jay fund blitz tcjayfund.org • spring 2019 Our mission is to help families tackle childhood cancer by providing comprehensive financial, emotional, and practical support. From diagnosis to recovery and beyond, we are part of the team, allowing parents to solely focus on their child’s well being. Our goal is to BE THERE for parents facing the unthinkable so they can BE THERE for their families. COACH’S CORNER At the heart of every great team is a selfless commitment to others. I cannot adequately express the pride and gratitude I feel when I look back at all you have selflessly shared with our Jay Fund families. From providing prom dresses to our patients, to Southern Glazer’s Wine and Spirits, the incredible number of guests, wineries, and restaurants who came out to support our annual Wine Tasting Gala in Jacksonville, to New York Giants and Jacksonville Jaguars players for visiting our patients and families throughout the year. To my 2019 Leadership Team - you accepted the challenge to BE THERE and lead our MEET NICHOLAS year end giving which will allow us to meet the In July 2018, Nicholas was diagnosed with ever-growing demand B-Cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia right for support. Together we before starting freshman year of high school. are providing incredible While he will be in treatment for three and and meaningful impact a half years, Nicholas has not let it slow him to families tackling down. His attitude and upbeat personality childhood cancer. give him strength and courage for his cancer journey. But it’s not just my gratitude I want to Nicholas truly treasures convey, but that of every pediatric patient, their those who stand behind parents, grandparents, and siblings that you have him, including his helped. No one fights this disease alone, and I am parents, sisters, family so grateful you’ve chosen to be a part of our team. members, friends, medical staff, and the Jay Fund. Thank you for all you do. May will soon be here, As he faces countless along with our annual Celebrity Golf Classic. I doctor visits, hospital look forward to seeing many of you out on the stays, and sleepless TPC Sawgrass Stadium course! nights, Nicholas and his family are thankful there is a team supporting him to help ease the burden of tackling childhood cancer. Tom Coughlin FOLLOW US @TCJAYFUND #BETHERE tcjayfund.org FROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR A childhood cancer diagnosis is a life changing event that affects the entire family. To put it bluntly, it interrupts everyone’s life. It interrupts the day to day, the finances, the planning, and the dreaming for the future. Childhood cancer can force a family to lose their home or declare bankruptcy. That’s why every contribution you make, each time you volunteer, or each social media post you share is vital to our work. In 2018, the Jay Fund helped 749 families with $1.8 million in assistance. Half of that went towards basic human needs like keeping a roof over their heads, food on the table, and the lights on. And we were able to do this because of you. JAY FUND VOICES The Jay Fund is constantly reviewing and improving our programs to make sure we are “Damien had a blast at the last sibling event! serving patients and their Thank you so much for thinking about the families to the fullest. siblings. They too need the attention and love.” In 2018, the Financial - Arianna, Damien’s Mom Game Plan was revamped with 6 trained coaches “We are truly thankful for all the presents and food who will volunteer their delivered today. It means so much for us and we time to help Jay Fund cannot begin to show our appreciation for what the families with the long Jay Fund is doing for our family.” term financial effects - Nicholas, Aubrey’s Dad of cancer. We enhanced our programing for the “Thank you all so much for the food and gifts Adolescent and Young Adult (AYA) patient groups for both of my kids!!! They will have the best and launched J.A.Y.S. Team (Just Among You Christmas and it’s all because of you all!!! From the Siblings), a sibling support program. bottom of our hearts, thank you so much!” - Destiny, Railynn’s Mom The needs of our communities continue to grow and we have expanded our team to ensure we are able We just cannot thank the Jay Fund enough for all to provide assistance to patients and families when of the blessings we have received since everything they need it most. Please join me in welcoming has happened. May God bless you all!” Sue Garbe, Program Manager for the NY/NJ area; - Alana, Larenzo’s Mom Katika Chuon, Office Manager; and Susan DuBow, the newest member of our Board of Directors. “We are so thankful for all of the help from you! Thank you for joining our team and choosing to BE It was so wonderful to be surrounded by a loving THERE for our Jay Fund families. environment with other Jay Fund families who attended the zoo.” - Anne, Jacob’s Mom Keli Coughlin Joyce tcjayfund.org SUPPORTING FAMILIES The Jay Fund chooses to BE THERE for families In Jacksonville, the holiday season wouldn’t be from DIAGNOSIS to RECOVERY and BEYOND. complete without the annual Jay Fund holiday When a child is diagnosed with cancer, families are party. This year, stressed and life changes in an instant. Woody and Jessie This feeling is amplified during the holiday season. joined Mr. and Mrs. Claus, and 94 Jay In 2018, the Jay Fund continued building it’s Fund families, for a team. With the help of many organizations and Western Wonderland! donors, 50 families had There were a Thanksgiving and characters on stilts, Christmas filled with joy jumping houses, and smiles, in hopes of pony rides, and even combatting some of the lassoing lessons. worry and stress. Thank you to Joe Cosgrove, Feeding Northeast Florida, the Jacksonville Jaguars Foundation, the PGA Tour, and many more for helping make spirits bright! In NY/NJ, families got a surprise from the Snee Family who visited St. Joseph’s Regional Medical Center. Patients were given presents to open, games to play with Chris and Kate Snee, and their children. The room was filled with lots of smiles. tcjayfund.org 15TH ANNUAL WINE TASTING GALA The 15th Annual Wine Tasting Gala was a superb PRESENTED BY representation of the team behind the Jay Fund’s mission. A night to remember was spent with more than 1,000 friends, delicious food from Jacksonville’s top restraunts, and a wine selection like no other. In addition to the fantastic wine offered, this year’s gala featured a special Grey Goose bar, professional mixologists, and live GRAND CRU SPONSORS entertainment who got the crowd excited! Thank you to the 2019 sponsors and all guests who chose to BE THERE. Your support raised $292,000. A special thank you to Byron Hayes, Hal Murdock, and the staff at Southern Glazer’s Wine & Spirits who make this event possible! PREMIER CRU SPONSORS BEACHSIDE WEALTH PARTNERS The DuBow Family Foundation Phil and Roxanne Porter RESERVE SPONSORS Ascension St. Vincent's The Law Firm of Pajcic & Pajcic The Adecco Group The Main Street America Group Alhambra Theatre & Dining Marks Gray, P.A. Bailey Group Massage Envy of Jacksonville Bedell Firm Miller Electric Company CSX Regency Centers Dream Finders Homes Rogers Towers The GATE Foundation S & S Health Glenn-Durham Family Selevan Family Foundation Gray Robinson, P.A. SMG Jacksonville Hartley Press Jeff Wyatt & Jason Hyrne – Indigo South Capital Wells Fargo Advisors Jordan & Shirley Ansbacher Foundation tcjayfund.org SUPPORTING FAMILIES February teed off When a child is diagnosed with NFL Alum, with cancer, the entire Josh Scobee, and family is affected. The Jay Adolescent and Fund creates opportunities Young Adults (AYA) for families to take a “day tackling cancer off” of cancer and meet gathering at Top others for peer-to-peer Golf for an exciting support. night as they stepped up to hit their best Families gathered at Humdingers for Jay Fund shot. Everyone Family Fun Day which included hitting baseballs enjoyed golfing, but in the batting cages to bowling and playing more importantly they connected with new friends arcade games. Joining the group was NFL Alum, who understand the struggles of cancer. Kevin Boothe, who brought his Super Bowl rings and lots of smiles to the children as they tried them on! The Sibling Support Group, J.A.Y.S. Team, aims to BE THERE for siblings whose brother or sister is tackling childhood cancer because a cancer diagnosis can have long-lasting effects on siblings. They feel an array of Lions, Tigers, and Bears, oh my, was the emotions and their sibling’s diagnosis can be difficult repeated line at this year’s Zoo Valentine’s Day to cope with. Recently, this group gathered together Celebration! Families joined one another at the to paint pottery! Their creativity was endless as they Jacksonville Zoo for arts and crafts, lunch, and laughed and enjoyed one another. cookie decorating. The families finished the day exploring the zoo, riding the train, and making memories. tcjayfund.org GIFTS The Tom Coughlin Jay Fund is grateful for every single gift, regardless of amount. If possible, we would list every person who contributes. However, due to space limitations, this list is limited to gifts greater than $500. November 2018 – February 2019 Scott Adams Jed & Carolyn Dorfman Lexus of Jacksonville Robert’s Tree Service Tony Agolini Matt Every Jax Refrigeration Aaron Rosenthal Vivek Aher Alan & Kari Ferguson John & Sonya Lundgren Michael Ross Eric Amante Mark Ferlin Alan Maccini Kevin & Jill Ruth James Andreoletti Vincenzo & Donna Ferrara Mike Marrese John Sanders Phil Arfuso First Coast News Brian