FAQs
Simple. It best conveys the joy, innocence and simplicity of life that all kids should experience. It conjures up an immediate image of a certain harmony, youth, good feeling – a vision of childhood and experiencing happy memories. Moreover, it speaks to shared new discoveries and experiences – even adventures. Additionally, there is symmetry with the Founder Jon and his wife Jill and their two children Jake and Jamie – the meaningful and unfortunate inspiration behind this foundation – this purpose.
This organization has become a bedrock: a base for those families where Mom or Dad are diagnosed with late stage cancer. Also, the business classification of a “Foundation” makes it clear: we are not a commercial enterprise. Rather, we are an organization with a purpose, resources and stability. We will support this ever-growing population by providing a physical, emotional structure for these children and their families where today, no similar resource exists.
This organization fills a void and a need and is differentiated. National research shows there is no other cancer organization addressing the children of late-stage cancer parents like this.
The Jack & Jill Late Stage Cancer Foundation address kids under 18 who have a Mom or Dad with late-stage, limited-life-expectancy cancer – any cancer. While the children do not have cancer physically, they have also been stricken emotionally and shaken mentally by their parent’s disease. When Mom or Dad is diagnosed with late-stage cancer, children find their immediate world turned upside down, and face the reality that the rest of their lives will never be quite the same. Moms and Dads immediately worry for their children. The kids worry for their parents as much as they are uncertain for themselves......they think about the one who will pass away..the other who will be "left alone". We will help kids and their parents spend quality time together in the face of these hardships and uncertainties. The family unit is at the heart of the Foundation: "Treating the families, not the cancer.
Because, research confirms that each year, more than one million more Americans find themselves directly affected when Mom or Dad is diagnosed with late-stage cancer. By definition, there is a poor prognosis with a limited life expectancy. “Never again” begins when Mom or Dad dies.™ When “never again” begins, memories become our greatest inheritance.™ The Jack & Jill Late Stage Cancer Foundation will provide memory opportunities and experiences for these families enabling them to live in the moment...while they can.
I have been fortunate in my due diligence to meet with The Chairman of the Board for Make-A-Wish. He has supported and confirmed, how The Jack & Jill Late Stage Cancer Foundation is distinct and differentiated and how we truly fill a void. They based their support on being in this space for over twenty-seven years. Make-A-Wish’s mission is to: “grant the wishes of children with life-threatening medical conditions.” “Many of the children who qualify for a wish go on to lead healthy and happy lives.”
The Jack & Jill Late Stage Cancer Foundation business model differs from the wish foundations in two fundamental ways. First, our focus is on the children who have a parent dying of cancer – an overlooked population. According to a recently released study by the American Cancer Society, nearly 571,000 Americans died of cancer this past year – more than 1500 each day. Too many had children who lost their Mom or Dad. We are definitely filling a void and meeting a need. And, we are creating an annuity for our investors (donors): the memories these children will cherish as they grow will become the pay-off to our investors.
The Foundation has and will continue to accumulate a wide choice of memory opportunities. The memory opportunity choices will be “warehoused” ready to distribute (the second significant difference). They will not be “made from scratch orders,” like the wish groups strive to achieve, which could be inefficient to accumulate and distribute in a timely fashion. Our model is efficient, more conducive to serving the late-stage cancer population. The organization focuses on securing these agreements, contractual obligations, alliances and in-kind commitments rather than a series of “one-off” asks over and over again. It will also be much more efficient for the donors.
There are countless ways to gain cherished, long lasting and indespensable memories. They don't have to be original wishes: just realized delight, a bit of deserved enchantment, a positive timeout from the throes of late-stage cancer...a chance to share experiences with Mom and Dad together ...while they can.
A first rate team of business professionals has been recruited. The response was very encouraging. Our diverse Board of Directors includes those with non-profit executive and child/family phychology expertise and the head of The Georgia Cancer Foundation. Please see separate detail under people for bios and contact information.
We are also attracting an impressive roster of highly respected executives to our Board of Advisors. Additionally, our Medical Board of Advisors will be comprised of nationally known leaders in the Oncology field and those making a difference in the oncology community.
Jack & Jill Late Stage Cancer Foundation has been validated and applauded nationally. The enthusiastic support and confidence by these Board members and others has positioned the Foundation as an imporant, meaningful organization. An organization that is making a true impact with lasting, measurable results.
WOW! ExperiencesTM are shared family experiences such as VIP tours and status, special access, privileged guest appearances, tickets, and meet and greets. These WOW! ExperiencesTM will be remembered four months later, four years later and beyond. These WOW! Experiences will eventually be shared with the grandchildren who never got to meet their grandmother or grandfather.
Memory opportunities could be beach, lake or mountain houses; behind-the-scenes tours, going to a “live” movie set or music recording studio; being with a CEO, chairman, governor or mayor for part of a day; riding in a vintage car and enjoying a picnic; cruises on private yachts or rides on planes.
“Memory ops” could be great seats to a sporting event or show, having ice cream with the star of the show or a professional ballplayer, or sitting in on a private rehearsal or practice.
Experiences could be watching the evening news being broadcast live from the studio and having dinner or dessert with the anchors afterwards. Imagine all the festivals, concerts, amusement parks, farms, guest ranches, helicopter rides, private plane excursions, wolf sanctuaries, and other attractions that could serve as a memory experience for these children and their Mom, Dad.
There is literally a world of possibilities from standard to exotic and unique to basic. Some will be three-hour “positive distractions.” Some timeouts will last for 3 days. All will be approved by personal physicians as part of the selection criteria (please see separate section).
Imagine the children and Moms/Dads we will continue to touch.
Memories become an annuity – the legacy, a measurable return on investment. We want you to experience realized gains. We will continue to document and offer you a chance to measure these very real results you are providing. You will gain an appreciation of the true importance and value of this Foundation from:
- The children’s perspective
- The care-giving spouse, and
- The patient
We played “devil’s advocate” with a wide range of oncologists, oncology social workers and nurses, children psychologists, board of directors of oncology-related organizations, patients with late-stage cancer and adults who as children lost their Mom or Dad to cancer.
Scenario: So, the family goes to a show. They have great seats, maybe even dessert with the star afterwards. It’s a memorable evening – a four-hour “timeout.” Perhaps the family chose a three day getaway to a resort or a special three nights in NYC seeing Broadway shows and touring The Big Apple. Whether it is the beach, VIP tour status, a unique meet and greet, etc., the next morning the cancer is still there – Daddy or Mommy will still die prematurely. The children will still lose their Mom or Dad way too early.
So, we asked the candid question: Why is this Foundation such a great idea?
To a person, everyone has said: “Do it! Make it happen.” Facing the realities of late stage cancer also means accumulating these memories while you can. They all support how important these memories become and how meaningful the experiences are when:
- The older children know Mom or Dad will die prematurely;
- The spouse and patient certainly know; and
- Even for younger kids who don’t fully grasp the limited life expectancy.
When the inevitable happens, these particular memories and experiences will be essential to the grieving process. Memories near the end become so much more vivid and long lasting. These professionals position this organization as “preventative care”…addressing the psychosocial health of the children, caregiver and the patient. They have confirmed not enough attention has been paid to this essential need when cancer strikes (the family).
Many nationally have referenced words from The Armstrong Foundation in comparison with the true potential we too have: “We believe in life. Your life. We believe in living every minute of it with every ounce of your being. And that you must not let cancer take control of it.”
A referral network has been developed consisting of leading hospitals and oncology practices. Physicians, nurses and social workers (a.k.a. Wellness Coordinators) know their patients and their families best. They know the medical prognosis, physical status, emotional state and the family circumstances. Based on the criteria established by The Foundation’s medical advisors, late-stage cancer patients with limited life expectancy are approached in a private, discreet manner by their own medical team. The Foundation will not be in the medical assessment or evaluation business.
Oncologists and hospitals are adding value to their total patient care services by having The Jack & Jill Late-Stage Cancer Foundation serve as a resource partner. This is a unique, special, direct and tangible way to focus on the whole patient and his or her immediate family. We cannot be more encouraged by the positive reaction we have received from the national cancer community.
The criteria and referral process includes a medical release for local or distant travel and an approval by the patient’s physician to take full advantage of this opportunity.
Our Oncology coalition referral process has been praised for ensuring only qualified candidates/families are served by The Foundation. It allows us to be responsible and consistent.
Cancer does not discriminate. Late-stage cancer is an equal opportunity offender. The Jack & Jill Late-Stage Cancer Foundation will treat all families facing this dreadful disease. This is about living in the moment with your children. While we expect to provide memories to many who otherwise would never be able to afford such important experiences, we will touch the lives of a broad socio-economic range. The cancer community has implored us to do so. Many who could have the financial wherewithal never take the time to escape the chaos of cancer. Additionally, most will not have the access to the VIP status/access and privileges The Foundation will.
The Foundation will only grow within its means. Our reach will be broad as we continue to accumulate WOW! Experiences™ across the country. As we build inventory, we will treat more and more families. The fundamental value of The Jack & Jill Late Stage Cancer Foundation (as praised by the medical community) is lessening the short and long-term impact of inevitable grief on children and families. The financial model and organizational structure has been shaped by many successful business executives and professionals in the oncology field and is conducive to scaling. The Foundation has been praised nationally for being lean, efficient, straightforward, responsible and tangible. We will continue to treat: 1 family at a time. Unfortunately, finding Dads and Moms facing late stage cancer about to leave behind children is the easiest part of this foundation.
The Foundation’s philosophy is that a volunteer should be placed in a position that will be personally rewarding and enriching while the volunteer serves a tangible, efficient role for the foundation. Their responsibilities should not be taxing from a time or operational perspective.
We have and will continue to identify a team of compassionate, dedicated and knowledgeable volunteers – knowledgeable in the sense they know our mission and fully appreciate the inspiration behind the Foundation. All value the importance of this foundation. All truly care and simply want to help.
Staff: Will handle all agreements, commitments, paperwork, logistics, expenses, operational details.
Volunteers: Will perform final confirmation of timing, pick-ups, drop-offs, etc. When applicable they may assist with the final coordination of pictures, videotaping, etc. Some will act as chaperones or "hosts".
Jack & Jill Late Stage Cancer Foundation was inspired by Jill and Jon Albert’s real life story. With an M.B.A. and years of executive experience in the corporate world, Jon found himself, his wife, Jill, and their two young children Jake and Jamie facing Jill’s Stage IV metastatic breast cancer. Jill and Jon realized early on in Jill’s fight the disease was not just attacking her body, but it was affecting their entire family. Jill and Jon decided they needed to treat their family along with the cancer. Jon took his marketing and operations background and combined it with their drive to formulate something positive and tangible out of the unfair and cruel. The Albert’s knew that for their kids, Jamie and Jake, strong memories of special times together would be their greatest inheritance. From this notion, the Jack & Jill Late Stage Cancer Foundation was born.
A graduate of Vanderbilt University and the University of Florida where he achieved his master’s in business, Jon spent a number of years with Frito-Lay. Jon moved to Atlanta in 1989 to establish and launch the GA operations for PageNet which grew into a wonderful success story. He then had the unique opportunity to serve as a Director for The Atlanta Committee for the Olympic Games (ACOG----a $1.8 billion start-up). In 1996 after The Olympics, Jon joined Clyde Rodbell’s company as the President of the Builder Division of Apex Supply. Jon was actively involved in the sale of Apex Supply to The Home Depot years later.
When not dedicated to this labor of love Foundation, which Jon says, is exceptionally rewarding professionally and personally, Jon’s primary extracurricular is coaching youth sports—another passion he has done for over 20 years.