Here at the JDJ Charitable Foundation, we have not let the cold temperatures get in the way of our continued momentum. In fact, we are more excited now than ever about the future of our Foundation.

To kick off the new year, we hosted two great events on January 8. First, we partnered with SmartFlyer and helped organize their corporate volunteer day at Holy Apostles Soup Kitchen in Manhattan. Holy Apostles Soup Kitchen is NYC’s largest soup kitchen, serving over 1,000 meals per day in the Chelsea neighborhood!

Perhaps the best part about working with an organization like Holy Apostles Soup Kitchen is experiencing the positive energy that exudes from the organization. With nearly 30 volunteers, team SmartFlyer helped serve meals for the lunch-time crowd and volunteers were able to enjoy every second of it. The JDJ Charitable Foundation would like to thank our friends at SmartFlyer and Holy Apostles Soup Kitchen for working with
us to create such a memorable day.

Later in the evening on January 8, 10 Loving Heart Society volunteers journeyed to Jersey City to host a birthday party with The Birthday Party Project. Volunteers spent the night with five families helping celebrate
their little ones’ birthdays. Together, with the deserving families, the LHS team played games, danced, ate pizza and cake, and had a wonderful time. This is the second event that our Foundation has hosted with The
Birthday Party Project, and we are grateful to work with an organization that tirelessly brings smiles to the faces of children that need it most.

As we look forward to the future, we are excited for our upcoming schedule of events. First, Team JDJ will be hitting the bikes for the third year in a row at Cycle For Survival on Friday, February 22. Our commitment to this event has been a tremendous success in years past and we love to see the camaraderie of our team shine through year after year.

In honor of the late Joseph Blauvelt and Joseph Watkins, throughout the month of March we will be hosting a new campaign titled “Miracle Mustaches.” Both Blauvelt and Watkins were known for their stellar mustaches and bravely fought battles against brain cancer. Though both men ultimately lost their battle to brain cancer, we want to keep their memory and spirit alive through this campaign. We are challenging men and their loved ones to grow a mustache to raise awareness and funds to support the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. All funds raised will go towards the “JDJ Optic Pathway Glioma Research Fund” dedicated to helping children with brain tumors. Pediatric brain cancer is one of the most underfunded research areas in cancer. Help us make a difference today. Head on over to our website for more information!

On March 5, from 7–9 p.m. we will be hosting a shopping fundraiser at Shinola in TriBeCa. To celebrate “Fat Tuesday,” wine and cocktails will be served and we will even be handing out beads during this private shopping event. A portion of all sales will be donated to our Foundation. We will also be raffling off a Shinola watch at this event!

The cornerstone event that we are thrilled to announce is our Monte Carlo Fundraiser on April 6, at the New York Athletic Club. We are very excited to see this event come together in honor of Joseph and Donna Marie Blauvelt. All funds raised during this evening will go directly to our Foundation. Limited tickets are available! Please check our website for more information.

Peace & Love,
The JDJ Charitable Foundation