Jeremy Cares Raises Record $19,000

A young man and his family, happy to “pay it forward” after he successfully beat leukemia, raised a record amount at the Aug. 11 “We Love Jeremy” golf outing at in Avon Lake.

“We had 33 foursomes, many are return golfers who have supported us year after year,” Jeremy’s mother, and the president of Jeremy Cares Inc., Debbie George said.

She said the event marked not only a record year for total raised ($19,000), but a record year for the number of sponsors.

“We had a total of 62 sponsors of different levels,” George said. “That’s a lot of hole signs!”

Jeremy George was a 17-year-old senior in March of 2008, when he was diagnosed with T-Cell ALL. He remains in remission after a successful stem-cell transplant from his brother Ben.

The Jeremy Cares organization started a golf tournament soon after, and vowed to “pay it forward” to other families in a similar situation.

The funds raised will be put to good use. The non-profit organization not only sponsors a room at the Cleveland Ronald McDonald House, it also provides “moments of joy” for families who have children with life-threatening illnesses. 

“We believe that if you change one moment, you can change their entire life by showing them you care and offering hope,” George said.

Additionally, the organization also ensures every patient, sibling, and parent that is on the Rainbow Babies and Children's Hospital oncology floor on Dec. 23, the anniversary of Jeremy’s life-saving transplant, receives a holiday gift.

“We leave NOBODY out,” George said. “Gifts are specialized and personal by need and likes/wants. We also throw parties at the hospital and provide college car packages to survivors going off to school.”

The family remains grateful to donors, participants and supporters.

“We are so grateful for the continued support of the community and local business,” George said.  “Your generosity helps us reach out to families in need.  It may be putting a smile on an 8 year old that is stuck in a hospital bed at Christmas, or it may be on a worried father’s face, staying at The Ronald McDonald house, who can’t figure out how his family is going to afford the cost of housing while his daughter goes through chemo treatment.  It’s not just a golf outing, you have helped to enrich somebody’s life.”

Start planning now: Next year’s golf outing is scheduled for Aug. 10, 2013.

Other fundraisers, including a possible dinner or a run are also being considered.