2024 PLAY
DECEMBER
Our mission is to help families tackle childhood cancer by providing financial, emotional and practical support. From diagnosis to recovery and beyond, we are part of the team, allowing parents to focus solely 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
This fall has been incredibly busy and filled with moments that embody the heart and soul of our community. From shopping sprees with our families, which take the burden of the grocery bill off their shoulders for a week or two, to a surprise Super Bowl ticket giveaway, to special tailgating parties and attending NFL games together, we’ve continued to provide support and financial assistance in the name and spirit of Jay McGillis.
One recent highlight that was truly special was visiting Wolfson Children’s Hospital with Jaguars’ long snapper Ross Matiscik and placekicker Cam Little. Their presence brought joy and smiles, reminding us of the power of sports to uplift and inspire.
Additionally, this year marks the 100th anniversary of the Giants, a milestone that holds a special place in sports history. The Giants have and continue to support the foundation in ways we could never have dreamed or imagined.
We are humbled and grateful to be a part of their story just as much as they are a part of ours.
Our commitment to giving back remains steadfast. Champions for Children continues to be a cornerstone of our fundraising efforts, and I am immensely grateful to our generous donors who make this impactful work possible. This year we raised $2 million, a record and reminder that no one fights cancer alone; it takes a team.
Thank you for being a part of ours. Please continue to keep our families in your prayers.
With appreciation,
Tom Coughlin, Founder & President
2024 Champions for Children Honorees Ross Matiscik and Cam Little join us for a hospital visit
Patients and families at Champions Gala
Dear Jay Fund Family,
FROM THE CEO
Dear Friends,
This holiday season, I want to say how grateful I am for the donors and volunteers who make the work of the Jay Fund possible. Your support has allowed us to provide meals, gifts and priceless memories to families during a very difficult time.
Overall in 2024, your dedication has also allowed us to:
• Pay 636 mortgage and rent payments
• Distribute 884 grocery store gift cards
• Pay 521 utility bills
• Host 82 emotional support opportunities
• Host 2 caregiver retreats
Our goal is to continue this momentum with our year-end annual giving campaign running through December 31 so that we can BE THERE with vital financial and emotional support for families in 2025. Please consider continuing to assist Jay Fund families by making a gift before the end of the year.
Thank you for being a part of our Jay Fund team, and warmest wishes for a wonderful holiday season.
Sincerely,
Keli Coughlin Joyce
CHAMPIONS FOR CHILDREN
The Champions for Children Gala had a record-breaking 20th year, bringing in $2 million for New York and New Jersey families tackling childhood cancer. Over 600 guests attended the event at MetLife Stadium and enjoyed special access to the field and the New York Giants locker room.
The Jay Fund honored Ralph Andretta, President and Chief Executive Officer of Bread Financial; Carolyn Tisch Blodgett, Founder and CEO of Next 3 Ventures and Governor of NJ/NY Gotham FC; and Robert C. Garrett, CEO of Hackensack Meridian Health. Members of the New York Football Giants ‘07 and ‘11 Super Bowl Champion Offensive Lines received the Giants of Compassion award.
Kaylee, Luciana and Averie in the Giants’ locker room
New York Football Giants ‘07 and ‘11 Super Bowl Champion Offensive Lines
Broadway Actor Jeff Gorti with Joey
Our family was so proud to see our dad inducted into the Pride of the Jaguars on October 6!
SPOTLIGHT ON SUPERMARKET SHOPPING SPREES
Tom Coughlin Jay Fund families surprised with thousands of dollars in free groceries.
The Jay Fund has seen requests for food assistance surge by 56% in the first two quarters of 2024 compared to the same time period in 2023. To address the urgent need for food support, the Jay Fund partnered with local organizations for two shopping sprees.
In June, Coach Coughlin and the Jay Fund teamed up with Eli Manning and Tackle Kids Cancer for a shopping spree at ShopRite in New Milford, NJ. Thanks to the generosity of the Inserra family, who own this store location, 10 Jay Fund families got to fill their carts with much-needed groceries and essentials, for free! Coach and Eli had the chance to bond with families while helping them shop and bag their groceries.
“It’s so crucial for families like ours to seek out support and the Jay Fund has been so incredible for being a pillar of support in our son’s cancer journey. They recognize our challenges, and they help us seek solutions, like providing the shopping spree to help us with groceries. They make it possible to manage both the emotional and financial aspects of having a sick child.”
– Domonique, Hunter’s mom
In September, THE PLAYERS Championship and Winn-Dixie, together with the Winn-Dixie Gives Foundation, partnered with the Jay Fund to provide two carts worth of free groceries to 11 Jacksonville-area families. The medical expenses and hidden costs associated with treatment can leave families financially strapped, so this grocery shopping spree made a huge impact. THE PLAYERS Championship gave the families who attended a gift card for their next shopping trip, and they provided 20 additional Jay Fund families with Winn-Dixie gift cards. In total, they provided 31 gift cards, a tribute to Jay McGillis, our namesake, who was number 31 on the Boston College football team.
Thank you to all who donated groceries and gift cards for our families and teamed up to make these shopping sprees possible!
IMPACT PLAYERS
MAY - OCTOBER 202 4
$10,000+
Hops That Help - Steve Nix
RU For A Cure, Daniel McCaffery, Rutgers University
Strike Out Cancer, John Jay East Fishkill Baseball Game
$5,000 - $9,999
Darren Magarro 10K Run
Glen Rock Inn Comedy NightDan Pulzello
$1,000 - $4,999
Boo Crew’s Lemonade Stand
Cars on Campus - St. Joseph’s High School
Clay County Medical Society Masoud Nemati
Charity Golf Tournament
DUUUVAL House Teal-Gate FUN-Raiser
Girlpower NFL Flag Football “Monster Mash”
J. McLaughlin Sip & Shop - Ho-Ho-Kus
J. McLaughlin Sip & ShopPonte Vedra Beach
Momentum Fit September Campaign
St. Andrew’s School FundraiserAustin Macalintal
St. Joseph’s Catholic School Dress Down Day - Selin Hensley
St. Paul’s Catholic School Mother’s Day
Succulent Sale - Kindness Committee Ten Salon Give Back
$100 - $999
Acosta 50/50 Raffle
Culhane’s Irish Pub Round Up
Glen Rock High School Football Team Card Sale
Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp Baseball Game
Jacksonville FC Golf Classic
Mike Dempsey Pros with Joes
New York Giants Watch Party3rd Rail Bar & Grille
Palms Pantry Fall Music SeriesLindsey Amerault & Steve Nix
Peak Performing High School
Riverside CycleBar and Pure Barre 30/30 Class
St. Paul’s Catholic School “Tag Day”
US AM Tour 50/50
United EVENTures, Merck Pharmaceuticals Wild Pie Give Back
The Impact Player Program helps motivated individuals and organizations raise funds and awareness through third party campaigns.
RU FOR A CURE
Thanks to Tom Coughlin Jay Fund scholar, cancer survivor and Rutgers University student Daniel McCaffery for raising $10,000 for Jay Fund families through his organization RU For A Cure, which sells bracelets at Rutgers to raise awareness for the financial and emotional challenges faced by families navigating childhood cancer.
GIRLPOWER NFL FLAG FOOTBALL “MONSTER MASH”
Girlpower NFL Flag Football hosted its 3rd annual Monster Mash Flag Football tournament and raised $3,472 from donations, T-shirt sales and a raffle.
HOPS THAT HELP
Hops that Help raised over $20,000 during their 9th annual event in July. Founded by Jay Fund Ambassador Steve Nix, the event features live music, beer, barbecue and an auction.
PATIENT FAMILY SUPPORT EVENTS
JACKSONVILLE
CHAT WITH SHANNON MILLER
C.H.A.T. and Live for Today members enjoyed dinner at Maggiano’s, featuring guest speaker Shannon Miller, a seventime Olympic medalist and twotime US Olympic Hall of Fame inductee. She inspired the audience by sharing the story of her own cancer journey.
EVAN’S TEEN ROOM WITH LOGAN COOKE
FINANCIAL GAME PLAN WITH MARY DANIEL
Patients and families at Wolfson Children’s Hospital joined Jaguars punter Logan Cooke and his wife Mary for a football-themed day. They enjoyed activities like playing catch, getting autographs, completing crafts, and sharing pizza with the Cookes.
Thirty-six caregivers attended Adults Night Out and learned more about managing their medical expenses. Mary Daniel, Board-Certified Patient Advocate with more than 30 years of medical practice management experience and the founder of Caregivers for Compromise, led the discussion.
JAGUARS EXPERIENCES
The Jacksonville Jaguars hosted Jay Fund patients and their families at training camp in August, where the kids had a chance to watch practice and meet some players. In October, Coach Coughlin did a hospital visit with Jaguars players Ross Matiscik and Cam Little. The Jaguars also hosted a Crucial Catch party at Main Event for Jay Fund families and other nonprofits ahead of the Crucial Catch game. During the game, Jay Fund patient Bernardo was an honorary captain and participated in the coin toss. Patient Sloane got to do the first Duuuval in EverBank Stadium.
NEW YORK / NEW JERSEY
NY GIANTS TRAINING CAMP
Jay Fund kids got a chance to see the NY Giants up close at training camp this summer. Coach Daboll and Giants players stopped by to greet the kids.
JAY FUND FAMILY SUMMER CELEBRATION
Games, crafts, limbo and ice cream brought smiles and laughter to the families attending our Summer Celebration party at the Kip Center in Rutherford, NJ.
CAREGIVER MINI RETREAT
Caregivers gathered for an evening of relaxation and rejuvenation activities, while enjoying delicious food and connecting with other Jay Fund parents in a supportive environment. Thank you to Eisai for sponsoring the retreat!
SPRING FLING AT NEWARK BETH ISRAEL MEDICAL CENTER
It was wonderful to spend time visiting with patients and caregivers at our Spring Fling at Newark Beth Israel Medical Center. The Jay Fund team passed out goodie bags and made crafts with the families to help brighten their day.
FOLLOW US @TCJAYFUND #BETHERE
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.
Ryan Archey
Tom & Kate Argiro
Bernardo & Marcel Ayala
Steve & Tammy Barry
Mark Bishof
Allan Blank
Daniel Borcher
Robert & Dana Brodsky
Joseph Carnley
Christine Carty
Chapel by the Sea
Kipp Clark
John & Bette Cleere
Jason & Melissa Cobb
Columbia Bank Foundation
Thomas & Carol Doherty
Thomas & Kathy Doran
Andree Wildenstein Dormeuil & Roger Dormeuil Foundation
Dream Finders Homes
DuBow Family Foundation
MAY - SEPTEMBER 2024
Eisai Inc.
Enterprise Truck Rental
Carter Evans
Brandon & Samantha Farmand
The Gant Family Foundation
Alfred Gaudelli
Jeff Giddens
Kevin & Debbie Gilbride Sr.
Calvert & Patricia Harvey
Todd & Allison Hastie
Lindsay Helms
Rebekah Hodges
Tim & Gail Horgan
Dave Huffman
Matthew Hunt
Dr. Saundra Jackson
Jacksonville Jaquars Foundation
Austin Jarrett
Robert Jernigan
Mike & Diane Joyce
Tom & Jo-Ann Kelly
Jeff & Amy Kowalsky
Jeff & Tera Lageman
Ryan Long
Ray & Joyce Lowe
Marc & Anne Mayo
Phil McConkey
John McDonald
Anne Coxe Mesrobian
Linda Modrak
Deborah Moore
MountainStar Capital
Tom Moynihan
Robert & Dore Murray
GIFTS TRIBUTE GIFTS
Darren & Samantha Magarro
Jim & Claudia Naughton
New York Football Giants
Vicky Oakes
Peter O’Keefe
Marianne Palmer
Passkiewicz Family Foundation
Peggy McCaughey Giving Fund
James Phelan
Robert & Victoria Preti
Lucy Pruban
Luke & Emily Redito
Teresa Sachs
Michael Savchak
The Shouvlin Foundation
Sirco Family Foundation
Dianne Stacks
Richard Stafford
Bob & Jana Sternfeld
The Terry Foundation
Baron Tetzlaff
Noreen Thompson
Veeva
Richard Werner
David & Tracy Williams
Salvatore Zuccaro
We deeply appreciate those choosing to give in memory and honor of their loved ones.
Jose Amaya
David Bollech
Leona Carantza
Barbara Casmay
Judy Coughlin
Emilio DeGuia
Beverly Denning
Morgan DiVita
Randy Harrell
Jackson Adeeb
Pam Almand
Donna Augustyniak
Patrick Baumann
Best Friends Day
Louis Hios
Kristin Horgan Hiza Cayden Ingram
Seabron W. Johnson
Ellie Kavalieros
Fiona Lorraine Keogh
William Kolbe
Dr. Stephen Lucie
Chris Lyons
Big Blue Kickoff Live Show
Theresa Brian Brodsky Family’s Healthy Children & Grandchildren
Keli Coughlin
Robert MacGilvray
Debbie McAloon
Peggy McCaughey
Jay McGillis
Michael Perrier
Marissa Post
Brynley Richardson
Nancy Rowe Blue
Gina Saracino
Coach Tom Coughlin
McGillis Family
Ryan Fidler Family
Halloran Family
Brian & Kristin Lunsford
OF DIRECTORS
Kelsie Schiefen
Frederick Schneader
Sean Seroyer
Betty Sue Stafford
Gillian Vaughan
Margo Werner
Om Malvankar
John Post
ADVISORY BOARD HONORARY BOARD MEMBERS
CHILDHOOD CANCER AWARENESS MONTH
The Jay Fund’s goal during September is to help people understand the financial and emotional toll of pediatric cancer. We strive to raise much-needed funds and lift up patients and their families tackling this devastating diagnosis.
GIANTS CELEBRATE 100TH ANNIVERSARY WITH $50,000 GIFT TO THE JAY FUND
In celebration of their 100th Anniversary, the New York Football Giants presented a $50,000 gift to the Jay Fund during their Crucial Catch game in September. We are so grateful for their ongoing support!
A NIGHT TO REMEMBER AT THE JACKSONVILLE JUMBO SHRIMP
Thank you to Sight & Sound Productions for hosting Childhood Cancer Awareness Night, honoring the Tom Coughlin Jay Fund, at the Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp game. About 50 Jay Fund families enjoyed on-field experiences, a photo station and being together at the ballpark. Thank you to Kennedy, Jay Fund patient and college softball player, and Daniel Murphy, MLB legend, for throwing first pitches!
MOMENTUM FIT SOARS PAST FUNDRAISING GOAL
Momentum Fit fundraised for the Jay Fund throughout September and crushed their goal of $2,500, raising a total of $3,351 by hosting donationbased fitness classes benefiting the Jay Fund all month long. Thank you to their coaches, staff and members for their support and competitive spirit!
ST. ANDREW’S SCHOOL FUNDRAISER
CARS ON CAMPUS
Thank you to the entire Green Knights community at St. Joseph’s High School in Montvale, NJ, for donating a portion of the proceeds from their annual Cars on Campus event to help families tackling cancer.
Austin, a former Jay Fund patient who tackled osteosarcoma, organized a fundraising and awareness campaign at his school to help other Jay Fund families. Austin recruited fellow students and faculty members to shave their heads to show support for the challenges kids face while going through cancer treatment.
FOLLOW US @TCJAYFUND
THE TOM COUGHLIN JAY FUND FOUNDATION IS A NON-PROFIT CORPORATION UNDER 501(C)(3), Registration # 59-3426937. PLEASE NOTE: A COPY OF OUR OFFICIAL REGISTRATION AND FINANCIAL INFORMATION MAY BE OBTAINED FROM THE DIVISION OF CONSUMER SERVICES BY CALLING TOLL FREE (1-800-435-7352) REGISTRATION DOES NOT IMPLY ENDORSEMENT, APPROVAL OR RECOMMENDATION BY THE STATE.
