About Friends of Jaclyn __________
MISSION STATEMENT
The Friends of Jaclyn Foundation's mission is to improve the quality of life for children battling pediatric brain tumors and other childhood cancers by pairing them with local sports teams, clubs, and community groups.
Friends of Jaclyn Foundation is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit charitable organization. (Tax ID 20-8326822)
HOW IT WORKS
Adopt a Child Program
The Adopt-A-Child Program is designed for children battling a pediatric brain tumor or another form of childhood cancer. We pair the child with a high school, college sports team, race team, or club as an honorary team member. The team provides love, support, and friendship throughout the relationship.
Safe on the Sidelines for Siblings Program
Similar to the Adopt_A-Child Program, the Safe on the Sideline Program is designed for sibling(s) of the child battling cancer.
Guardian Angel
The Guardian Angel Program is designed for individuals who are not in a position to adopt a child but are willing to give support to a child and family who are in need of encouragement and compassion throughout various stages of their cancer journey.
Angel Walk
Every year the Friends of Jaclyn Foundation hosts an Angel Walk to honor and remember all the children that have earned their wings and to embrace the siblings and families with continued support.
Making a difference...
Our programs naturally touch a child and their family in a simple, yet high-impact way that no medical treatments or procedures could possibly do. We offer relief and support in immediate, tangible ways through love and friendship that evolves from the adoption process.
Our Story
In 2004, 9-year-old Jaclyn Murphy was diagnosed with a medulloblastoma, a malignant brain tumor. Through chance events she became connected to and later adopted by a collegiate lacrosse team as an honorary team member.
Jaclyn's strength, courage, relentless spirit and joy for life inspired the players. The team went on to a perfect season, winning their first NCAA national championship in 64 years! Later Jaclyn shared her dream to have all of the sick children adopted onto a team of their own.
In 2005, the Murphy Family created the Friends of Jaclyn Foundation to improve the quality of life for children battling pediatric brain tumors and other childhood cancers.
HBO Real Sports
Friends of Jaclyn has been featured on HBO Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel several times over the years as well as the New York Yankees Hope Week.
New York Yankees Hope Week
Simple things make a difference...
- Gameday involvement
- Hospital or home visits
- Text Message
- Phone call
- Prayers
- Support
- Encouragement
- LOVE
Joey Maynard is the father to Adian who was adopted by the Wake Forest Football team over 6 years ago and still travels with the team. Joey's daughters were also adopted by the Wake Forest women's basketball team.
Josh Blumenthal is the Director of Athletics at Wayland Academy and has been involved with Friends of Jaclyn for over 15 years.
Amanda Lorenz is a 4-time women's softball Collegiate All-American from the University of Florida and currently plays professionally for the USSA Pride in the Florida Gulf Coast league.
LIFETIME FRIENDSHIP
Over 900 children adopted by more than 700 sports teams.
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Participating Sports Teams
- Northwestern University
- Air Force Academy
- University of North Carolina
- DUKE University
- Boise State
- Yale
- Georgetown University
- University of Virginia
- Harvard
- Michigan State
- Ohio State University
- University of Florida
- US Naval Academy
- West Point
- Wake Forest
- UCLA
- University of Southern California
- Indiana University
- High Point University
View full list of teams CLICK HERE
Racing For A Cause
- We currently have over 600 College/University teams waiting to adopt a child. Why? HIPPA laws prohibit hospitals and cancer centers from sharing information about children that are battling pediatric cancer.
- Solution... Race Cars
- FOJ can not place logos on other sport team uniforms but race cars are different.
- Race cars are high visibility billboards and fans have the opportunity to get up close at hundreds of local grassroots tracks plus the ability to ask the question, what is FOJ?
- Almost everyone knows someone who is battling this terrible disease, family member, friend, co-worker, client, customer, or church member, you get the idea.
- Every lap we turn increases the awareness and produces a lead for adoption.
- FOJ then matches the child with a team, whatever sport or activity the child has an interest in.
