Volunteers Unite for Children Battling Cancer
Earlier this month, I found myself spending a Saturday afternoon at One Life Fitness in Tysons Corner, Virginia. Unlikely as it may seem, I was there with my friend and colleague John Roberts, gathering to fill 3,000 Joy Jars. This initiative, led by the Jesse Reese Foundation, was all about supporting children who are fighting cancer.
The number of jars we filled is significant; it mirrors the 3,000 Joy Jars that Jesse Reese distributed before he passed away at the young age of 12 due to terminal brain cancer. Jesse was deeply empathetic, understanding the struggles other children faced. He designed these jars filled with gifts, toys, and hats—since many kids lose their hair during treatment. In his honor, the Jesse Reese Foundation organizes events like this one nationwide, distributing countless Joy Jars around the globe.
His motto? “Never Ever Give Up” (NEGU).
My late wife, Kim, really inspired me to think about what lasts beyond us and how we can honor our loved ones.
Since Kim’s passing almost five years ago from cancer, my sons and I have been devoted supporters of the Jesse Reese Foundation. We’re forever thankful to Jesse for guiding us toward a path of philanthropy that helped mend our grieving hearts. And we owe a big thank-you to the generous corporate sponsors making this mission a reality.
We realized that this day meant so much to the children fighting cancer. We connected through something larger than ourselves. And Jesse taught us that joy is reciprocal—moving from the kid who reveled in the joy jar to the person who filled it.
John Roberts is someone with a busy schedule, yet he brought his wife and two children along. They could have easily chosen other activities, yet they opted to help us on this meaningful mission instead. My longtime friend Alan, whom I’ve known for nearly 40 years, joined us too. Additionally, Nathan’s soccer teammates and their parents contributed as well. We had Leo, a high school senior and impressive basketball player, who endured 60 rounds of chemotherapy for a benign yet aggressive tumor on his back. Family and friends showed up as well.
Nathan, balancing his role as an elementary school teacher, somehow managed to pack joy jars during her three-hour morning shift—all while raising two young kids and undergoing treatment for cancer. I was touched to see a mother there whose son had received a Joy Jar many years ago while he battled childhood cancer.
As a U.S. Army officer passed through our gym, he noticed our group and jumped in to help, demonstrating the situational awareness typical of military personnel. He spent the entire day packing joy jars. Married with three children, he took the time to thank Nathan for his service, even presenting him with an Army Challenge Coin.
When Eric Ries and I first met before a Mobile Joy Jar event in 2022, we shared a heartfelt conversation about losing loved ones to cancer. “I miss my daughter every day,” he confided. “But my daughter would be so proud.”
Jesse would certainly have been proud of our efforts, as would Kim. Just before her passing, she reassured our kids that she would always be their guardian angel.
Jesse Reese truly brings out the best in us.
That Saturday, our mission united us. We recognized how essential that day was for the children fighting cancer. It was a chance for us to bond and connect with something greater than our individual selves. And we took to heart the lesson from Jesse—joy is a two-way street.
Normally, when I hear from the producers of “America Report,” I’m thrilled at the opportunity to share the screen with John Roberts and Sandra Smith. But this day was different. It felt right to pause the analysis of pressing national security issues and instead reflect on our shared humanity.
