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  • Darien, CT

JR Schoen Memorial Foundation was started in 2008 after the death of JR Schoen, a nine year old boy who had just finished third grade at the Holmes School in Darien.  

The first activity for the foundation was the inaugrual 2008 JR Forever Memorial Walk that took place in October on what would have been JR's 10th birthday. The idea of the walk was to raise money for organizations that helped us during JR's battle with brain cancer and/or that honored JR's memory.  

Several organizations in Darien have received funds from the walk including Post 53, the Playground by the Sound, Darien Little League and the Little League Challenger Program, the Center for Hope/Den for Grieving Kids and Darien Youth Lacrosse (who established a scholarship fund in his name).

Starting in 2010, we decided to establish a fund within the foundation that would give financial help to families in town who have school-aged children and who were experiencing serious illness, injury or death within their immediate families.

The Schoen family had received so many gifts from people during and after JR's illness that it seemed like a natural fit within the foundation. This fund is named JR's Ray of Hope and has donated to several families in town (we keep the names confidential). JR's Ray of Hope also makes donation to other causes in town such as donations to the Darien Public School health rooms.

MISSION The mission of the foundation is to provide research funding that will aim to find the cause and the cure for aggressive brain tumors found in children and those similar tumors found in adults.  

In addition to research, the Foundation will support the care and comfort of those children inflicted with life-threatening illnesses, including but not limited to hospice-type services designed to fit the needs of pediatric patients and their families. 

The Foundation will also contribute to other not-for-profit programs that honor JR Schoen’s memory and enrich the lives of children and their families. 

www.jrschoen.org

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