Saturday, January 28, 2012
The Never Ever Give Up Foundation inspired by Jessica Joy Rees stands tall in an online contest to raise awareness about nonprofit organizations in the community.
A lot has happened over the last 10 months to Erik and Stacey Rees, whose daughter Jessica—who dreamed up JoyJars and the Never Ever Give Up Foundation—died earlier this month from cancer. The whirlwind continued on Friday, in a small temporary office in Rancho Santa Margarita, where the 12-year-old's legacy got another boost as NEGU was awarded the first $2,500 grant from the Orange County Community Foundation. The grant giveaway was part of a Facebook campaign by the OCCF to raise awareness of "amazing nonprofits" in the community, said its president, Shelley Hoss. It asked its 770 Facebook fans to vote, but in a week's time there were 2,600 new people who liked OCCF's Facebook page, and NEGU had nearly 3,000 of the 6,600 votes cast …
Thursday, January 12, 2012
Family and friends spoke about the life of Jessica Joy Rees, who died this month from cancer, at a service that drew thousands to Lake Forest.
Family and friends of Jessica Joy Rees made the Wednesday evening celebration of her life one the 12-year-old herself would have enjoyed. Thousands attended the Saddleback Church service in memory of the young swimmer, a member of the Mission Viejo Nadadores better known as "Jessie," who died Jan. 5 after a 10-month battle with cancer. The service included Jessica's favorite Bible passages, favorite Christian songs—the ones that she listened to during cancer treatments—and, at its end, favorite treats—candy, cupcakes and cookies. One of the handful of relatives and friends asked to speak, a teacher of Jessica's recalled her unassuming nature, sharing that Jessica once requested the smallest part in a school play. After the Rancho Santa …
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Saddleback Church
1 Saddleback Pkwy, Lake Forest, CA
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Monday, January 9, 2012
Services for Jessica Joy Rees, who died Jan. 5, are Wednesday at Saddleback Church in Lake Forest.
Blue ribbons are popping up across the Lake Forest area in memory of 12-year-old Jessica Joy Rees, who died Jan. 5 after a 10-month struggle with two brain tumors. Rees, a Rancho Santa Margarita resident, swam for the Mission Viejo Nadadores, and her father is a pastor at Saddleback Church in Lake Forest. After an MRI revealed an inoperable brain tumor March 3, 2011, "Jessie" Rees began encouraging other kids with cancer. She inspired a foundation called NEGU—"Never Ever Give Up" and shared her experience though a Facebook page and a blog. Now her supporters are honoring her memory by tying blue ribbons along south Orange County thoroughfares. So far, community members, including more than 50 Nadadore swimmers, have spent hours tying the …
Joel
8:32 am on Sunday, January 29, 2012
awesome.... more ›