Tag Archives: childhood cancer

Tom Coughlin Jay Fund
#HipNJ Cares

A Day at MetLife Stadium with the Tom Coughlin Jay Fund

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The Tom Coughlin Jay Fund recently invited fifty special families to experience MetLife Stadium as a VIP for its annual Stadium Tour & Sundae Blitz! Attendees of this once-in-a-lifetime experience got to roam the New York Giants locker room, try on equipment, and posed for photos wearing Super Bowl rings.

The Tom Coughlin Jay Fund, founded in 1996 in honor of former Boston College football player Jay McGillis by legendary NFL head coach Tom Coughlin, helps families tackle childhood cancer by providing financial, emotional and practical support. Since its inception, it has granted $11 million to 5,000 families with children suffering from cancer. #HipNJ‘s Lisa Marie Latino spoke with some of the members that make up this vibrant community.

“Our slogan is that we want to “Be There” for families,” explains Mary Jane Pulzello, program director for the foundation. “We want to give them a couple hours to forget about cancer and have fun.”

One of the standout children on hand was Patrick Baumann, winner of two college scholarships by the Tom Coughlin Jay Fund and the New York Giants. Patrick recently graduated from Fordham Preparatory School in New York City where he was a co-captain of the Varsity Squash team. Patrick was born three days prior to the attacks on 9/11 and has lived his whole life just a few blocks from Ground Zero. In 2009, he was diagnosed with Stage IV Wilm’s Tumor.

“I’m so appreciative of the Jay Fund’s support and the opportunities they provide,” says Patrick, who will be attending Penn State University in the fall (cancer-free!)

For more information and to donate to the Tom Coughlin Jay Fund, visit TCJayFund.org.

#HipNJ Cares

Grace Eline and The Valerie Fund

Last month, Morris County resident Grace Eline was one of 13 guests invited to the State of the Union by President Donald Trump and the First Lady. #HipNJ’s Lisa Marie Latino sits down several special guests, including Grace herself.

Bunny Flanders, Director of Communications at The Valerie Fund, shares the incredible mission that was started by Sue and Ed Goldstein in 1976, after the loss of their daughter Valerie to childhood cancer. They experienced first-hand the added burden of traveling to Manhattan for treatment, and the high costs of treatment. Sue and Ed vowed to help families in similar situations gain easier access to more customized care.

Now, the Valerie Fund treats 6,000 children per year at seven treatment centers. They also award post-secondary scholarships to children as another way of easing the financial burden on these families.

Grace’s grandfather, Dan Reichard, saw the expert care being given to his granddaughter, and was himself, inspired. Dan’s idea was to create a “show house”, which showcases the talent and vision of some of the area’s most extraordinary interior designs. You can find more information on the house, located in Plainfield, NJ on The Valerie Fund’s site.

Grace, who is now cancer-free, speaks very highly of her time in the White House. She says Melania Trump, who “smelled like…Chanel” was very nice, and even extended an invitation to return to the White house anytime!

Now that her priorities have shifted back to just being a kid, Grace enjoys playing sports like basketball and softball, gymnastics and painting. She has even served as the honorary captain of the New York Jets!

The Valerie Fund clearly had a profound account on Grace, who discusses her time at sleep-away camp, Camp Happy Times, as being special to her because of the comradery between her and other children who have shared experiences. At only 10-years-old, Grace already want to use this experience to help others, by hoping to one day become a doctor. She hopes that her experiences and first-hand account of treatment to help her patients.

To learn more about the Valerie Fund and the April 25th Grand Opening of the show house, visit: thevaleriefund.org/showhouse/

Childhood Cancer Awareness Month
#HipNJ Cares, Charity

Powerhouse Charities Join Forces for Childhood Cancer Awareness Month

Former Vice President Joe and Dr. Jill Biden of the Biden Cancer Initiative (BCI), two-time Super Bowl winning coach and Executive Vice President of Operations for the Jacksonville Jaguars Tom Coughlin of the #HipNJ-based Tom Coughlin Jay Fund Foundation and Grammy Award-winning band Imagine Dragons of the Tyler Robinson Foundation (TRF) have joined forces to deliver a powerful public service announcement (PSA) in support of National Childhood Cancer Awareness Month this September.

Approximately 15,000 people under the age of 20 are diagnosed with some form of cancer each year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) – that’s 43 children diagnosed with cancer each day. Cancer does not discriminate and its impact has been felt in every community across the U.S. leaving a devastating emotional and financial toll on the families tackling the disease. The founders of each of these nonprofit organizations, BCI, the Jay Fund and TRF, have each been touched by cancer’s devastation having walked the journey with a child, a loved one, teammate, fan or friend

In coming together, the groups hope to generate greater awareness and support for families. In a joint statement, the group appeals to the public to join their cause: “In the spirit of Beau Biden, Jay McGillis, Tyler Robinson and all the courageous young people who have fought this disease, please help us make this month matter by supporting those who need it most. No one should fight childhood cancer alone.”

Beginning September 1, the PSA will be played on television outlets and in sporting venues across the nation. In addition to making a donation to BCI, the Jay Fund or TRF, there are other practical ways for individuals to support families and get involved in the cause including volunteering with a local pediatric cancer nonprofit.

BCI, the Jay Fund and TRF each fill separate, yet critically important, missions in supporting childhood cancer. BCI is accelerating progress in cancer research and care, making more therapies available to more patients, while working to detect and prevent the disease. The Jay Fund has touched more than 5,000 families through their cancer journeys providing more than $10 million in financial assistance to families in northeast Florida and the New York/New Jersey metropolitan area. Since its inception just five years ago, TRF has raised in excess of $5.5 million to support more than 500 families across the U.S. battling childhood cancer by providing grants to offset the many unseen costs associated with treatment.

For more information or to learn how to get involved, visit BidenCancer.org, TCJayFund.org and TRF.org.