The Tom Coughlin Jay Fund Foundation was instituted in 1996, in memory of Jay McGillis, a former football player at Boston College, who played under Coach Coughlin’s tutelage. Jay’s courage and endearing compassion taught Coach 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, 1991, and lost his battle just eight months later, on July 3, 1992. During this time, Coach Coughlin had the privilege of spending a great deal of time with Jay and his family, as they battled his disease together. Here, Coach witnessed not only the emotional strain this illness brought upon the McGillis Family but, indeed, the financial strain, too.  Coach Coughlin vowed to create a way to help families with children battling cancer if ever he had the chance.  To make a difference in these families’ lives was the driving force for Coach to create the Jay Fund.

 

Upon moving to Jacksonville in 1996 when Coach Coughlin was hired as the head coach of the NFL expansion team Jacksonville Jaguars, he realized his vision of starting a foundation in Jay’s honor that would help local families with a child suffering from leukemia and other cancers.  Fundraising began with an annual celebrity golf tournament, under the guidance of Honorary Board Member, Fran Foley. As the needs in the Jacksonville community grew, so did the foundation.  Coach’s daughter, Keli, now serves as executive director of the foundation. One of many accomplishments under Keli’s direction is a $5 million dollar endowment, created to keep the foundation funded in perpetuity in the Jacksonville community.

 

When Tom accepted the position of head coach for the New York Football Giants, he successfully expanded the Jay Fund’s efforts to the New York metropolitan area. This opportunity allowed us to expand our outreach in new and exciting ways in the NY/NJ area, and our impact has helped countless families faced with the crisis of helping their child battle cancer. To date, the Jay Fund has given over $3.5 million dollars in grants to help families who have a child with cancer. And, the Jay Fund is proud to note that its operating expenses are just 6 percent.

 

Jay’s spirit lives on in all of those who are touched by the Jay Fund. It is in his name that this foundation hopes to speed the day where no family has to suffer through such a profound tragedy.