Our Mission

The Dear Jack Foundation provides impactful programming that directly benefits adolescents and young adults diagnosed with cancer in order to improve quality of life and create positive health outcomes from treatment to survivorship for patients and their families.

Through our programs and strategic partnerships, we address the physical and emotional needs of AYA cancer patients, survivors and their families. Our one-on-one patient outreach and peer-to-peer group wellness programs allow us to empower patients, survivors and their caregivers in their healing and to provide assurance that they are not alone in their cancer journey.



Our Values

INTEGRITY
We take responsibility for our actions through respect and accountability in all that we do.

COMMUNITY
Community is at our core. Together we are stronger and strive to embody this in our programs, fundraising, relationships and in our communication.

INCLUSIVITY
Our commitment to diversity and inclusion builds a stronger and more powerful community. We support and advocate for all young adults with cancer regardless of race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, or veteran status.

COMPASSION
We provide our services with the utmost empathy and kindness. We take pride in creating moments of joy or relief during a time that can often bring stress or fear.


Our Story

In the spring of 2005, Andrew McMahon and his band Jack’s Mannequin embarked on their first U.S. headlining tour. Before completing the tour, Andrew paid a visit to his voice doctor in New York City due to a growing number of health concerns. The results from the blood work that came back the following morning were alarming and Andrew was quickly admitted to New York Presbyterian Hospital. Ultimately, everyone’s worst fears were confirmed: Andrew had Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia (ALL).

Throughout the summer of 2005, Andrew underwent two rounds of chemotherapy, radiation treatment, and a lifesaving stem cell transplant from his sister.  During his battle with ALL, it became clear to Andrew that in a generation where cancer has become the second largest cause of death in the U.S. and the biggest public action item relevant to health, there were still major shortfalls in treatment, support, and research on behalf of the young adult demographic.

In an effort to initiate change and provide a voice for the generations of young adults who have been diagnosed with cancer, Andrew founded the Dear Jack Foundation in July of 2006.

Our Staff

Executive Director

Andrea Schwartz (She/Her/Hers)

Andrea has been the Executive Director of Dear Jack since May of 2015. She has a unique blend of for-profit and non-profit experience and has directed cause marketing and development initiatives for youth based organizations and marketing efforts for media, advertising and investment firms growing their initiatives from infancy into…

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Kayla Fulginiti (She/Her/Hers)

Kayla joined the Dear Jack team in March 2019 as the Director of Program Delivery. She is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and devoted her time to working with oncology patients and their families. She comes to Dear Jack with 9+ years of hospital oncology social work experience and nonprofit…

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Development and Communcations Manager

Brett Gnadt (She/Her/Hers)

Graduating from Colorado State University with a BA in Communications, Brett joined the Dear Jack team in September 2018 as the Development and Communications Manager.

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Development Director

Emily Nist

Emily graduated from Syracuse University where she was a student athlete on the track & field and cross country teams. Emily then went on to complete her Master’s of Science at Temple University in Philadelphia.

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LifeList Coordinator

Susan Wandishin (She/Her/Hers)

Susan joined the Dear Jack team in December of 2017. She was born and raised in St. Louis, Missouri. She has a BS in Education from the University of Missouri - Columbia, and spent the next five years teaching high school students with disabilities in both North St. Louis and…

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Our Board

Founder

Andrew McMahon

Andrew is a 12-year leukemia survivor, pianist, frontman, and singer-songwriter. His most recent solo project is Andrew McMahon in the Wilderness. His previous musical projects and bands include Something Corporate and Jack' s Mannequin.

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Darren Shames

Darren works in investment banking, and resides in CT. After several friends and colleagues were diagnosed with cancer, Darren began searching for charities to work with that supported initiatives directly benefiting adolescents and young adults (AYA) diagnosed with cancer.

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Dr. Allison Rosenthal

Dr. Allison Rosenthal is originally from Chicago, Illinois, but has lived in Phoenix, Arizona, for many years. She attended Midwestern University in Glendale, Arizona, for medical school, and then completed her Internal Medicine residency training at St. Joseph’s Hospital and Medical Center in Phoenix, Arizona. She went on to become…

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Elisa Chin

Elisa is a Los Angeles native who started volunteering with the Dear Jack Foundation (DJF) via their partnership with The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's annual Light The Night (LTN) Walks in 2006.

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Jennifer Sinay

Jennifer has worked in media and marketing her entire career. Having started in traditional media, she partnered with radio stations to develop & market their online presence.

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Board Chair

Steve Mitzel

Steve Mitzel is the Chief Executive Officer of Mspark, a direct mail and digital company reaching over 55 million consumers every month. Prior to Mspark, Steve spent 13 years at Valassis Communications in Livonia, Michigan, in various executive-level roles of increasing responsibility, culminating in the position of General Manager/Senior Vice…

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Steve Smith

Steve is a partner/owner at J.W. Thomas Wines, a Napa Valley boutique winery and the former Executive Director of the Dear Jack Foundation. Steve has 17 years of experience in the music business, focusing on A&R, artist management, and strategic partnerships. He has worked with the likes of John Mayer,…

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