The Jessie Rees Foundation continues to grow, and sometime in the last 48 hours the organization's Facebook site hit 150,000 "likes." It reached the milestone with nearly a month to spare, and means it means the Rancho Santa Margarita-based charity will receive $5,000 from a benefactor.
However, there is a new goal of another 5,000 likes by Sept. 1. If the movement hits that number, the benefactor will contribute another $5,000 to the Never Ever Give Up cause.
To go to the Jessie Rees Facebook homepage, click here.
Jessica Rees of RSM created the JoyJars concept to aid and encourage children with cancer after she was diagnosed with inoperable brain cancer on March 3, 2011. on Jan. 5.
JoyJars—vessels filled with age-specific treats and toys for kids—cost about $20 and are often tailored to the particular child's likes. Jessie, who swam with the Mission Viejo Nadadores, would personally stuff the jars in the months before her death.
"What a treat to read we made it to 150,000," wrote Erik Rees, Jessica's father, on Facebook on Thursday.
"Jessie talked about getting one fan for every fighter...some day we will have 250,000 fans. ... I can't believe 'likes' have become a major way we raise money for Jessie's wish."
Rees also wrote that his family is on vacation, in New York City, for the first time since his daughter's death.
"Kind of bittersweet," Rees wrote, "but Jessie is always with us!"
A minister at , Rees said that he expects the foundation to give away his daughter's goal of 50,000 JoyJars this year.
