receptionist to the top oncologist. You feel there’s something special going on here, and that message has to be shared.”
Passing the Mission to the Next Generation
Today, Fonsi’s advocacy is no longer his alone. It’s a family value. “My kids understand it 100%,” he said. “They wear their St. Jude T-shirts with pride. It’s essential that they understand how passionate I am and that health is the greatest gift in life. Compassion has to be passed down.”
© St. Jude Children's Research HospitalThat lesson mirrors St. Jude’s broader mission: caring for the whole child. Beyond lifesaving treatment, the hospital prioritizes normalcy, joy, and education through programs like St. Jude Imagine Academy by Chili’s. For 25 years, the school program has helped patients continue their education during treatment, reinforcing a sense of future and possibility.
Awareness That Keeps Growing
Fonsi believes awareness around St. Jude has grown steadily over the years, especially as more people truly understand how the hospital operates. “When people stop me and say they’ve been donating for years, or that they give what they can when they can, to me that’s beautiful,” he said. “People coming together and knowing they’re making a difference, that’s what keeps this moving forward.”
© Getty Images for The Latin RecorAs the holiday season approaches, Fonsi says the message of Thanks and Giving feels more personal than ever. While many focus on gifts and decorations, his thoughts return to Memphis, to families, and to the work still ahead. It’s a reminder that impact doesn’t always come from grand gestures. Sometimes, it comes from showing up, year after year, and using your voice to make sure the story keeps being told.
