Financial Support
Easing the Financial Burden
Providing essential assistance so parents can focus on their child's health.
When childhood cancer strikes, families face more than medical bills—they face lost income, rising household costs and financial uncertainty. The Tom Coughlin Jay Fund helps shoulder those burdens so parents can focus on their child’s health and healing. No family should face the added weight of financial hardship during this stressful time.
Immediate Relief
Covering Essential Expenses
The Jay Fund provides direct financial assistance to help families manage critical household costs during treatment, including:
- Mortgage or rent payments
- Auto payments
- Utility bills
- Groceries and other essentials
This support keeps families stable, secure and able to focus on what matters most—their child.
We support all, no matter your socioeconomic status.
Prepping for the Road Ahead
The Financial Game Plan
Beyond immediate relief, we help families plan for the road ahead. Our Financial Game Plan program pairs parents with experienced financial coaches who provide:
- One-on-one financial counseling
- Tools to manage day-to-day expenses
- Guidance for navigating unexpected medical costs
- Strategies to reduce long-term financial stress
We empower them to make decisions that protect their financial well-being during and after treatment by equipping families with knowledge and confidence.
The Jay Fund hosts financial workshops throughout the year designed to empower parents with knowledge and tools to face the financial challenges of childhood cancer. These workshops also give parents an opportunity to connect with other caregivers facing similar circumstances.
Educational Assistance
Scholarship Opportunities
The 2026 application will open on January 20, 2026.
Application Deadline: March 31, 2026
To apply, please contact the following people:
- New York/New Jersey applicants should contact Sue Garbe at: sue@tcjayfund.org
- North Florida/South Georgia applicants should contact Rita Malie at: rita@tcjayfund.org
About the Scholarship
The Tom Coughlin Jay Fund Foundation awards annual college scholarships as inspiration to cancer patients and survivors in order that they may achieve their full potential in life.
To be eligible to apply, all applicants must have had a cancer diagnosis prior to the age of 21. In addition to a cancer diagnosis, all applicants must be enrolled, or be planning to enroll, full-time in an accredited college or university. Academic achievement, moral character, attitude, and resilience are some of the attributes considered in selecting recipients.
Scholarship applicants must meet the following requirements:
- Have a record of receiving financial support from the Jay Fund previously or participating in a Jay Fund event AND
- For New York/New Jersey applicants:
- You must be a permanent resident of one of the following five boroughs of New York City: Bronx, Brooklyn, Manhattan, Staten Island or Queens or one of the following counties in New Jersey: Bergen, Essex, Hudson, Middlesex, Passaic, Union.
- For Jacksonville-area applicants:
- You must be a permanent resident of one of the following Florida counties: Alachua, Baker, Bradford, Clay, Columbia, Duval, Flagler, Hamilton, Jefferson, Lafayette, Leon, Madison, Nassau, Putnam St. Johns, Suwannee, Taylor, Union, Volusia, or Wakulla or one of the following Georgia counties: Atkinson, Bacon, Brantley, Camden, Charlton, Clinch, Coffee, Echols, Glynn, Lanier, Lowndes, McIntosh, Pierce or Ware.