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Tom Coughlin Jay Fund: Look back at its founding, how you can help now in Jacksonville

Hundreds of children across Jacksonville are in the fight of their lives. Childhood cancer touches us all and for over 21 years the Tom Coughlin Jay Fund has been there for families across Northeast Florida.

Tom Coughlin started the fund in honor of Jay McGillus, a former player on Coughlin's team at Boston College. McGillis battled leukemia for eight months in college and ultimately lost his fight to the disease. After seeing the physical and financial toll the disease took on McGillus and his family, Coughlin decided to start a fundraiser for childhood cancer. 

What started as a golf tournament fundraiser has since transformed into an around-the-clock nonprofit agency that provides financial, practical and emotional support to families diagnosed with cancer in Northeast Florida.
“Almost always when a parent gets the news that their child has cancer, they have to quit working and become a full-time caregiver,” said fund director Keli Coughlin. “Their income goes down, their expenses go up and that’s where the Jay Fund steps in.”
Just last year, the Jay Fund spent $900,000 helping local Jacksonville families get financial support and about one-third of those funds went directly to mortgage, rent and utilities bills.
You can help raise much needed funds on March 8 at the 15th annual Tom Coughlin Jay Fund Wine Tasting Gala. The Jay Fund hopes to raise $300,000 this evening to support their mission. Tickets sell out fast to this premiere event in Northeast Florida so click here to get yours today. 
Action News Jax is the media sponsor for The Tom Coughlin Jay Fund, and we are proud to share their stories and support their fundraising events every year. You can learn more about the Jay Fund’s mission by clicking here.