Two surprises greeted a group of New Jersey families when they walked into a grocery store several miles from MetLife Stadium, where the New York Giants and Jets both play.
The families all have children with cancer, and the event was a continuation of thework Manning and Coughlin have donefor years working to fight childhood cancer. Manning is an ambassador for Hackensack Meridian’sTackle Kids Cancer’s initiative, aimed at finding cures for pediatric cancer. Coughlin’s charity,The Jay Fund, provides financial and emotional support for families who have a child with the disease.
Courtesy of The Jay Fund
“We’ve been having a blast with the families — so many smiles,” Manning tells PEOPLE. “Having a child with cancer, it’s hard to imagine what it’s like, and the toll on the families. To have a day, in the holiday season, to have fun and just load up — obviously on the essentials, the things you need, but also all the cookies and cupcakes for the kids. Because these families deserve a little joy this holiday season.”
Eli Manning, Tom Coughlin.Courtesy of The Jay Fund
Since its founding in 1996, the Jay Fund has provided approximately $20 million to more than 5,600 families with children suffering from cancer in the New York City and Jacksonville, Fla., areas where Coughlin coached the NFL’s Giants and Jacksonville Jaguars.
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Tom Coughlin, Camila Izaguirre.Courtesy of The Jay Fund
He tells PEOPLE that since 2021, the Jay Fund has seen a 29% increase in the amount of financial support the charity has needed to cover food and grocery costs. This year alone, the foundation has paid 3,734 bills for rent, mortgage, utilities, groceries and transportation costs. That amounts to 11 bills a day.
“If we can help them through this critical time of the year, then we can see all the joy,” says Coughlin.
For more information on Tackle Kids Cancer, visittacklekidscancer.org.For more information on the Tom Coughlin Jay Fund Foundation visittcjayfund.org.
source: people.com
