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HISTORY

Tom Coughlin founded the Tom Coughlin Jay Fund Foundation in 1996 in the memory of Jay McGillis, a former player at Boston College.  Jay’s courage and endearing compassion taught Coughlin a great deal about the capacity of human willpower and the importance of cherishing the gift of life.  Jay was diagnosed with leukemia in November of 1991.  Tom Coughlin had the privilege of spending a great deal of time with Jay and the McGillis family while Jay battled this disease.  The emotional and financial strain of the illness was something that Tom Coughlin witnessed first hand.  Unfortunately Jay lost his battle on July 3, 1992.  His spirit, humility, and regard for his family were some of the qualities that inspired many.

When Coughlin moved to Jacksonville, Florida to found the expansion NFL team the Jacksonville Jaguars his vision was to start a foundation that would help local families who have a child suffering from leukemia.  He wanted to lessen the financial and emotional burden that these families endure.  Coughlin contacted Dr. Mike Joyce at the Nemours Children’s Clinic and they strategized the best way to help.  The fundraising began with a celebrity golf tournament, which remains today as the crown jewel event of the Foundation.  Directed by Honarary Board Member Fran Foley the tournament was a great success and allowed the expansion of the Jay Fund to assist families who have a child with any pediatric cancer. 

The Tom Coughlin Jay Fund Foundation has grown annually and has thereby been able to increase the distribution of funds yearly as well.  Coughlin’s departure from the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2003 brought great awareness to the Foundations vital role in the community.  The pediatric oncology staff at Nemours Children’s Clinic and Wolfson Children’s Hospital worried that the funding the Jay Fund provides to local families would end.  They feared that the Jay Fund would lack funding from corporate sponsorship and individual support.  Thankfully the opposite happened.  The Community rallied around the cause and the Jay Fund in turn raised more money that year than any year previous.

When Tom Coughlin was hired as the Head Coach of the New York Football Giants he re-affirmed his commitment to the Jacksonville community by vowing to keep the Jay Fund in Jacksonville and continuing to do all he can to help it continue to expand.  Coughlin also initiated a branch of the Tom Coughlin Jay Fund Foundation in the New York Metropolitan Area in October 2004.  Coughlin hopes that the Jay Fund will become a great contributor to better the lives of many in his new home. 

Both divisions of the Jay Fund donate their monies to local families who have a child suffering from leukemia or another childhood cancer.  In Jay McGillis’s name the foundation hopes to speed the day no family has to suffer through such a profound tragedy.