Erik & Jessie Rees - NEGU Foundation Golf ClassicOn Sept. 12, 2011, the NEGU Foundation held its first Annual NEGU Golf Classic in San Juan Capistrano, Calif. The event, presented by Clarient and sponsored in part by Zodiac Pool Systems, raised money to increase awareness and provide encouragement for kids fighting pediatric cancer. With over 130 golfers and more than 200 attendees at the dinner and fashion show, the event was a huge success.

 

The Never Ever Give Up (NEGU) Foundation was started by 12-year old competitive swimmer Jessie Joy Rees who is fighting an inoperable brain tumor and was inspired to help other children fighting cancer. Jessie was a member of the one of the top swim teams in the U.S. (the Mission Viejo Nadadores) for four years when she was diagnosed in March 2011.

 

Jessie came up with the idea of JoyJars™ filled with toys and activities to give to other pediatric cancer patients while they are in the hospital. The NEGU was founded to support this cause, and more than 500 JoyJars have been distributed in just four months to encourage kids to keep fighting and to maintain a positive attitude.


"We're truly blessed by the amount of support and generosity we've received,” says Jessie’s father Erik Rees, who runs the NEGU Foundation. "We're looking forward to many more events and the opportunity to encourage thousands of kids fighting cancer. We're just getting started!"

 

All proceeds from the NEGU Golf Classic will be used to help the NEGU Foundation continue to provide hope and encouragement to children fighting cancer.


For more information on the NEGU Foundation, and to purchase JoyJars and make donations, please visit www.inegu.org.

 

Pictured above: Jessie Rees and her dad Erik Rees

 

Photo courtesy of The NEGU Foundation and Zodiac Pool Systems, Inc.; Photography by Bob Ortiz Photography