Reflecting on the 2023 Big GIVE by Kyle Woody
Reflecting on The Big GIVE last year, two moments stand out.
Moment 1
Standing with Mike McGarry in his driveway in Woodbury, MN on July 6th 2023 after we had mobilized a team of encouragers to show up at his house.
I was driving back and forth to Mayo every day to visit Tracy in the ER; coming home every day and feeling like I was abandoning her; worrying about the kids’ fears about their mom and wondering what I was going to tell them every day when they asked me, straight up, ‘tell me the truth.” - Mike McGarry
We had just spent the evening feeding Mike’s family. At the end of the evening, at the end of his driveway, Mike looked me straight in the eyes and said, “Tonight was incredible, this must become a Jack’s program.”
In that moment the goal of The Big GIVE 2023 was born. To launch a brand new program we’d call Storm Chasers.
In that moment the goal of The Big GIVE 2023 was born. To launch a brand new program we’d call Storm Chasers.
Moment 2
When the total raised that night was revealed on a giant check that Mike McGarry hoisted into the air. Our goal had been to raise $125,000. The check in Mike’s hands read $133,630.
The Storm Chaser
On November 1st, 2024 at this year’s Big GIVE we will unveil “The Storm Chaser”. A mobile kitchen that will encourage caregivers one meal at a time. Here’s a rendering of the kitchen we showed our donors last year.
A rendering of the mobile kitchen we shared at The Big GIVE last year.
We hope you’ll join us On November 1st to see what built with those funds. In my opinion the real thing is more impressive than what we imagined.
Join Us for The Big GIVE 2024!
Register today. And if you can't attend, please donate towards the fundraiser.
Kyle is notorious for giving up on stuff. His kindle is riddled with half read books and his Netflix que brimming with half watched shows. In 2018 he also called it quits on an 18-year career in construction. But he’ll never give up on Jack’s Caregiver Coalition. One of the three proud founders of the coalition, he has served as executive director since day one. You’ll often find him swearing at his laptop or feeling outnumbered by all the ladies in his exercise classes. He is blessed daily by his beautiful bride, their five children, and their male dog Janet.