The Jessie Rees Foundation was, and always will be, inspired by one courageous and compassionate 12 year old little girl. Her name, Jessica Joy Rees, better known as “Jessie”. Jessie was a faith-filled, beautiful, athletic, caring and loving twelve year old girl who courageously fought two brain tumors (DIPG) from March 3, 2011 to January 5, 2012. She loved her family very much and her puppy Mr. Moe.
Jessie’s compassion for others led her to ask her parents a short and simple question, “How can we help them?” Jessie was referring to the other children who were in long term, in-patient treatment at Childrens Hospital of Orange County, the same hospital that Jessie was receiving treatment from. After receiving the “go ahead” from her parents to find a way to help, Jessie created JoyJars®. She just loved creating these fun-filled gifts to share with her peers who were fighting cancer and she continued to encourage them to NEGU®. NEGU, Never Ever Give Up, was Jessie’s personal motto and message to her peers.
JESSIE’S JoyJars During Jessie’s ten-month courageous fight, she personally stuffed and sent out 3,000 JoyJars to children fighting cancer in homes and hospitals. She was even given the opportunity to personally deliver her JoyJars to kids at City of Hope Hospital. That experience gave Jessie a great deal of pride and enjoyment as she experienced first-hand, the impact her JoyJars had on the lives of other kids.