L-R: Fairhaven Police Captain Daniel Dorgan and Officer Michael Carrette are dressed to impress in their red tutus in support of The Friends of Jack Foundation. Photo from Fairhaven Police Department Facebook page.
The Tutu Challenge began as a viral campaign on social media to help raise funds to buy gifts for less fortunate children during the holidays. It was so successful in its first year that it became an annual tradition that raises close to $10,000 in donations for toys.
Founded in 2019, Friends of Jack’s mission is to provide and expand overlooked programs that benefit the physical, mental, and emotional health and well-being for children and families throughout Massachusetts and Rhode Island.
While navigating stressful hospital stays with her son, Jack, Founder Jill Fearons recognized the importance of overlooked healthcare programs and child life specialists in coping with scary and unfamiliar medical situations.
This experience inspired Jill to create the Friends of Jack Foundation, a non-profit dedicated to protecting children’s mental health and well-being along with their physical health while undergoing treatment. We accomplish this mission through several programs, including our Superhero program, Hero Bears, Therapy Cars and Comfort Dogs.
As we provide children with superhero capes, masks, and bears to help them feel less alone, Friends of Jack also pays for the salary and all associated costs of child life specialists at local hospitals throughout the South Coast and Providence.
Visit https://www.friendsofjack.org/programs/tutu-challenge
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