In 2020, Jeff Robertson’s Halloween display raised $1.1M for St. Jude; 625 homes target $2M in 2026

Skeletons for St. Jude brings together 625 homes across the US, with organisers aiming to reach $2 million in total donations in 2026. (Photo: Skeletons for St. Jude) What started as an elaborate Halloween decoration in North Carolina has grown into a nationwide fundraising movement, with 625 households across the United States expected to participate in 2026. Retired Army veteran Jeff Robertson, who launched Skeletons for St. Jude in 2020, is now hoping the initiative will reach its ambitious target of raising $2 million for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.Robertson, from Holly Springs, North Carolina, initially attracted attention for his elaborate Halloween yard display, which featured an army of skeletons. His decorations became so popular that horror fans travelled for hours to see them. But instead of keeping the spotlight on his family, Robertson decided to use the attention to support children receiving medical treatment.“That night we had a family huddle and said, ‘This is kind of cool that we’re on the news, but you know, let’s kind of take the spotlight off of us,” Robertson told St. Jude Inspire. “Like, how can we use this for good?”The family agreed to start a fu...