Dear Friends & Fans,

We hope this note finds you enjoying holiday season.  We are writing this from Denver where we are celebrating Christmas with Aunt Kimmy & Uncle Tim.  Jessie wanted to be here…so we are here=).  Please continue to pray for our sweet girl as she fights this terrible disease.

As 2011 comes to an end, we wanted to pause and send this note to all of you. Your love, care, prayers and support have helped ease the pain the last 9 months of fighting cancer with Jessie. Pain that can not be put into words, but pain that can be softened with hope. Hope is truly all we have to hold on to. Thankfully, our hope is anchored in God’s love, grace and mercy.

Spreading hope, joy and love has also been our mission since Jessie’s diagnosis. We can’t imagine journeying this path without hope. Our motto has been and will remain, Never Ever Give Up or NEGU for short. NEGU is all about “hope”. It’s the message we share with as many kids and families possible. Because if you lose hope…you have nothing. I have seen the power of “NEGU” transform a father’s face and a mother’s heart. I have seen NEGU remove despair, discouragement and desperation. I have seen NEGU inspire waves of courage and compassion. I have seen NEGU renew perseverance in a family fighting for their 4 year old boy. It’s the kids and families we have met that truly inspire us as Jessie inspires them. We truly are “better together”.

As we look towards 2012, we are so honored to be able to wave the banner of “NEVER EVER GIVE UP” with Jessie as she spreads joy to the 50,000 courageous kids across America fighting cancer.  God clearly has chosen her for this special mission. A mission all of you have helped her to advance. Your notes, Facebook posts and donations to her foundation confirm this special assignment in so many ways. Once again, we are “better together”.

We are also very thankful to the many volunteers who have given of their time and talents in 2011.  We are especially grateful to the Board of Directors who sacrifice so much to help steward Jessie’s Wish.  Their love and support allows us to focus on our baby girl. This amazing team have chosen “50” as the theme for 2012, which will strengthen and spread “NEGU CARES” nationally next year. Some of the goals they have set include:

• Creating local/national awareness for the 50,000 kids fighting cancer [we have made great progress this year with our events, social media campaigns and national media coverage]
• Assisting courageous families in all 50 states [we reached 21 states this year]
• Raising $50,000 for pediatric cancer research [we raised over $10,000 this year]
• Encouraging 50,000 courageous kids with JoyJars [we made over 3,000 JoyJars this year]
• Spreading the NEGU message to 50 Children’s Hospitals [we partnered with 7 hospitals in 2011]

As you can see, we have made great progress in only six months. I have listed a few other 2011 highlights below for you to celebrate with us.

The Board of Directors wanted you to know of the opportunity to make a year-end donation to help further NEGU online at www.negu.org/donate. You can mail your support to:

The NEGU Foundation
8 Via Onagro
Rancho Santa Margarita, CA 92688

While online, make sure to save your seat for the NEGU Gala. It’s going to be a great evening of dinner, drinks, dessert and dancing. The special concert with John Tesh is going to be a must see.

In closing, thank you for supporting for Jessie. While Jessie has lost her hair, her strength, her hearing in one ear and her vision in one eye…she has gained amazing strength, passion, love and care for others because she loves God.  In addition, because of all of your support, just another reason why we are “better together”.

Merry Christmas & Happy New Year!

Love,
The Rees Family

 

 

 

 

 

A few special highlights…

• 21,500 fans supporting Jessie on Facebook
• 3,500 fans supporting TeamNEGU on Facebook
• 200 volunteers official join TeamNEGU
• NEGU Denver opens branch
• Cancer research donation given to CHOC
• 5,000 NEGU bracelets sold
• NEGU Gear designed…t-shirts, caps, stickers, bracelets, tattoos, swim caps
• Pura Vida Bracelets make NEGU and JoyJar bracelets to support pediatric cancer
• 3,000 JoyJars filled and delivered
• Marriott & MFS bless us with amazing support
• 500 JoyJars purchased as gifts
• Orange Coast College Baseball team support NEGU & does JoyDrive
• 4 kids choose to forgo their birthday gifts and make donations to NEGU
• Several companies hold JoyDrive to collect toys for JoyJars
• Trailer Park sponsors 1,500 JoyJars and send JoyJars out as corporate holiday gifts.
• Castille Elementary School raises over $1,000 for JoyJars
• Cancer research donation given to Pediatric Cancer Research Foundation
• Castille Girl Scout Troop stuffs over 100 JoyJars
• RSM Moms North Club raises over $2,500 for NEGU
• Kids Who Care in Ladera Ranch fill over 150 JoyJars at JoyDrive
• Saddleback Church Kids program fills over 100 JoyJars
• Coca-Cola donates 5,000 polar bears for JoyJars
• Chick-Fil-A donates 1,000 free kids meals for JoyJars
• Veggie Tales signs on as official JoyJars sponsor
• Bed Bath Beyond offers opportunity for retail JoyJars
• Tesero High School launches TeamNEGU Club
• OC Register covers 6 NEGU events
• Jessie goes on American Idol
• El Toro High School launches TeamNEGU Club
• San Diego State swim team competes with TeamNEGU Caps
• San Diego State football team wears NEGU gear in last home game to support pediatric cancer
• Valencia Elementary School JoyDrive fills close to 200 JoyJars
• Tuttle-Click Automotive group raises over $3,000 for JoyJars
• JoyJars delivered by Olympic athletes at Rady’s Children Hospital
• Olympic Swimmer Chole Sutton races with TeamNEGU gear
• Eva Longoria supports JoyJars
• Lance Armstrong supports NEGU
• Bulk JoyJars sent to Children’s Hospital Orange County
• Bulk JoyJars sent to Children’s Hospital LA
• Bulk JoyJars sent to City of Hope
• Bulk JoyJars sent to Rady’s Children Hospital
• Bulk JoyJars sent to Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia
• Bulk JoyJars sent to UCSF Children’s Hospital
• CBS news produces two stories on Jessie and JoyJars
• NEGU Golf Classic sold out first year…144 golers
• 501 c3 filing received from IRS in only 2 weeks
• UPS signs on to be official carrier of JoyJars in 2012
• Clarient supports NEGU as Strategic Sponsors
• Mission Viejo Nadadores hold successful swim-a-thon to support NEGU