MetLife Stadium hosted the Tom Coughlin Jay Fund Foundation for their annual Sundae Blitz Event this past Thursday. The Jay Fund brought in childhood cancer patients and their family for a day of lunch, games, arts and crafts, and a tour of the stadium.
Current and former New York Giants players attended the event to sign autographs and give back. Among those representing the organization was Keli Coughlin, the CEO of the Jay Fund Foundation and daughter to former Giants head coach Tom Coughlin.
Keli spoke with Giants Wire to discuss the Jay Fund and the event, which touched the hearts of so many families in attendance.
“We are super excited to bring back one of our signature events — our Sundae Blitz party for the New York/New Jersey area for pediatric cancer patients and their families,” Keli said. “So it’s going to be a great day. They are having lunch and, of course, making elaborate ice cream sundaes we hope. There is a ton of games and crafts. We’re going to go out on the field, we’re going to get a behind-the-scenes tour of the locker room and learn about the equipment.
“And really the whole point of the day is bringing the patients together and giving them a special day where they are out of their normal routine of hospital visits and doctor’s appointments; to take a break from all that to take a break from childhood cancer today. One of the benefits that comes about from all that is families seeing other families that are walking the same journey and hopefully gaining some support from that. So, kids relating to other kids, siblings relating to other siblings, parents with other parents — hopefully gaining some support and some hope.”
Keli was also asked about the development of the Jay Fund Foundation and how far it has come since it was established.
“Well, it’s pretty remarkable. I know 27 years ago when my dad started the Tom Coughlin Jay Fund that his vision wasn’t really that it would really grow to be all it is today,” Keli said. “Our family, we weren’t even educated enough to know what all the needs were for pediatric cancer patients and their families. We knew from Jay McGillis’ experience — my parents really spent a lot of time with Jay’s family at Boston College when Jay was sick.
“ not only the physical toll that leukemia played but also the financial and emotional strains that went along with that for the whole family. The No. 1 priority when we started was helping with household expenses because we knew when a child is diagnosed with childhood cancer, one parent has to stop working to become a fulltime caregiver. So we started focusing on the utility bills and car payments and rent and mortgage and those kinds of things. But over time, through our relationships with social workers and talking with medical teams and patients and families, we were made aware of other ways the Jay Fund could step in and help. So now we have a much broader scope of services and it’s amazingly heartwarming to see that we’ve been able to make an impact for people when they are maybe at their darkest day.”
The Jay Fund’s connection to the Giants helps them get a number of big and small name players to attend their events and help contribute.
“Well, it takes a team, right? So everyone has to pitch in to make this work possible. We couldn’t be doing the things we are without so many people,” Keli said. “It’s wonderful to have Giants and Jacksonville Jaguars players be involved in the work of the Jay Fund, and really have the compassion for those kids and realize that they can really bring a smile to their faces and brighten their day. But really, we have so many volunteers here today, we have community members, families. We also have a family here who lost their child and is volunteering because they want to give back and they want to share. So everything we do is incredibly heartwarming and I think when you have a cause and you see these kids and they inspire you, it’s just a reason to want to pitch in. We are really blessed that we have so many people pitch in and help with the mission.”
As for the future if the Jay Fund Foundation, Keli promises that it’s here to stay and will continue serving those in need.
“The Jay Fund is here to stay. Our long-term plan is to be here in perpetuity in both the New York/ New Jersey area and in Jacksonville; both places where my dad has been an NFL head coach and we are going to continue doing what we are doing,” Keli said. “Meeting the needs of families from a financial and emotional stand point. And we love these events that we do a few times a year in both markets where we bring kids together but we also do small scale things and we’re going to continue to do that. We will continue to listen to families and what they need, provide support to caregivers and young adolescent patients on a more intimate scale where they can get together and connect. So our vision is to keep listening and keep trying to be there for them.”
Many people are looking to volunteer for such a great cause and Keli encourages people who want to contribute to reach out.
“It takes a whole team,” she said. “We love when people want to contribute their time (and talents) to us. Maybe they’re a really good graphic designer or maybe they like to throw parties or have a balloon business or something like that, so we are always looking for people who are looking to contribute. Also, we’re looking for people who have expertise in what it’s like to be going through this journey of childhood cancer so going to our website is the best way to reach out and see what opportunities are to send an inquiry along and we’d love to have more people involved.”
This week’s event at Metlife Stadium is just one of many things the Jay Fund does to give back. Through their connection with the Giants, they have the privilege to give back to so many families and it’s impressive the impact they have in the childhood cancer community.
Tom Coughlin, Keli and the Jay Fund are the true giants of our community.
