Dr. Jay Charitable Foundation launches their first annual "Friends of the Dr. Jay" Campaign in support of the Dr. Jay Children's Grief Program
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 3, 2009
Toronto, ON -- For the first time in their 14-year history, the Dr. Jay Charitable Foundation has launched the “Friends of the Dr. Jay” Annual Campaign. The goal of this significant campaign is to raise at least $100,000 for the Dr. Jay Children’s Grief Program. The inaugural “Friends of the Dr. Jay” Campaign runs until December 31, 2009. Click here to make a donation.
The Dr. Jay Charitable Foundation has been the primary supporter of the Dr. Jay Children’s Grief Program. “The Dr. Jay Children’s Grief Program was created in May, 2006, to fulfill an urgent, unmet need in our community; providing support for children who are terminally ill or who are facing the loss of a parent or sibling, by giving them the counselling that helps them to cope, before, during and after the death,” said Dr. Jay Bacher, Chairman of the Board and Founder of The Dr. Jay Charitable Foundation. This is the only program of its kind in Canada and is entirely dependent on private funding. To date, the Dr. Jay Children’s Grief Program has received over 450 referrals and has supported over 850 grieving or terminally ill children and their siblings. Currently there are over 300 referrals, waiting for services and a wait-list of up to 6-months.
During the Dr. Jay Charitable Foundation’s annual Golf Classic on June 15, 2009 at Angus Glen Golf Club, Scott Morrison, a commentator with CBC's Hockey Night in Canada, delivered an emotional keynote address where he talked about how the Dr. Jay Grief Program has helped him and his son Mark after the passing of his beloved wife, Kathy.
“As a parent, as many of you out there are, you know that your child is job one, the most important thing in your life, especially when something like Kathy’s passing happens. They are the reason for living, for wanting to go on. And all that matters is that their world is the best possible world it can be. Well, guess what? It is a wonderful goal, it is the right goal, but it is also a goal you cannot comfortably attain without help.
Thankfully for us, we got it. We first met with Heather and Andrea from The Dr. Jay Children’s Grief Program when Kathy had taken a bad turn in August and was starting palliative care. Because we had Mark, we were offered a visit with Heather and Andrea to help prepare us, but especially him. It was a very difficult, but excellent visit at the same time. I will never forget the look in Kathy’s eyes as we spoke, knowing she was going to lose her son. I can’t imagine the look in my eyes, knowing what was ahead for her and us. It was then that I started to fully understand what we were facing – Kathy, me and especially Mark. Even then, of course, it was incredibly surreal. Mark was put on the clinic’s waiting list.
They can only afford so many counsellors, four counsellors – Heather, Andrea, Lysa and Ceilidh, all of them angels – so there is always a waiting list.
No child, who is losing a mom or loved one, should be on a waiting list.
As you might expect, after the illness and after the death, the only thing that mattered in my world was that everything was right with Mark. It was on the day of the funeral, just before we were heading to the church that the phone rang and it was Heather with the news that Mark had cleared the waiting list and was in the clinic.
I promised in my eulogy that I would do my best for Mark and I wasn’t going to let Kathy and Mark down. I also suddenly realized, in the midst of my emotion and sadness and anger and confusion, just how daunting of a task it was going to be. I knew I was going to need all kinds of help and I can honestly say there was a great sense of relief in knowing that we were part of The Dr. Jay Children’s Grief Program.”
Every dollar raised by the “Friends of the Dr. Jay” Annual Campaign will go directly to the Dr. Jay Children’s Grief Program. As Scott said, “No child should be on a waiting list. It is unconscionable that any child in need should have to wait for services.”
The “Friends of the Dr. Jay” Campaign runs from October 5 – December 31, 2009.
www.drjayfoundation.com or Click here to make a donation.
About The Dr. Jay Charitable Foundation:
The Dr. Jay Charitable Foundation is recognized as a leader in providing Palliative Care funding and support for children, helping families face terminal illness and death with dignity and determination.
Contact:
Helene Wahle, Executive Director
helene@drjayfoundation.com
416-456-1150
Press Contact:
Alyse Feldman, On the Fly Public Relations
ontheflypr@gmail.com
416-802-3592
November 3, 2009
Toronto, ON -- For the first time in their 14-year history, the Dr. Jay Charitable Foundation has launched the “Friends of the Dr. Jay” Annual Campaign. The goal of this significant campaign is to raise at least $100,000 for the Dr. Jay Children’s Grief Program. The inaugural “Friends of the Dr. Jay” Campaign runs until December 31, 2009. Click here to make a donation.
The Dr. Jay Charitable Foundation has been the primary supporter of the Dr. Jay Children’s Grief Program. “The Dr. Jay Children’s Grief Program was created in May, 2006, to fulfill an urgent, unmet need in our community; providing support for children who are terminally ill or who are facing the loss of a parent or sibling, by giving them the counselling that helps them to cope, before, during and after the death,” said Dr. Jay Bacher, Chairman of the Board and Founder of The Dr. Jay Charitable Foundation. This is the only program of its kind in Canada and is entirely dependent on private funding. To date, the Dr. Jay Children’s Grief Program has received over 450 referrals and has supported over 850 grieving or terminally ill children and their siblings. Currently there are over 300 referrals, waiting for services and a wait-list of up to 6-months.
During the Dr. Jay Charitable Foundation’s annual Golf Classic on June 15, 2009 at Angus Glen Golf Club, Scott Morrison, a commentator with CBC's Hockey Night in Canada, delivered an emotional keynote address where he talked about how the Dr. Jay Grief Program has helped him and his son Mark after the passing of his beloved wife, Kathy.
“As a parent, as many of you out there are, you know that your child is job one, the most important thing in your life, especially when something like Kathy’s passing happens. They are the reason for living, for wanting to go on. And all that matters is that their world is the best possible world it can be. Well, guess what? It is a wonderful goal, it is the right goal, but it is also a goal you cannot comfortably attain without help.
Thankfully for us, we got it. We first met with Heather and Andrea from The Dr. Jay Children’s Grief Program when Kathy had taken a bad turn in August and was starting palliative care. Because we had Mark, we were offered a visit with Heather and Andrea to help prepare us, but especially him. It was a very difficult, but excellent visit at the same time. I will never forget the look in Kathy’s eyes as we spoke, knowing she was going to lose her son. I can’t imagine the look in my eyes, knowing what was ahead for her and us. It was then that I started to fully understand what we were facing – Kathy, me and especially Mark. Even then, of course, it was incredibly surreal. Mark was put on the clinic’s waiting list.
They can only afford so many counsellors, four counsellors – Heather, Andrea, Lysa and Ceilidh, all of them angels – so there is always a waiting list.
No child, who is losing a mom or loved one, should be on a waiting list.
As you might expect, after the illness and after the death, the only thing that mattered in my world was that everything was right with Mark. It was on the day of the funeral, just before we were heading to the church that the phone rang and it was Heather with the news that Mark had cleared the waiting list and was in the clinic.
I promised in my eulogy that I would do my best for Mark and I wasn’t going to let Kathy and Mark down. I also suddenly realized, in the midst of my emotion and sadness and anger and confusion, just how daunting of a task it was going to be. I knew I was going to need all kinds of help and I can honestly say there was a great sense of relief in knowing that we were part of The Dr. Jay Children’s Grief Program.”
Every dollar raised by the “Friends of the Dr. Jay” Annual Campaign will go directly to the Dr. Jay Children’s Grief Program. As Scott said, “No child should be on a waiting list. It is unconscionable that any child in need should have to wait for services.”
The “Friends of the Dr. Jay” Campaign runs from October 5 – December 31, 2009.
www.drjayfoundation.com or Click here to make a donation.
About The Dr. Jay Charitable Foundation:
The Dr. Jay Charitable Foundation is recognized as a leader in providing Palliative Care funding and support for children, helping families face terminal illness and death with dignity and determination.
Contact:
Helene Wahle, Executive Director
helene@drjayfoundation.com
416-456-1150
Press Contact:
Alyse Feldman, On the Fly Public Relations
ontheflypr@gmail.com
416-802-3592
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