Jason’s Friends Foundation Semi-Annual Bulletin Published May 2016

Our Mission

Is your child battling cancer? Or do you know a family who could use our help?

Contact us TODAY!Jason’s Friends Foundation

340 W. “B” Street Suite 101 Casper, WY 82601 (307) 235-3421 phone (307) 265-4668 fax

Email: info@jasonsfriends.orgVisit us online: jasonsfriends.org

The mission of Jason’s Friends Foundation is to assist

Wyoming families whose children suffer from childhood

cancers and brain or spinal cord tumors by providing

critical non-medical financial assistance, advocacy and

encouragement.

This issue of Call to Courage is dedicated to Jason in the year of

his 30th birthday.

Jason’s Friends Receives Chamber AwardWe are proud to announce that Jason’s Friends was presented with the 2016 Organization of the Year award at the Casper Area Chamber of Commerce 113th Annual Awards Banquet on April 28. The Organization of the Year is awarded to a not-for-profit organization that exists within the Casper area; any group or organization who has fulfilled their mission or goals; has expanded the service they provided to the community and its improvement; has provided the Casper area with leadership for the welfare of its populace; has made a significant contribution of time, skills and resources toward the improvement of the Casper community. Thank you to all of our supporters who voted for us!

Christine Robinson accepts the Organization

of the Year Award on behalf of Jason’s Friends

Foundation.

Like Jason’s Friends

Foundation on Facebook!

Since 1996, Jason's Friends Foundation has provided over $3,600,000 in assistance for non-medical expenses such as rent or mortgage payments, utilities, groceries,

and travel costs for families traveling out of town for their child's medical care.

We served 85 families in 2015 and have enrolled 9 new families so far in 2016. Each of these families is receiving critical assistance for their financial needs

while their children battle childhood cancer and brain or spinal cord tumors. Your donation to Jason's Friends

will assure that we are able to provide help for every Wyoming family in our program seeking assistance.

IMPACTING WYOMING FAMILIES

PLEASE JOIN US IN HONORING THESE

HEROES WHO ARE FIGHTING HARD OR HAVE OVERCOME

THEIR ILLNESS!May Birthdays

August Birthdays

Donovan, 20 - CheyenneXavier, 17 - CasperAva, 6 - Cheyenne

Emily, 12 - CheyenneRayshawn, 5 - RawlinsBrayton, 7 - Douglas

Jose, 10 - Rock SpringsNykoda, 1 - Cheyenne

Noah, 10 - Rock SpringsOakley, 9 - Casper

Derek, 12 - LaramieLekiesha, 16 - GilletteThomas, 14 - SheridanHaiden, 15 - WheatlandKatherine, 9 - GilletteJazmine, 16 - Casper

Clay, 20 - CasperAvaleena, 8 - SheridanRyder, 21 - JacksonBrayde’, 12 - Laramie

June Birthdays

Codi, 19 - CasperLexie, 15 - CasperChase, 9 - Casper

Joshua, 6 - CheyenneRylie, 19 - CasperEJ, 16 - Casper

Annamarie, 7 - CheyenneHannah, 13 - DixonKrysta, 9 - RivertonElizabel, 14 - CasperParker, 10 - RivertonBilly, 17 - JacksonLogan, 6 - CasperEmma, 13 - Casper

Makayla, 18 - HillsdaleBen, 21 - Casper

Baily, 14 - CheyenneColter, 3 - Casper

Scarlett, 19 - CasperMarco, 21 - CasperMason, 13 - CasperCaleb, 4 - Riverton

July Birthdays

September Birthdays

Bailey, 17 - TorringtonCarly Rae, 4 - GilletteBrandy, 21 - BoslerCarson, 6 - RozetSteven, 17 - RivertonLincoln, 13 - GilletteDylan, 21 - RivertonBriley, 6 - Gillette

12-year-old Emma with her family at “A Tribute to the Great American Cowboy” rodeo,

November 7, 2015

Since 2007, The Great American Cowboy PRCA rodeo has had a special presentation both at their event and highlighted in their program book to introduce and feature a recipient of the Children’s Western Wish Foundation.

Emma was the 2015 Children’s Western Wish Recipient at “A Tribute to the Great American Cowboy” rodeo on November 7, 2015.

Emma was diagnosed with twenty one brain tumors at the age of two weeks. Her condition, called Tuberous Sclerosis Complex, causes tumors to grow on all of her major organs, which triggers daily seizures. She had her first tumor removed at two months old. There is no cure for TSC. Emma has many deficits, but she is the happiest and most loving 12-year-old girl you will ever meet.

Featured Friends

Emma with Rocky and Lisa Eades, Jason’s Friends

Foundation co-founders, and daughter Skylar.

Support for Camp Courage Wyoming is Appreciated

Camp Courage Wyoming will be held August 5-7, 2016 at Crooked Creek Guest Ranch near Dubois, Wyoming. Ten families will be chosen to attend the 5th annual childhood cancer camp. The camp is funded through grants, sponsors and private donations which enable families to attend Camp Courage free of charge. This is a family camp which includes components for the child with cancer, the parents and their siblings. Activities include horseback trail rides, ATV trail rides, disc golf, art projects, horse painting, hiking, fishing, movie night, horse feeding, cookie decorating, parent social hour and Saturday night live music. It is a fun family weekend of recreation and camaraderie.

Wyoming families whose cancer child is 18 or under prior to camp, whether in treatment or post-treatment, are eligible and encouraged to apply. Children without a recent diagnosis as well as long-term survivors are welcome. Applications are available through the Jason’s Friends office or at jasonsfriends.org.

* “We all share a huge bond with what we have been through” * “No stress - just relaxed with time to talk.” * “Very valuable to connect with other families.” * “Didn’t want to leave.” *

In support of Camp Courage Wyoming, stop by Jason’s Friends to purchase 12 ounce bags of Bold Fresh

Ground Coffee from City Brew for $7.50. Also available are “Cooking with Inspiration” cookbooks for $15.00, a

collection of recipes by Wyoming cancer survivors, caregivers and others whose lives have been affected by cancer.

Deadline to apply for Camp is June 3rd.

We are extremely grateful for the generous support provided for Camp Courage Wyoming 2016 by the Tom

and Helen Tonkin Foundation, Blue Envelope Health Fund, Taco John’s Foundation, Ivinson Memorial Hospital and

Wyoming Medical Center Foundation.

On behalf of the beneficiaries of the proceeds, a huge thanks to all who sponsored, donated and participated in the 2016 Bowl for Jason’s Friends. You have made a great impact on Wyoming families whose children suffer from childhood cancer and brain or spinal cord tumors.

2016 Bowl for Jason’s Friends

Corporate Sponsors107.9 the River AM 1400 ESPN

AMBI/Oil City Printers Casper Star Tribune

Casper Orthopaedic Associates, Inc. Cercy Investments Cloud Peak Energy

First Interstate Bank Greiner Motor Company

Hilltop National Bank K2 Radio

K2TV KFNB-Fox

KGWC TV 14 CBS Kirkwood Oil and Gas

Kiss FM Lisa Burridge & Associates

MeTV McMurry Foundation

Mountain View Regional Hospital & Clinic My Country 95.5

Peden’s, Inc. Pepsi

Perkins Peterbilt of Wyoming

Pizza Hut

R & R Rest Stops Dr. Robert Vigneri

Rocky Mountain Oncology Rock 96.7

Rocky Mountain Power Sheet Metal Specialties

Sinclair Casper Refining Company Team Networks

Tidbits Wells Fargo Bank

Williams, Porter, Day and Neville Wyoming Machinery

Wyoming Cancer Foundation Wyoming Medical Center

THANK YOU FROM THE BOTTOM OF OUR HEARTS!

Thank you to the many businesses and individuals that

provided prizes and auction items!

#1 Properties of Casper/Tina Harper 307 Orthodontics 71 Construction Aaker Signs & Designs Adbay.Com Inc. Advanced Family Dental Albertsons Altitude Veterinary Hospital, P.C. ANB Bank Aspen Ridge Dental Automation & Electronics, Inc. Bar-D Signs, Inc. BioLife Plasma Services Bloedorn Lumber Company Broker One Real Estate Bustard’s Funeral Directors & Crematory Carpet Creations, Inc. Carpet One Casper Caspar Building Systems, Inc. Casper Children’s Center, LLC Casper General Surgery, LLC Casper Surgical Center Casper Vision Center Cassity Dental Arts Central Wyoming Skin Clinic CEPI Coldwell Banker/Cathy Ide Continental Divide Dogsled Adventures CPA Consulting Group, LLP Crazy Rainbow Fly Fishing & Wing Shooting CY Sales Darrell & Carol Lemmon Deer Creek Dental Designs by Tisa Divergence Creative, LLC Don & Laura Claunch Don’s Mobile Carpet, Inc. Dr. Todd and Nancy Witzeling DXP/Quadna Eades Construction Edgeworth Real Estate/Donna Martensen Eggington’s Restaurant, LLC Elkhorn Rehabilitation Hospital, LLC Excal, Inc. Fiberchem, Inc. First American Title Insurance Co. Fischer Body Shop, Inc. Flanigan’s Furniture Outlet Forrest & Debbie Chadwick Foss Motors Fun Stuff Too! Gastroenterology Associates, P.C. Geneva Woods Pharmacy

Lane SponsorsGoolsby, Finley & Associates LLC Gorman Funeral Homes, Inc. Greater Wyoming Federal Credit Union Grizzly Excavating and Construction Halliburton Honda of Casper Hunting Energy Services, Inc. Interstate Storage Solutions ITC Electrical Technologies Jonah Bank of Wyoming Killmer & Associates, P.C. Kindel Concrete, LLC Kitchen Connections, Inc. Lamar Advertising Company Larry & Linda Kloster Lenhart, Mason & Associates, LLC LifeTime Health & Fitness, Inc. Lincoln Financial Advisors Mark and Jo Ann Rybolt Marsh Properties MC Home Design, LLC Merritt & Margaret Benson Mobile Concrete Modern Electric Co. MPI Warehouse Specialty, Co. Murane & Bostwick, LLC Northern Lights Energy Companies, Inc. North Platte Physical Therapy Pediatrics Peak Asset Managers - Mark Petrie Platte River Raft N Reel Platte Valley Bank Poplar Wine & Spirits Porter, Muirhead, Cornia & Howard PowerQuip Corporation Prairie Pella Wyoming, LLC Precise Inspections, LLC ProBuild Pro-Kote Engineering & Supply, Inc. Propel Product Management Inc. R & R Energy Services Randall L. Griffith, DDS Renewal by Andersen of Wyoming Richardson Trucking, Inc. Riddle’s Jewelry, Inc. River Valley Builders, Inc. Rocky Mountain Title Insurance Agency Rod & Laura Stalkup Rod Barstad’s Paint & Auto Body Rodney C. Hill, DDS Roto-Rooter Sewer & Drain ServiceSams Quality MotorsSamuel J. Vigneri, M.D. Schwartz, Bon, Walker & Studer

Silver Fox SteakhouseSkogen, Cometto & AssociatesSmile Academy/Braces USprecher Electric, Inc.Stalkup’s RV Superstore, Inc. Stifel, Nicolaus & Company, Inc.Summit Medical Center, LLCSunrise Baptist ChurchTaco John’sTeam BriceThe Blind Guy of CasperThe Edgeworth Real Estate FirmThe Hurless FamilyThe J TeamThrifty D’s Secondhand StoreTom & Rene AllemandTruGreenUgly Bug Fly ShopUS BankVillage Inn RestaurantWalsh Drive Self Storage, LLCWattis Ranch, LLCWealthSmart AmericaWell Water Solutions and RentalsWhite’s Mountain Motors, LLCWold FoundationWyatt Electric, Inc.WyHy Federal Credit Union Wyoming Anglers Wyoming Behavioral InstituteWyoming Building Supply, Inc.Wyoming Center For Sight, P.C.Wyo Central Federal Credit UnionWyoming Cardiopulmonary Services, P.C.Wyoming Department of HealthWyoming Financial Insurance Inc.Wyoming SignsZimmerman Family Foundation

A NOTE FROM OUR FOUNDER For twenty years, Jason’s Friends Foundation has been raising funds to assist with non-medical expenses for Wyoming families that have a child under 21 years old who has been diagnosed with childhood cancer or a brain or spinal cord tumor. We assist with travel and essential household bills while their child is in treatment, ill as a result of their treatment, and for wellness checks. Presently we have 90 active families. Since its inception, Jason’s Friends has disbursed over 3.6 million dollars to Wyoming families within our program. Our Bowl for Jason’s Friends event annually provides the majority funding to make this possible.

Our 2016 fundraiser took place in an economic climate that leaves little room for many in our state to make charitable contributions. We were hopeful, nonetheless prepared to see substantially reduced numbers for this year’s event. We lost some long time sponsors to the economic downturn but found others willing to join up. Individuals and businesses from Casper and statewide lent a hand with donations of goods and services for auction items and prizes. Outstanding radio, television and newspaper coverage helped raise awareness of our cause. Nearly 1000 dedicated bowlers diligently gathered donations and countless volunteers added both time and talent to the mix. With this combined effort involving thousands of people we raised over $325,000.00 at this year’s Bowl for Jason’s Friends! Down a bit? Yes. Disappointing? Absolutely not!

This money provides a lifeline to families in crisis that is appreciated beyond what words can express. It is seen in the eyes of an emotionally drained parent who comes to realize that the impossible challenge of making ends meet has been relieved through the generosity of folks they will likely never know. This unique program is available in our state because of people who care. Each individual’s part, however large or small, makes a difference. On behalf of all the families touched by the kindness of our community and state, a most heartfelt thanks.

President, Jason’s Friends Foundation

General Donations Your tax deductible gift to Jason’s Friends Foundation will help Wyoming families whose children are battling cancer. THANK YOU in advance for giving as generously as possible.

MAKE A CONTRIBUTION BY MAIL: Send your check or money order made

to Jason’s Friends Foundation to: 340 W “B” Street Suite 101

Casper,WY 82601

GIVE SECURELY BY CREDIT CARD: We accept all major credit cards. Please visit our website to make your donation at

www.jasonsfriends.org.

Jason’s Friends Volunteer Committee

Christine Robinson, Chairman

Lisa Eades, Executive Director

Linda Chivers, Office Manager

Volunteers: Karla Dundas, Emily Dinkel, Tracie Calkin, Toni Billings, Karel Loraas,

Brenda Hurless, Laura Claunch, Sheila Bolden, Debbie Chadwick, Jenny Dundas,

Laura Stalkup, Joan Brust, Trish Henriksen

Email info@jasonsfriends.org to ask about volunteering

T H A N K Y O U ! T H A N K Y O U ! T H A N K Y O U !

A SHOUT OUT to all of the groups, schools and other organizations that have chosen to raise money for Jason’s Friends Foundation!

Students from Woods Learning Center came to Jason’s Friends for their Day of Caring. Custom cards were

made for every Jason’s Friends cancer child. It was a fun 3 hours and the students thoroughly enjoyed it. The kids loved their personalized handmade cards.

Jordy Quilts continue to be enjoyed by Jason’s Friends children during their cancer

treatment. When a family enrolls in our program, they are sent a welcome box that includes one of these beautifully handmade quilts by a Casper mom.

Thank you so much for the time and love you put into these quilts.

Thanks to the Mamots and Larsens for the Easter baskets they donated. Christine Robinson, JFF

Family Advocate Coordinator, personally delivered some of the baskets to Jason’s Friends children (and

siblings) who were receiving treatment in Denver hospitals. They loved them!

Jason’s Friends volunteers had a

great time running the People’s Choice Booth! Thank you to the API Board

of Directors for your ongoing

support!

24th Annual API Chili Cook-Off

February 20, 2016

3rd Annual St. Patrick’s Day 5k Pub Crawl Jason’s Friends Foundation was one of the beneficiaries of this annual event. They had their highest number of participants and we received $4,310.50. Thank you Wind City Physical

Therapy and all of the sponsors of the Pub Crawl.

2 0 1 6 P o k e r R u n A l c o v a L a k e

J u l y 2 3 - 2 4 , 2 0 1 6T H A N K F U L T H U R S D A YNOVEMB E R 3 A T

TH E B EA CON C L U B

Thanks to University Park for your “Pay it Forward” donation of $1009.30 this school year and to Fort Caspar Academy for the $10,217.00

contribution from the Charger Challenge! YOU ROCK!!!!

THANK YOU for another successful Thankful Thursday! We had an amazing

crowd that generously bid on our live auction items bringing in $7,833 for Jason's Friends

families. Thank you for your continued support!

Jason’s Friends Staff

Lisa Eades, President; Tisa Bilek, Vice President; Christine Robinson, Secretary;

Linda Chivers, Treasurer. Directors: Karl Kilmer, Rocky Eades & Mary Garland.

You can support Jason’s Friends by shopping at Amazon smile and selecting Jason’s Friends

as your non-profit choice. We will receive a portion of your selected purchase total.

The Wyoming Cancer Coalition (WYCC), a federally funded, state-run program that advocates for cancer-related issues on behalf of the people of the state of Wyoming, recognized Denver-based Rocky Mountain Hospital for Children (RMHC) with the “Champion Partner Award,” at its group meeting in Casper on March 4th. The award acknowledges a business that has gone above and beyond to help the WYCC and has helped in the cancer prevention and control battle in Wyoming. John van Doorninck, MD, a pediatric hematologist/oncologist at RMHC and a member of the WYCC steering committee and childhood cancer action group, is thrilled with the recognition.

“This award acknowledges RMHC’s widespread commitment to pediatric cancer care in the state of Wyoming. RMHC supports monthly pediatric oncology outreach clinics in Casper, which is important because the state’s small population cannot support a full-time, in-state, pediatric oncologist,” said van Doorninck.

“RMHC also supports Wyoming’s only pediatric cancer camp, Camp Courage, both financially and by enabling RMHC physician participation. RMHC promotes cancer-related legislation by supporting Wyoming’s Cancer Action Network, the political arm of the American Cancer Society. Thus, while RMHC’s focus is promoting pediatric health care, the breadth of its support in Wyoming serves residents of all ages who are touched by cancer,” added van Doorninck.

Doctor van Doorninck practices at the Casper Clinic at 940 East 3rd St. once a month as a convenience to pediatric hematology and oncology patients. Appointments can be made through Rocky Mountain Hospital for Children by calling (303) 832-2344.

Rocky Mountain Hospital for Children Recognized with

“Champion Partner Award” by Wyoming Cancer Coalition

SADLY, THERE

WILL BE OTHERS.

Board of Directors

Christine Robinson, Operations Coordinator (part-time) christine@jasonsfriends.org

Lisa Eades, Executive Director (volunteer) lisa@jasonsfriend.org

Linda Chivers, Office Manager (part-time) linda@jasonsfriends.org

Risa Petrie, Development Coordinator (volunteer) risa@jasonsfriends.org

LEAVE A LEGACY OF SUPPORTPlease designate

Jason’s Friends as a beneficiary of your will

or trust.

Legal Name: Jason’s Friends Foundation, Inc.

Tax ID #83-0316451

Jason’s Friends Foundation 340 W. “B” Street Suite 101

Casper,WY 82601Phone:(307) 235-3421 Fax: (307) 265-4668

Email: info@jasonsfriends.org

DONATE online at jasonsfriends.org