Tag Archives: childhood cancer

Childhood Cancer Awareness Month
#HipNJ Cares, Charity

Powerhouse Charities Join Forces for Childhood Cancer Awareness Month

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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.

jose eber salon
#HipNJ Cares, Beauty, Philanthropy

José Eber Salon at St. Joseph’s Hospital

The Tom Coughlin Jay Fund Foundation has teamed with the Center for Pediatric Cancers and Blood Disorders at St. Joseph’s Children’s Hospital in Paterson to make the mothers of pediatric cancer patients feel special!

Josè Eber Salon in Millburn donated their time to style hair, and do makeup and nails for the extraordinary mothers.

Follow-Up Counselor Ashley Marchese explained that a lot of the moms do not have the chance to get away from the hospital often, especially when their children require inpatient care. So, this day becomes a “me-day,” where the mothers have the opportunity to get pampered and relax.

Megan Balinski, hair stylist at Josè Eber Salon, said that this day is especially important to her because it hits home.  Her sister was diagnosed with cancer at the age of five. Seeing what her parents went through made her want to “give back to the mothers who are dealing with the same thing.”

Former New York Giants Super Bowl champion Chris Snee also attended this event, as the Tom Coughlin Jay Fund Foundation is close to his heart. He said that since these mothers do not have the time to go to the spa, “why not bring the spa to them?” He went on to say that this is “just another great example of what the Foundation does.”

These mothers and their children are fighting a battle that requires time and energy. “It’s hard to do anything because everything revolves around your kid,” makeover participant and mother Joanna stated.  So, this day was one for the moms. You deserve it.

For more information on José Eber Salon, visit JoseEberNJ.com.  For more on the Tom Coughlin Jay Fund and how to #BeThere for families of children battling cancer, visit TCJayFund.org.

tom coughlin jay fund foundation
#HipNJ Cares

#BeThere with the Tom Coughlin Jay Fund Foundation

By Lisa Marie Latino

Earlier this week, Tom Coughlin stepped down as head coach of the New York Giants after an illustrious twelve seasons.  While his storybook tenure spawned two Super Bowl victories, the successes of the Tom Coughlin Jay Fund Foundation are on par with his Vince Lombardi Trophies.

The purpose of The Jay Fund is to provide financial, emotional and practical support to families stricken by childhood cancer, and they have helped thousands of families in the New York/New Jersey metropolitan area.

During Coach Coughlin’s emotional exit press conference, he vowed to continue the mission of his “other love in life” by dedicating himself to The Jay Fund’s #BeThere campaign.  The movement, which vowed to raise $10 million, has raised $6 million thus far.

“I made the pledge [and] we’re going to get it done, [even] if I have to walk the streets of New York.  We will get it done,” Coach Coughlin promised.

Walking right next to him would be Giants linebacker Mark Herzlich— a Jay Fund board member and cancer survivor– along with his wife, Danielle.  Recently, Danielle Herzlich and some of the wives and fiancés of other Giants players paid a visit to The Joseph M. Sanzari Children’s Hospital at Hackensack University Medical Center in the giving spirit of #BeThere.  We chatted with her about the event, her connection to The Jay Fund, and her thoughts on the departing head coach.

LML: The hospital visit sounded like a wonderful way to celebrate the holidays!  Tell me all about it.

DH:  It really was a blast!  Pilar Amukamara  [wife of Prince Amukamara], Carolyn Williams [wife of Andre Williams], Nahall Fells [wife of Daniel Fells], Maddie Paolantonio  [fiancé of Ryan Nassib] and I had so much fun with the kids.  We went room-to-room handing out special holiday packages that included Giants gear and Jay Fund Foundation swag.  We also spent a lot of time in the playroom doing arts and crafts! The kids and the parents were so grateful that we were there. Being able to see them smile and help them get through their chemotherapy was awesome.

LML: You were the one to “rally the troops” for the hospital visit. Why was this so important to you?

DH: Mark is on the board of The Jay Fund, and we’ve done tons of work with the charity in previous years.  When Lynn Chwatsky [NY/NJ managing director of The Jay Fund] and Karen Hart [communications consultant for The Jay Fund] contacted me about doing something with the wives, my answer was absolutely! I thought about how great it would be to interact with the kids and give them a little bit of joy, especially during the holiday season.

LML: Did you have a deeper connection with the families because of Mark’s history with cancer?

DH: I feel like everyone has had a family member or friend battle cancer. Since Mark is my husband it obviously hits very close to home. Knowing what it was like being his caregiver at the time made me really relate to the parents. I couldn’t even imagine watching your child go through something that heartbreaking. I applaud and respect them so much for what they do for their kids and also what The Jay Fund does for the entire family. If it wasn’t for organizations like The Jay Fund, Mark wouldn’t have been able to get through what he went through.

LML: Can you reflect on you and Mark’s relationship with Coach Coughlin in relation to The Jay Fund?

DH: Even with being a head coach, I feel like it was extremely known that The Jay Fund was Coach Coughlin’s other main priority. I think it’s really cool that he provided something like this for Mark and I and the entire Giants family to give back.  I love that we are part of something that’s so much bigger than football.  To be able to help people through this first-class organization has been an amazing experience.  And despite Coach no longer being at the helm, I don’t see our relationship ever changing.

For more information on the Tom Coughlin Jay Fund, visit TCJayFund.org.