The Tom Coughlin Jay Fund Foundation was created in honor of Jay McGillis.
Jay was a special young man who developed leukemia while a member of Coach Coughlin’s team at Boston College. In the eight months between Jay’s diagnosis and the day he lost his battle with cancer, the Coughlin family saw first hand the physical, emotional, and financial strains the illness caused the McGillis Family. After going through the tragic events with Jay’s family, Coach Coughlin vowed that if he ever had the chance, he would create a way to help families with children battling cancer.
Coach Coughlin kept his vow and started this foundation to be there in Jay’s honor. For over 25 years, the Jay Fund has evolved in size and scope. We have helped over 5,000 families and given away over $16 million in grants helping thousands of families in Northeast Florida and the New York/New Jersey Metropolitan Area.
IN HONOR OF JAY MCGILLIS (1970-1992)
The Jay Fund Team
Tom Coughlin
President
Keli Coughlin
CEO
Mary Carnovale
Communications Manager
Lynn Chwatsky
Strategy and Growth Advisor
Caroline Erwin, CCLS
Program Manager/Child Life Specialist
Suzanne Funke
Special Projects Coordinator
Sue Garbe
Program Director, NY/NJ Area
Alex Garcia
Donor Engagement Manager
Rita Malie
Program Director
Richard Naylor
Director of Business Operations
Mary Jane Pulzello
Managing Director, NY/NJ Area
Lisa Storer
Office Manager
Carolyn Tillo
Director of Communications
Kim Todd, CCLS
Child Life Specialist
Lindsay Vachon
Administrative Assistant NY/NJ Area
Edye Wright
Director of Community Engagement
Julie Zapala
Volunteer Coordinator
Kelly Bussanich
Program Integration Coordinator
Tom Coughlin Jay Fund Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Statement, As of 2021
At the Tom Coughlin Jay Fund, diversity, equity, and inclusion is us walking compassionately alongside families journeying through childhood cancer no matter their race, color, religion, creed, culture, class, composition, or lifestyle. Cancer doesn’t discriminate and neither do we.
The Jay Fund has a record of effectively serving people from all backgrounds by earning their trust. Every one of our families is unique and remarkable, deserving of our absolute best efforts to provide them with what they need to persevere; financial, emotional, or practical support.
The Jay Fund promotes healing, connection, and support – the antithesis of bigotry, intolerance, and exclusion. No one should fight cancer alone, and it is our mission to be there. Our team of professional staff and dedicated volunteers are committed to fostering the acceptance of all people by creating safe, nurturing, and respectful spaces for those brave children fighting cancer and the families who love and care for them.
Board of Directors
Tom Coughlin – President
Ernie Bono, Sr. – Vice President and Secretary
Dr. Michael Joyce – Medical Director
Ernie Bono, Jr.
Kevin Boothe
Gary Chartrand
Brian Coughlin
Susan DuBow
Dr. Saundra Jackson
Tom Kelly
Shelly Kobb
Mike Lewis
Mike McGillis
Anne Coxe Mesrobian
Sandra Ramsey
Joanne Robertson
Advisory Board
Kristin Barbato
Maribel Carson
Tim Coughlin
Mark Herzlich
Jon Miller
Sandy Montag
Kate Snee
Allison Stangeby
Honorary Board Members
Judy Coughlin*
Fran Foley
Ken Tonning*
*Deceased
Special thanks to the teammates that advise the Board Members in Committee roles: Donna Augustyniak, Susie Coughlin, Joli Craver, John Crawford, Christian D’Alessandro, Dustin Fries, Gary Hiatt, Marshall Hill, Dr. Saundra Jackson, Kerry Miller, Rick Plotkin, Tom Rackley, Peter Reynolds, Helena Richards, Pablo Saldana, Marcy Sandler, Terry Wilson, and Barry Zeidwig.
Coach Coughlin’s 2023 Leadership Team
Press Coverage
Teammates
