Contact: Keli Coughlin  
Tom Coughlin Jay Fund Foundation
PO Box 50798
Jacksonville Beach, FL 32240-0798
904-543-2599 
www.tcjayfund.org


JACKSONVILLE, FL February, 2007- The third annual Tom Coughlin Jay Fund Foundation Wine Tasting Gala will entertain a capacity crowd on February 16th at the Aetna Building in downtown Jacksonville. All 700 tickets have been sold to this, one of the cities most popular fundraising events.  The evening will feature a tremendous selection of over 100 wines from around the world, including reserves which will be poured by wine experts.  More than 20 of Jacksonville’s favorite restaurants will offer savory dishes, live music, and a one-of-a-kind silent auction are also on tap for the evening.  Tom Coughlin and other sports celebrities will be on hand enjoying the celebration.  All funds raised will support the Tom Coughlin Jay Fund Foundation, which provides emotional and financial support for First Coast families who have a child suffering from leukemia or cancer. 

A superb variety of over one hundred exquisite wines including reserves have been complied by Southern Wine and Spirits and they will be poured by wine experts.  The quality and variety is unmatched. The list of restaurants serving their best includes Pastiche, The Augustine Grille, 11th South, bb’s, Biscotti’s, River City Brewing Company, The Chop House, Johnny Carino’s, Café Andiamo, Giovanni’s, Ruths Chris’ and the Homestead.  Publix Aprons cooking school will be conducting cooking demonstrations throughout the evening.

The Tom Coughlin Jay Fund Foundation was created in 1996 in honor of Jay McGillis.  Jay was a special young man who developed leukemia while a member of the Boston College football team.  Tom Coughlin was inspired by the courage, compassion and faith he and his family demonstrated during the course of Jay’s illness.  In Jay’s name the Tom Coughlin Jay Fund Foundation hopes to improve the quality of life of families on the First Coast by lessening their financial burdens and providing emotional support.  The Jay Fund has provided over $1.5 million dollars to assist local families since it’s inception.

 “We know the community will embrace the event as they have the past two years so the Jay Fund can continue to offer support during a tremendously difficult time which most of us can not imagine,” says Coughlin, the president of the Tom Coughlin Jay Fund and former Jacksonville Jaguars head coach. “Over 70 children were diagnosed with cancer in Jacksonville last year, the need is great.”

It’s not too late to be a part of this event although tickets for the Gala are sold out.  As a special addition to the Wine Tasting the Jay Fund with support from Southern Wine and Spirits has added an exclusive Winemakers Dinner on Thursday, February 15th from 6-10 pm at River City Brewing Company.  Bryan Del Bondio, president and winemaker at Markham Vineyards in Napa Valley will be the guest speaker.  This memorable, quaint evening of fine Napa Valley wines and five delicious courses of foods specially chosen and perfectly prepared to accompany them is limited to 100 people.  Call the Tom Coughlin Jay Fund at 904.543.2599 for more information on how you can be a part of this exclusive opportunity.

A particularly touching portion of the night was when a couple who have a young child with cancer took the microphone. They told the story of their son, Hunter, and how even a middle class family can be forced to downsize their home, car and lifestyle in order to financially cover the costs related to their child’s illness as well as continue to pay their monthly bills.

The Jay Fund also found other ways to incorporate the children currently receiving treatment into the evening. Each guest was given a wine glass with a handmade wine charm from the children at the Nemours Children’s Oncology unit. The names and ages of the young artists were written on each one.

“This cause is dear to my heart as is the Jacksonville community” said Tom Coughlin, president and founder of the Jay Fund and head coach of the New York Giants. “I am thrilled to be here and see the community rally together like a team to support these children in need.”

The Jay Fund is named in honor of Jay McGillis, a special young man who played football at Boston College under Coughlin. McGillis died of leukemia at the age of 21. Through exceptional adversity and ultimate tragedy brought about by this fatal illness, Jay and his family set an example of courage and dignity that would forever leave its mark on those who knew him. Well over one million dollars has been contributed by the Jay Fund to local Jacksonville families fighting the battle against childhood cancer.

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