Jack McGovern Coats' Disease Foundation

08/18/2026

𝐄𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲 𝐁𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐤𝐭𝐡𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐬 𝐖𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐚 𝐅𝐢𝐫𝐬𝐭 𝐒𝐭𝐞𝐩.

Today, on Coats’ Disease Awareness Day, we announced a research opportunity that could change the future of Coats’ Disease.

But groundbreaking research doesn’t happen without people willing to believe in what’s possible.

That’s why we’re asking you to support the Weiss Family and Jack McGovern Coats’ Disease Research Fund.

Your support can help Dr. Leo Kim and his team pursue the development of the first validated animal model for Coats’ Disease—a tool that could help researchers better understand the disease, identify potential treatments, and accelerate future discoveries.

You’re not simply funding a research project. You’re helping build something that doesn’t exist yet. You’re helping create the foundation for the next discovery. You’re helping give families something they’ve been waiting for:
Hope.

💙 Help us take the first step toward a cure.

👉 Support the Weiss Family and Jack McGovern Coats’ Disease Research Fund:
https://bit.ly/NewHopeForCoats

Every breakthrough starts with a first step.

08/17/2026

𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐈𝐟 𝐒𝐜𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐬 𝐇𝐚𝐝 𝐚 𝐍𝐞𝐰 𝐖𝐚𝐲 𝐭𝐨 𝐒𝐭𝐮𝐝𝐲 𝐂𝐨𝐚𝐭𝐬’ 𝐃𝐢𝐬𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐞?

For decades, one of the biggest barriers to Coats’ Disease research has been something surprisingly fundamental:

Researchers don’t have a validated disease model.

A validated model could allow scientists to investigate questions that have remained unanswered:

🔬 What causes the abnormal blood vessels?
🔬 How does Coats’ Disease develop and progress?
🔬 What biological pathways could be targeted?
🔬 Could new therapies help preserve vision?

That’s why the research led by Dr. Leo Kim is so important.

His team will investigate an IGFBP7 genetic mouse model to determine whether it can reproduce key characteristics of Coats’ Disease. The research will incorporate advanced retinal imaging, tissue analysis, and machine-learning tools to better understand the disease.

If successful, this could create a research platform for future discoveries and treatment development.

This isn't simply about creating a new model. It’s about creating the scientific foundation for what comes next.

And for families affected by Coats’ Disease, what comes next matters.

💙 Learn more: https://www.coatsdiseasefoundation.org/crackingthecode

08/17/2026

We are so proud of Payton! Thank you for being willing to talk about your journey and help others understand what living with Coats’ Disease can mean 💙

Payton Bryan has Coats' disease — a rare condition that has left him legally blind in his left eye — but that hasn't stopped him from earning a baseball scholarship to Ottawa University in Arizona.

08/17/2026

🎥 𝐂𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐂𝐨𝐝𝐞 𝐨𝐧 𝐂𝐨𝐚𝐭𝐬’ 𝐃𝐢𝐬𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐞

What if the next breakthrough in Coats’ Disease research starts with creating something that has never existed before?

Researchers still lack a validated disease model for Coats’ Disease—one of the critical tools needed to better understand how the disease develops and to explore potential new treatments.

That’s why we’re supporting Dr. Leo Kim of Harvard Medical School and Massachusetts Eye and Ear in an ambitious effort to develop the first validated animal model for Coats’ Disease.

But what exactly does that mean and why could it be such an important step toward a cure?

▶️ Watch our new explainer video, “Cracking the Code: A New Path in Coats’ Disease Research,” to learn more about the science, the opportunity, and what this research could mean for children and families living with Coats’ Disease.

Help us take that step by supporting the Weiss Family and Jack McGovern Coats’ Disease Research Fund.

👉 https://bit.ly/NewHopeForCoats

08/17/2026

On Coats' Disease Awareness Day, we encourage everyone to help spread the word! While Coats' Disease may be rare, education around the disease doesn't have to be.

Learn more at curecoats.org

08/17/2026

Today Is Coats’ Disease Awareness Day 💙

A child’s vision. A family’s hope. A breakthrough waiting to happen.

Today, on Coats’ Disease Awareness Day, we’re shining a light on a rare eye disease that can threaten a child’s vision - and on an extraordinary new opportunity to change the future for families affected by it.

For nearly 20 years, the Jack McGovern Coats’ Disease Foundation has been committed to one goal: finding a cure.

Today, we’re proud to announce a groundbreaking research initiative led by Dr. Leo Kim of Harvard Medical School and Massachusetts Eye and Ear to develop the first validated animal model for Coats’ Disease.

Why does that matter?

Because researchers still don’t have a validated model that accurately represents Coats’ Disease. Without one, there are significant limits to how scientists can study the disease, identify potential treatments, and test new therapies.

This research could change that.

Today, we celebrate how far we’ve come and look toward what could be possible next.

💙 One disease. One vision. One step closer to a cure.

Learn more about the research: https://www.coatsdiseasefoundation.org/crackingthecodehttps://www.coatsdiseasefoundation.org/crackingthecode

08/16/2026

💙 Sponsor Spotlight: Larry Franzella

Not everyone can be on the course, but everyone can make an impact.

Thank you to Larry Franzella, our Virtual Sponsor, for supporting our mission and helping us reach even more families affected by Coats' Disease.

⛳ If you can join us in person, we'd love to see you on the course! Register today and help celebrate 20 years of hope while investing in the future of Coats' Disease research. https://bit.ly/2026GolfTournament

08/14/2026

🎯 Sponsor Spotlight: Enterprise Fleet Management

A special thank you to Enterprise Fleet Management, our Chip In Sponsor, for investing in hope and helping make this event possible.

Their generosity helps fuel groundbreaking research while bringing our community together.

⛳ Ready to chip in for a great cause? Register today and be part of an unforgettable tournament.

08/13/2026

𝐅𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐇𝐞𝐞𝐥𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐌𝐮𝐝: 𝐇𝐨𝐰 𝐎𝐧𝐞 𝐀𝐦𝐛𝐚𝐬𝐬𝐚𝐝𝐨𝐫 𝐈𝐬 𝐑𝐚𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐀𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐂𝐨𝐚𝐭𝐬' 𝐃𝐢𝐬𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐞

When she's wearing a crown, she's representing the state of South Dakota. When she's at the racetrack, she's competing in the racing community she loves. And wherever she goes, Makayla Feldhaus carries something especially meaningful - a Jack McGovern Coats' Disease Foundation pin proudly displayed on her ambassador sash.

Recently, Makayla represented South Dakota on the national stage as Miss South Dakota USA Ambassador Teen 2026, using this incredible opportunity to raise awareness for Coats' Disease.

Her passion for the cause is personal. Through the close-knit racing community, Makayla met Kaydn, a young Coats' Disease patient whose strength and resilience inspired her to become an advocate.

What began as a friendship has grown into a mission to ensure more people recognize the signs of Coats' Disease and understand the importance of early diagnosis and research.

Whether she's speaking at community events, attending pageants, or spending weekends at the racetrack, MaKayla proudly wears the Jack McGovern Coats' Disease Foundation pin as a conversation starter. Those small moments lead to meaningful discussions about Kaydn's journey, the challenges families face, and the hope that research brings to the Coats' Disease community.

The connection between racing and pageantry may seem unexpected, but her ability to bridge these worlds has introduced countless new people to our mission.

We are incredibly grateful for ambassadors like Makayla, who remind us that advocacy doesn't require a laboratory or a podium - it simply requires a heart willing to share someone else's story.

Thank you, MaKayla, for supporting Kaydn, and helping spread awareness for Coats' Disease wherever your journey takes you. We are honored to have you as part of the Jack McGovern Coats' Disease Foundation family!

Coats' Disease Awareness Day is August 17! Learn more about how you can spread awareness with your family, friends, and social networks: https://www.coatsdiseasefoundation.org/coats-disease-awareness-day