JAY DEASON FUND
ABOUT US
In honor of its friend Jay, The Jay Deason Fund contributes to local needs including its annual gift for its community-based Tools for School program to the Tift County School System. This annual contribution is managed and carefully dispersed by the system’s three school social worker’s and specifically targets children who are classified as homeless.
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Since 2007, the Jay Deason Fund (JDF) and it's supporters have raised and contributed over $250,000 locally, which includes over $55,000 to the Tools for School program for the Tift County School system's homeless and at-risk children.
Additional JDF annual causes include:
- REACH Scholarships for Tift Co School System
- Annual Egg Drop & Wellness Hop Event with TCRD
- JDF Sports Scholarship Program at the Tift Co Rec Dept
- The Called to Care - Foster Children Christmas Program
- Ruth’s Cottage Christmas Support
- The Military Family Support Program,
- Santa’s Helpers Christmas
- YMCA's Christmas Extravaganza,
- The Teen Maze event for Tift County 9th grades
- TCCCY's Back to School Bash
- Go Light Up Your World event against gang activity
If you can't make it out to play, please consider a hole sponsorship in support of these worthy initiates. Go to www.jaydeasonfund.org to learn more as well as to sign up for a team or hole sponsorship.
Sweet Memories of Jay
(Jay Deason, November 7, 1978 – October 7, 2006)
By Joe Lewis
Loved ones fill our lives with treasures,
Not only joy and scores of pleasures,
But, mysteries, and sometimes, even grief.
Jaybird, you gave them all with your powerful life, though quiet,
Oh! Such adventures and fun we shared, with delight,
For some of us, it had just begun, and was so brief,
So, our minds are full of questions, our hearts sorely ache,
As we strive to understand, the lessons we should take,
Surely, there is a reason for the lost we feel so strong.
Your trail of loyal friends are, so plenty,
And, lives of all ages you warmly touched, so many,
We marvel how your wave of compassion lives on.
Only a guiding touch of the Master’s Hand,
Could spawn gifts so remarkable, young man,
Perhaps, that explains the void we just cannot fill.
Each day we hear of an encouraging word you gave,
And, so often, some warm and kind gesture you made,
Words that touch our tender hearts, but oh, how we miss you still.
So, it’s in the sweet memories of your friendship, so sure,
And, in the rich love and laughter we shared, so dear,
We find the dew to refresh our broken hearts each new day,
Until, we are with you, again, Jay.
Poem written In Memory of Jay Deason on October 7, 2007
One year after his death.
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