In 2006, while receiving chemotherapy at Wolfson Children’s Hospital in Jacksonville, AJ Donohue, a young patient from the Golden Isles, decided to started a fundraising campaign. Because AJ was spending a great deal of time in the hospital rooms there and he had become
close to the doctors and nursing staff, he wanted to find a way to give back to the place that was his second home and the people who were like family to him. Despite having been told he only had a few weeks to live, AJ started selling stickers that depicted him flying a plane (one of his favorite hobbies), and set a goal to raise $50,000 and to have stickers in every state in the U.S. The proceeds from the sales would be used to buy recliners and DVD players for each of the rooms at Wolfson.
Although many were skeptical due to the short term of AJ’s prognosis, he never gave up on those lofty goals, despite becoming unable to leave his bed. And in a mere few weeks, AJ stickers not only made it to every one of the 50 states, they even found their way around the globe. His $50,000 fundraising goal was met too. AJ received a call from the president of the hospital congratulating him on accomplishing that goal on September 22, 2006, just a day before cancer claimed his life. Undaunted, AJ’s family, friends, and supporters, dubbed “Team AJ,” carried on in and with his spirit, picking up where he left off and continuing with his mission to support institutions that provide care to victims of pediatric cancer, scholarships for those providing care or aspiring to provide care to victims of pediatric cancer, and families of children afflicted with pediatric cancer.
Now, more than 12 years later, Team AJ remains stronger than ever, now memorializing AJ’s legacy through his family and friends as the AJ Donohue Foundation, a 501(c)(3) charitable organization. They have never given up on AJ’s dream and continue to spread his message of courage and passionate determination and raise money through annual fundraising efforts. The Foundation has funded an annual pediatric oncology scholarship to support the nurses whom AJ dearly loved and also helped fund the opening of a new children's cancer clinic on the Southeast Georgia Health System’s Brunswick campus.
The signature event for the Foundation is the AJ Donohue Memorial Golf Tournament. The response to last year’s event and fundraising campaign enabled the foundation to establish the AJ Donohue Nursing Scholars Program and award its first scholarship. The AJ Donohue Nursing Scholars Program is directed to Glynn County School’s students who seek to pursue nursing and pediatric care studies at the College of Coastal Georgia. The scholarship offers multiyear funding to the recipients, provided they successfully complete the curriculum and complete volunteer hours at the Southeast Georgia Health System. In addition, the foundation was able to continue and expand the very popular Christmas gift program which brings joy to children spending their Christmas season in hospitals in the Atlanta area.
This year’s fundraising for the Foundation is dedicated to further support the Nursing Scholars Program, to continue support for the Wolfson Children’s Pediatric Specialty Center at Southeast Georgia Health System, and to initiate challenge grants for the renovation and improvements of the pediatric care facilities at the Southeast Georgia Health System. The Foundation also seeks funds to maintain reserves to offer support to families impacted by the challenges of battling pediatric cancer.
The 12th Annual AJ Donohue Memorial Golf Tournament – The Second Decade “Part Deux” is scheduled for February 23 and a fun-filled day of friendly competition on Jekyll Island. At the tournament, they will announce the 2019 Nursing Scholars Award recipients and provide additional information on the challenge grant program. Play takes place on two courses, so there’s room for plenty of teams to participate. Registration for the tourney is at 9:00 a.m. with a 10:00 a.m. shotgun start. Tournament is scramble format with prizes for Top Teams, Closest-to-the-Pin, and Longest Drive. Make your own team or the tournament committee will pair you with other players. Entry fee includes greens fee, practice range, door prizes, gift, breakfast offerings, lunch, entry to 19th Hole Celebration and beverages all day. Entry fee is $125 per player or $475 per team (4 players). Mulligans available for purchase: $5 each, 4 for $20. You can skip the line at registration by prepaying with your entry. Entry deadline is Friday, February 15. For more information, call John Donohue at 912.635.9150. Additional entry forms may be requested by email from teamajgolf@gmail.com. There are also numerous sponsorship opportunities available. You can help the Foundation continue its grown in its mission and its reach. Come out to play or become a sponsor and you too will become part of Team AJ, and continue his goals of supporting pediatric care giver education, aiding children who battle cancer, and improve resources available for their care. For more information or to register online, visit ajdonohuefoundation.org.
