Josh Cares

07/15/2020

Dear Josh Cares Supporters,

I am writing, first of all, to thank you for your generosity and years of support of Josh Cares. As you know, Josh Cares is an organization that provides “Child Life Specialists” to nurture, visit and comfort seriously ill young children hospitalized at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center. As an organization, and with reliance on our dedicated Child Life Specialists, we support those children whose parents can’t be at their bedside as often as they would like.

With a heavy heart, I am also writing to inform you that Josh Cares is closing and dissolving as a nonprofit at the end of July 2020. It was a difficult but necessary decision for the Board to make.

For the past two years, contributions to Josh Cares have continually decreased. Nonetheless, through additional events we were generating enough funds to remain viable. Unfortunately, the COVID-19 pandemic has forced us to cancel fundraising events for the year, and the recent economic devastation of the pandemic has caused donations to grind to a near halt.

Fortunately, we have no employees to lay-off. After all expenses are paid, the remaining funds will go to Children’s Hospital to help pay for the salary of the Child Life Specialist Josh Cares is currently supporting for the rest of 2020.

Again, we thank you for your generosity and your support. Your dedicated help and confidence in our Board and our mission has enabled us to cheer up and nurture many sick children -- the most vulnerable among us – and help them cope with the difficulties of being hospitalized without their parents.

We ask that you consider making any future donations to Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center so that they may continue to provide our children with the outstanding medical care that they are known for.

If you have any questions, please feel free to call me (513) 508-6718 or Josh Cares board member Peter McConney at (513) 745-0815.

Sincerely yours,

James Kezele
Josh Cares Board President

(Below is a copy of the actual letter we mailed to our donors, friends and supporters.)

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05/05/2020

Today, May 5, is "Giving Tuesday," a global generosity response day organized to respond to the unprecedented need caused by Covid 19.

One of the best ways to get involved and help is in your own community. We ask you to consider making a special gift to Josh Cares, a Cincinnati-based 501c3 organization, which provides Child Life Specialists who visit and nurture seriously ill children who are hospitalized at Children's Hospital Medical Center. For many reasons, the parents of these children cannot be with them as much as they would like.

At this time of visiting restrictions caused by Covid 19, and the extra strain placed on health care professionals, Josh Cares' Child Life Specialists, who spend time with children who are very sick and alone is even more important than ever.

Donate at https://www.joshcares.org or contact us at: Josh Cares, Inc., 9378 Mason Montgomery Road, #427, Mason, OH 45040, or call us at 513-745-0815.

04/20/2020

Because of the Covid 19 Pandemic, we have had to postpone our Josh Cares' Dodge Ball Tournament that was set to be held April 25. The dodge ball event usually makes up about 25 percent of our budgeted revenue.

To help make up for this funding loss, two of our very generous sponsors are still contributing, despite the fact that we couldn't hold the event.

A huge, heartfelt thank you goes out to: Mashewa Farm Foundation, which donated $5,000 for the event, to benefit Josh Cares., and Ernst & Young (EY) which donated $2,500 for the event, to benefit Josh Cares.

Thank you so much for your generosity, Mashewa Foundation and EY. Because of your thoughtful decision, Josh Cares can still continue to provide funding for Child Life Specialists at Children's Hospital Medical Center, to visit and nurture seriously ill children whose parents can't be with them.

Because of the Covid 19 Pandemic, and restricted visitation at the hospital, Josh Cares' Child Life Specialists are even more important.

For more information, or to contribute, visit www.joshcares.org, call us at 513-745-0815, or send your gift to: Josh Cares, Inc., 9378 Mason Montgomery Road, #427
Mason, OH, 45040.

Josh Cares' vision is to ensure that no medically ill child feels alone and afraid while hospitalized.

03/20/2020

Josh Cares' 3rd Annual Queen City April 25 POSTPONED

Josh Cares' third annual Queen City Dodge Ball Tournament, originally scheduled for Saturday, April 25, at 3 p.m., has been postponed, because of the Covid-19 pandemic, and the
recommendation of health officials to avoid close social contact.

Stay tuned for information on the new date for the event. We will post the new date, when we have it, on our page and on our website www.joshcares.org .

Thank you so much for your support of Josh Cares and our work with the most vulnerable in our community.

03/17/2020

Josh Cares' 3rd Annual Queen City
Dodge Ball Tournament Is April 25

Josh Cares' third annual Queen City Dodge Ball Tournament is coming Saturday, April 25, at 3 p.m., at Winton Woods Middle School Gym, 147 Farragut Road, Cincinnati, OH, 45218. (ATTENTION: This date MAY change, because of the Covid 19 virus pandemic. Stay tuned. We will update you with any change in date and/or venue.)

This is Josh Cares' annual spring fundraiser. Sign up now for this 16 to 20 team dodge ball event. The cost is just $1,000 per team of six to 10 players. Minimum age is 16 years old.

This is a wonderful employee team building for your company. All proceeds go to Josh Cares, a 501c3 nonprofit, that provides "Child Life Specialists" to visit and nurture seriously ill children hospitalized at Children's Hospital Medical Center, whose parents can't visit them and be with them during this difficult time in their young lives.

For information on the Queen City Dodge Ball Tournament, contact:
Karen Grimes - 765-749-2918
Peter McConney - 513-659-8980
Josh Cares - 513-745-0815

Or you can sign up at www.joshcares.org .

03/03/2020

A warm thank you to Ed SAX Thomas, jazz saxophonist and all-round great guy, recently donated a percentage of his Christmas album profits during the Christmas season to Josh Cares. It was a generous contribution!

To support Ed by purchasing his CDs, see his videos or just get more information, visit www.edsaxthomas.com or
https://www.facebook.com/edsaxthomas/

01/21/2020

Josh Cares’ Clay Shoot Fundraiser

A good time was had by all at Josh Cares’ Clay Shoot fundraiser. If you enjoy shooting, good food, great beverages and even better company, the recent Josh Cares Clay Shoot was the place to be.

A group of 40 people participated in the second annual fundraising event at Sycamore Pheasant Club. With two new corporate teams and proceeds of $30,041, the event was a wonderful success. We are thrilled that we exceeded our fundraising goal – which was $30,000.

The July 20th event featured 18 shooting stations, several raffles, lunch catered by Buffalo Wings & Rings and beverages from Taft Ale House and more.

The first place shooting team was “Team E&Y – Ernst and Young.” The second place shooting team was “Team Meshewa Farm Foundation,” which included Josh Cares Board members James Kezele and Kris Milner.

Thank you to our very generous sponsors:
• Meshewa Farm Foundation, which was the primary sponsor for the event
• Buffalo Wings & Rings, which provided the lunch
• Carmeuse, which provided coffee in the morning, before the shoot
• Point Blank, which provided a 1-year pass to the shooting range for the raffle – a $100 value
• Taft Ale House, which provided beverages for the event and gave two baskets of various beverages and cookies for the raffle

All of the proceeds go to support Josh Cares’ Child Life Specialists at Children’s Hospital Medical Center, who provide companionship, support and comfort to hospitalized children whose parents are unable to be with them consistently.

12/15/2019

Josh Cares' Acting Exec. Director Peter McConney was featured on Channel 5 Saturday morning with Award Winning Jazz Saxophonist Ed SAX Thomas.

Ed just released a new holiday CD called Christmas! and he decided to donate 10 percent of the CD proceeds to Josh Cares. And because Ed is P&G retiree, P&G will match each dollar he donates.

Pete was there to thank Ed for his generosity and to talk about the history of Josh Cares and our mission -- to help seriously ill children by raising funds for Child Life Specialists to visit and nurture kids who are hospitalized at Cincinnati Children's Hospital and their parents or other relatives can't be with them.

Get a copy of the CD Christmas!, a wonderful 8 selection CD of Christmas carols with a soulful jazz flair and have your money go twice as far, with 20 percent going to Josh Cares! Visit www.edsaxthomas.com .

Thank you Ed!

Ed 'Sax' Thomas to donate a portion of sales to the Josh Cares foundation

12/11/2019

JAZZ SAXOPHONIST ED SAX THOMAS TO DONATE
10% OF SALES OF NEW CHRISTMAS CD TO JOSH CARES

Great news! Award winning jazz saxophonist Ed "SAX" Thomas just released his first holiday album "Christmas!" and he is donating 10 percent of the CD proceeds to Josh Cares.

And because he is a Procter & Gamble retiree, P&G will match his donation, making it 20 percent going to help provide child life specialists to visit and nurture seriously ill children hospitalized at Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center.
Ed is also donating an additional 10 percent of his CD sales to Lincoln Heights Missionary Baptist Church Foreign Missions.

Ed, who spent 37 years in Research & Development at P&G, is on his second career as a full-time musician. He and the Muzic Company opened for the Cincinnati Music Festival 2017 and 2018.

If you like Christmas music, with an upbeat jazzy flair, check out the CD video: https://youtu.be/qJdOXo2hA0Q

For more info. on Ed, :
https://local12.com/news/local/living-the-dream-retiree-plays-saxophone-as-cincinnati-music-festivals-opening-act

Thanks Ed for your generosity!

12/11/2019

THE AMAZING KYLIE FISHER (Part 3)

By Josh Cares Child Life Specialist Ashley Martin

Kylie grew and grew throughout her time in the NICU. As Kylie grew stronger she weaned to room air and was able to be held more frequently and have several play sessions out of her crib and on the play mat. She loved getting down on the mat to play with her jungle gym and looking in the mirror.

Over time, Kylie developed positive attachments and bonds with several caregivers in the hospital, including Child Life, nursing staff, and physical, occupational and speech therapists. Kylie was not shy and smiled when anyone came into her room to play and interact with her.

Often times when I would walk by Kylies’ room, I would see her sitting up in a boppy pillow in her crib and smiling, giving me my invitation to come play! Other times, if I heard Kylie crying, I would come in to comfort and hold her. If we weren’t out of the crib playing, we were rocking in a chair, reading books together, and singing several songs.

Kylie’s and my relationship grew, and over time Kylie knew and recognized me just as I knew her and could recognize her development cues. During cute moments such as bath time, I would get out my camera and snap some photos.. Kylie would look right into my camera lens and pose!

I was fortunate enough to work weekends when Kylie’s parents visited and would even snap some family photos during their quality time with her.

On June, 27, 2018, I received word that Kylie would be discharged! This was such exciting news, as she had endured a long journey here in the NICU.

I quickly downloaded a CD of all of the photos we had taken of Kylie throughout her stay. I eagerly presented it to Kylie’s parents, along with a Josh Cares discharge letter and survey. We celebrated together by sharing some of our favorite things about Kylie!

Right before Kylie left the NICU for the last time, Kylie’s mom gave me the completed survey and thanked us for our services several times. Listed below are some quotes she left with us about her experience working with the Josh Care’s Child Life team.

“They are truly a blessing to my family and hope more families choose them for their child’s care and development, and to capture those special moments when they (families) cannot be there.”