Dear Jack Foundation

IT’S OFFICIAL: WE’RE HEADED TO DENVER! 🏔️ We are beyond thrilled to announce the 17th Annual #DearJackBenefit is coming to the Mile High City this November! On Friday, November 13th, 2026 at Boettcher Concert Hall, @amnthewilderness and the @coloradosymphony will come together for an epic night of orchestral versions of your favorite songs from Something Corporate, Jack’s Mannequin, and Andrew McMahon in the Wilderness 🎻✨ We’re making this a multi-day celebration, so mark your calendars for November 12th & 13th. While we’re keeping a few surprises under wraps for now, we can't wait to see all your faces on our home turf in Denver, Colorado! For those traveling in, we recommend staying at the Kimpton Hotel Monaco Denver (@monacodenver ). It’s about half a mile from Boettcher Concert Hall and is VERY close to a few other events that will be taking place... 👀 We’ll have lots more to share with you very soon. Follow along right here and join our mailing list (link in bio) to be the first to receive updates on tickets, the full schedule, and exclusive VIP opportunities. Only 241 more sleeps until #ElevenDenver, but who’s counting? 🙋🤩 #DearJack #DearJackFoundation #AndrewMcMahon

Hi 👋 There are some new faces around here, so we'd like to reintroduce ourselves. We're Dear Jack and we provide quality of life programming that directly benefits young adult cancer patients, survivors and their families. The programs facilitated by Dear Jack offer hope and guidance to young adults and their support system who are facing or who have faced a life-threatening cancer diagnosis. We've served 600+ AYAs since 2016. You can learn more about our LifeList, Breathe Now, and Mental Wellness Box programs via the link in our bio. We are based in beautiful Denver, CO, and while a mighty team of four, we would be nothing without the support of our incredible founder @amnthewilderness and our board of directors who feel more like family. We love what we do and we love connecting with our community of patients, survivors, AYA organizations, and donors. 💜

✨ Stay in the loop with all things Dear Jack! ✨ Our quarterly newsletter delivers updates on upcoming events, impactful stories, and ways to support our adolescents and young adults facing cancer—straight to your inbox. 📩 Sign up today and be part of our mission! Link in bio! #DearJackFoundation #AYACancer #StayConnected #NonprofitNews

We are thrilled to have Kirsten Wilson leading our upcoming collaboration, Reclaiming the Narrative: An AYA Storytelling Project. As the founder and artistic director of @MotusTheater , Kirsten is a master at helping people turn their lived experiences into powerful monologues that expand perceptions and inspire change 🎤 Last call for those interested in being a part of this project! Our final information session is Saturday, May 16th (tomorrow!) at 10:00AM MT. If you can’t make it but are still interested in applying, please reach out to Susan, our Senior Director of Operations, at [email protected]. Comment "Story" below and we'll DM you the link, or visit the link in our bio to sign up ✍️ #DearJackFoundation #MotusTheater #ReclaimingTheNarrative #AYACancer #CancerStory

Meet Oliver and Mirabelle 💙 Married for over 15 years, Oliver and Mirabelle’s story began in southern Cameroon. Their move to the United States was a multi-step journey; Oliver arrived first, spending over a year paving the way and building a foundation for their future while caring for their eldest daughter. After a long-awaited reunion with Mirabelle and their youngest, they were finally ready to begin their new life under one roof—but just five days later, Oliver was diagnosed with stage four lymphoma. For Oliver and Mirabelle, their first years together in a new country were immediately reshaped by Oliver's diagnosis and treatment, which included eight rounds of chemotherapy and a bone marrow transplant. Now, they are ready to prioritize their roles as husband and wife and find a sense of peace together outside of the world of cancer. They are joining us at #BreatheNow Golden to find a quiet space to reflect, share their story, and strengthen the connection they have worked so hard to protect. We are so honored to have them with us in Colorado this weekend, and we can’t wait to share this time together! Help us show them some love in the comments ✨ ---------- If you would like to learn more about our Breathe Now Retreats or apply for one yourself, visit the link in our bio. #AYACancer #YACancer #CancerSupport #CaregiverSupport

Meet Elissa and Eric 💙 Elissa and Eric first met as coworkers in Boston back in 2008. A chance reconnection in LA years later turned their long-time friendship into a beautiful life together, and they have now been married for 13 years. Since Elissa’s diagnosis of Stage 4 metastatic breast cancer in 2021, they’ve worked hard to protect the sense of adventure and closeness that has always defined their partnership. For the past five years, they’ve been balancing the joys of raising their daughter with the reality of Elissa's life-long treatment. Navigating a diagnosis that requires constant monitoring can be exhausting, especially while managing the distinct roles of thriver and caregiver alongside the normal, busy pace of everyday life. Elissa and Eric are joining us at #BreatheNow Golden to finally have a space that is just for them. While Elissa has a strong support network, they recognize that caregivers often lack the same resources and community. They are ready to be in a place where they can connect with other couples who understand the unique depth of their day-to-day experience. We are so honored to have them with us in Colorado this weekend, and we can’t wait to share this time together! Help us show them some love in the comments ✨ ---------- If you would like to learn more about our Breathe Now Retreats or apply for one yourself, visit the link in our bio. #AYACancer #YACancer #CancerSupport #CaregiverSupport

Meet Bri and Nate 💙 Bri and Nate have been a team since 2005, a journey that began in their high school marching band. For nearly two decades, they’ve built their life around a shared love of the outdoors, traveling and camping as often as possible. But in early 2024, their rhythm was interrupted by Bri's diagnosis of stage 2b triple negative breast cancer. Her treatment was intensive, involving 16 rounds of chemotherapy, surgery, and radiation. While her diagnosis slowed her down—and she found she couldn't do many of her favorite activities—they still tried their best to get outside between the appointments and chemo side effects. Bri and Nate are joining us at #BreatheNow Golden to connect with other AYA couples who truly understand their reality. They are looking to find a community that recognizes the small victories and the quiet fears of life in survivorship without needing any type of explanation. We are so incredibly excited to have them join us in Colorado this weekend! Help us welcome them to the #DearJack family in the comments ✨ #YoungAdultCancer #Survivorship #YACancer #DearJackFoundation

We've got a packed lineup of #CommunityCalls for the next two months! Learn more and save your spot(s) at the links in our bio. We hope you'll join us! 💬 Identity Beyond Diagnosis: Reclaiming Your Self 🗓️ Tuesday, May 12th (tonight!) 🕒 4PM PT/7PM ET 💬 Claiming Your Calling: Turning Passion to Purpose (Part 2 of 3) 🗓️ Tuesday, May 26th 🕒 11AM PT/2PM ET 💬 Creative Coping: Small Ways to Cope, Express, and Get Through 🗓️ Tuesday, June 9th 🕒 4PM PT/7PM ET 💬 Claiming Your Calling: From Vision to Reality (Part 3 of 3) 🗓️ Tuesday, June 23rd 🕒 11AM PT/2PM ET #AYACancer #DearJackCommunity #YACancer #CancerResources #CancerSupport

Meet Ronique 💙 Ronique was diagnosed with Non-Hodgkin lymphoma in 2024 and has since navigated eight rounds of chemotherapy. She is currently in a waiting period as her medical team prepares the next phase of her treatment plan. Beyond the diagnosis itself, Ronique is managing the physical and emotional toll of losing her ability to walk and write, which has made it incredibly difficult to care for her son in the way she wants to. Adapting to this new reality has been deeply personal for Ronique. She shares that she often feels like she doesn’t even know herself anymore, as the physical shifts and significant weight loss have changed so much of her daily life. Amidst these challenges, however, her siblings have been a constant source of strength To help her feel more like herself again, Ronique’s LifeList wish is for clothes that fit again. More than anything, she is looking forward to connecting with a community of people who truly understand what she is going through. Welcome to the Dear Jack family, Ronique—we are so honored to be in your corner. #DearJackFoundation #AYACancer #NonHodgkinLymphoma #LifeList #YACancer

When the "patient" label starts to feel like it’s taking over, it helps to have someone who knows how to help us find our way back to ourselves. We are so honored to have Jacqulene leading our next Community Call, Identity Beyond the Diagnosis: Reclaiming Your Self. As an LMSW, she specializes in helping people navigate the complex emotional and social shifts that come with a complex medical diagnosis. We hope you'll join us on Tuesday, May 12th at 4PM PT/7PM ET as we move beyond the side effects and scan results to rediscover the passions and values that make us who we are 🫂 Register now at the link in our bio! #DearJackFoundation #DearJackCommunity #AYACancer #YACancer #CancerSupport

Meet Sidney 💙 Sidney was 21 and living the life she had worked hard to build as a new homeowner when her world changed in May 2024. Following a routine MRI, she underwent an emergency awake craniotomy and was diagnosed with a diffuse midline glioma. Since then, Sidney has spent her time in a rigorous clinical trial involving weekly pills and multiple infusions to manage the aggressive brain cancer. The shift from total independence to being dependent on her family has been a heavy weight to carry. It is difficult to watch the world turn without her as she misses the normal life she once knew. For Sidney and her identical twin sister, Reagan, life currently feels like living on "cancer planet," where every moment revolves around appointments and recovery. To break that cycle, Sidney’s LifeList wish is for a trip to the beach with Reagan. She is dreaming of escaping to the ocean and leaving her diagnosis behind to focus on simply being sisters and making memories together. Welcome to the Dear Jack family, Sidney—we are so honored to be in your corner. #DearJackFoundation #AYACancer #LifeList #YACancer #CancerSupport

When navigating a cancer diagnosis, it’s easy to feel like our entire identity has been swallowed up by appointments, side effects, and the new "patient" label. But deep down, we are still the same people with the same values, passions, and dreams—even if the world around us looks completely different. Join us for our next Community Call, Identity Beyond the Diagnosis: Reclaiming Your Self on Tuesday, May 12th at 4PM PT/7PM ET. We’re coming together for a heart-centered session to explore how we can reconnect with the parts of ourselves we thought we’d lost along the way 💙 🔗 Register now at the link in our bio! #DearJackFoundation #AYACancer #YACancer #DearJackCommunity #CancerSupport