Student Visionaries of the Year San Diego
Jack Kelly | TEAM M.O.M
Jack Kelly's 2024 Student Visionaries of the Year Fundraiser
I want cancer to be history. I want kids to grow up knowing their grandparents - learning from them, laughing with them, understanding their family history, staying up past their bedtime and having ice cream - having endless snuggles that you never forget.
5 years ago, on January 20th, 2019, my grandmother, Martha Kelly, lost her battle with Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML). I was able to spend 12 years of my life with her creating memories that will last forever but I miss her and wish she was still here. I hope to honor these memories by making a huge difference…creating a world without cancer!
As many of you know, my family became involved with The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS) in 2018 when my dad ran for, and won, Man of the Year in San Diego. In addition, my sister Gianna ran for Student Visionary of the year in 2020 and her team raised over $60,000 in honor of my Grandma. It was amazing to watch the love in our community, their support of my grandmother, and to watch my family members to selflessly volunteer in support of blood cancer research and cures. Since then we’ve worked closely with LLS. It is now MY turn to lead the fight against cancer, and I’m proud to announce that I was selected to be a candidate for the 2024 Student Visionaries of the Year campaign.
I will be competing among other student-led teams from across San Diego and the country. I’m honored to be working alongside these other student leaders as we raise awareness, money and hope for those battling the disease and to create cures so those diagnosed with blood cancer in the future can win their battle.
I am running not only in honor of my Grandma, and to find a cure for blood cancer, but more importantly so no child has to go through life without a grandparent or losing one too soon. To that end, I am once again running as: Team M.O.M. (Miracle of Martha) which was the name of my dad’s team. 😊
For my campaign I have chosen the LLS pillar of Patient Support and Education. By supporting this pillar, we will provide patients and families with hope, guidance, education and support during their blood cancer journey. I am particularly passionate about this as I know how scary a cancer diagnosis can be and knowing you have an organization to help you every step is invaluable to all families affected by this disease.
Some facts about blood cancer and LLS you may not know:
- Every 3 minutes someone is diagnosed with a form of blood cancer. More than 1.4 million people are living with or in remission from Leukemia, Myeloma and Hodgkin’s disease
- LLS has invested more than $1.3 billion into blood cancer research & provides financial support to patients
We have set a large goal and I only have 7 weeks to make it! Not only does each donation help find a cure for blood cancer, but it also helps us towards taking home the coveted title of Student Visionary of the Year in San Diego! The winner will be announced on March 15th at the grand finale at Balboa Park's Air & Space Museum.
I would greatly appreciate it if you would support my efforts by donating to my fundraising website. Every dollar you donate makes a difference.
DONATE TODAY!
56 Comments
Carolyn Canfield
Good luck Jack!!
John J. Kelly - Grandpa :-)
Jack - I am so proud of you for what you are doing for your Grandma! I love you, Grandpa
Dorothea Gregowski
Thinking of you Martha Jean
Emily Baxt
Thank you, Jack, for fundraising for LLS!
Brooke Puga
Have fun and good luck!
Mary and Bob Watson
Good Luck Jack! Love Aunt Mary and Uncle Bob
Theresa Edwards
So proud of you Jack! Grandma would be too ??
Aunt Ronne & Uncle Jim
Proud of you, Jack! Good Luck. Aunt Ronne & Uncle Jim
Anonymous
This donation is in honor of my wife Dana Deane who died of cancer in 2015. I'm proud to join all of you in fighting leukemia and lymphoma, and it deeply saddens me to think about all the people who we've loved that have been victims. Let's get this DONE! Doug D.
Ray and Amy Bertrand
Good luck, Jack!
Linda Scales
Jack, I am so pleased to see that you are carrying on your family tradition of caring and giving back to help others.
Jon Tice
Best of luck on the fundraising. Your grandma would be proud!
John Ventimiglia
Jack, you have a great foundation between your Mom and Dad to offer up your time and talent to help others. Best of luck in reaching your goals. Cousin John
Kevin Brennan
Great work Jack; best of luck in meeting your goal!
The Wesseln Family
Way to go Jack!
Kathy Ventimiglia
Great job, Jack! You are doing such a good thing.
Robert Alland
Go Jack! We are so proud of you.
John and Kaaren Abbate
Jack, what an incredible gift you are sharing with the world! I just lost my father this past week to Multiple Myeloma. Each and every cancer cause is so necessary and important. Thank you for including us in your campaign. Blessings, Kaaren and John Abbate (your parent's friends from USD)
Kristin Blough
Proud of my nephew for continuing the fight against cancer in honor of my mother (his grandmother), Martha Kelly. It's been five years since we lost her to AML, and it's great to see young people like him so passionate about battling this disease.
The Hersh Family
Go Jack! Love that you are doing this!
Majors Communications
Go, Jack!
Renda and Brian Luscomb
Bravo Jack Kelly Jr. for making a difference in this very special cause!
Melinda Alongi
Way to go Jack for raising funds for a great cause!
Ken Schmitt
Thank you for continuing to bring this disease into the spotlight as we work to find a cure!
Joanne Fanucchi
What a great tribute to your grandmother.
Garrett Colbert
Hi Jack, I've admired your Dad for years and glad to see that you are following in his foot steps. Garrett
Coreen Petti
Best to you and your efforts, Jack! - Coreen Petti
Vince and Nadia Pandes
Way to go, Jack! We are so proud of you!!!
Betsy Hartwell
Congratulations, Jack - your hard work is for a great cause!
Tom & Adri Tremoulet
Good luck Jack Jr.!!
Francine Gilbert
Your commitment to this cause is wonderful. Thank you. Pete and Francine GIlbert
Annette Holbus
Best of Luck with this good cause!
Del Lewis
Happy to support in some small way!
Judy Stevenson
Congratulations on fundraising for such a worthy cause, Jack!
DSD Business Systems
Good Luck Jack!
Patrick Kerwin
Hi Jack, I lost my best friend to leukemia, so I'm always glad to support the LLS. Good luck on making your goal! Patrick
Shirley Yager
Good luck reaching your goal!
Noushin Dunkelman
For those who are fighting and those who are working to find a cure.
Maureen Ault
Hi Jack, What a wonderful job you are doing to help find a cure for Cancer. Hopefully, in your lifetime there will be a cure. Your future is bright and we wish you all the best! Maureen and Brian Ault
John Lester
Great job Jack!
Patty and Mark Baldacchino
Way to go, Jack!
Karen Ibold
Jack, Good Luck and give your Dad my love. Aunt Karen
Rachel Peniche
Jack, you are truly an awesome grandson. I appreciate how hard you are working to help all those like your grandma. God bless you and good luck!
Lawrence Gardepie
Jack, It is wonderful that you and your family continue to keep your Grandmother's life and memories alive! Thank you for inviting me to support Team M.O.M. and LLS. My email address has changed... so please pass along this new address to your Dad (whom I worked with at USD): LJGardepie@gmail.com.
Optimum Comp Advantage
Go Jack go!!
The Laureanos
Thank you Jack for all you do
Sarah Flatley
Flatleys are so happy to join your team!
Jennifer Lafontaine
Good luck and great work, team!
Katy Temple
Jack! You ROCK!
Lorraine Ryglewicz
Let’s go Jack!
Rocky Scales
Proud of Jack Kelly and his family
Anonymous
Good luck!
Frank Bottini
Great job Jack. Keep up the good work, and good luck!
Kathlene Seymour
Thank you to the whole Kelly family for their unwavering support!
Jennifer & George Widhopf
In support of Jack Kelly. Wishing you best of luck in your efforts!
Kris & Britin Hanson
Thanks, Jack, to your dedication to this important cause.