We wish to thank our many sponsors who enable The Jester & Pharley Phund to fulfill its mission to provide educational experiences that give every child a sense of hope, a feeling of self-empowerment, a love of learning, the joy of laughter, and the desire to live up to The Jester & Pharley's philosophy:
"It's up to us to make a difference. It's up to us to care."™
  • Verizon Wireless Northern California Region
  • The Bristol-Myers Squibb Foundation and Bristol-Myers Squibb Oncology-Immunology
  • Hoechst Marion Roussel, Inc.
  • The Norris Foundation
  • The Richard and Maude Ferry Foundation
  • The Marin-Finn Foundation


A JESTER JINGLE TO. . .
VERIZON (formerly GTE) WIRELESS CALIFORNIA
VERIZON (formerly GTE) COMMUNICATION - Verizon (formerly GTE) Wireless California President Ralph Martinez kicks off a state-wide literacy campaign with The Jester's Mom in Santa Barbara, CA. "As a communications company, Verizon (formerly GTE) believes literacy is the foundation for the success of individuals and communities," says Martinez.
VERIZON (formerly GTE) READS WITH 'THE JESTER' TO SUPPORT LITERACY EFFORTS

Verizon (formerly GTE) Wireless, California, has joined forces with The Jester Co. to support literacy programs throughout the state.

As part of its efforts to inspire a love of reading in children, Verizon (formerly GTE) Wireless has donated several thousand copies of The Jester Has Lost His Jingle as well as Jester & Pharley Dolls to local school districts.

Verizon (formerly GTE) Wireless' efforts in San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, San Jose and Santa Maria counties have met with resounding success. Plans for the year 2000 call for funding similar programs in the Central Valley and in the greater Bay Area.

In addition to donating corporate money to community programs for adult literacy and giving schools copies of The Jester to inspire students, Verizon (formerly GTE) Wireless also encourages employees to volunteer as literacy advocates through its Verizon (formerly GTE) Reads efforts.

THE JESTER'S COURT - The Jester's Mom joins Verizon (formerly GTE) Wireless store manager Denise Terramorse and her staff at the Verizon (formerly GTE) Wireless office in Campbell, CA, with a special presentation of The Jester Has Lost His Jingle featuring students Ben Kwok as the King and Steven Norberg as The Jester.

In support of these efforts, Barbara Saltzman, "The Jester's Mom," has spoken to adult literacy councils and visited schools in Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo, San Jose and Santa Maria counties on behalf of Verizon (formerly GTE) Wireless, California.

VERIZON (formerly GTE) STORYTIME - The Jester's Mom explains some of the secrets in David Saltzman's book The Jester Has Lost His Jingle to eager students at Rosemary School in Campbell, CA. Verizon (formerly GTE) donated Jester books and dolls to the school as part of its commitment to literacy.

"It's an honor for The Jester to be part of such a committed effort," said Ms. Saltzman. "Mr. Martinez has shared many of the delightful notes filled with pictures of The Jester & Pharley from students who continue to get so much from Verizon (formerly GTE)'s generous gift. I look forward to meeting many of them."

READING FOR LITERACY - The Jester's Mom plans to visit numerous schools in California on behalf of Verizon (formerly GTE) Wireless' commitment to literacy.



A JESTER JINGLE TO. . .
Bristol-Myers Squibb

24,000 Jester & Pharley Dolls Ring Away Trauma In Children's Cancer Centers Nationwide

GIFT OF LAUGHTER - Emily Olvera, a 10-year-old leukemia patient, receives one of the 24,000 Jester & Pharley Dolls given out by Bristol-Myers Squibb.
"When I go to a doctor's appointment, I take out Jester and try to hold him still so I won't make his bells jingle. That means I am going to stay still for my treatments," Emily told her doctors.
The Bristol-Myers Squibb Foundation has given 24,000 Jester & Pharley Dolls to virtually every child diagnosed with cancer in major pediatric medical centers across the country.

The donation was formally presented at the Jonathan Jaques Children's Cancer Center of Miller Children's Hospital at Long Beach Memorial Medical Center in Southern California.

Joining the ceremony was baseball great Eric Davis, a colon cancer survivor, who said that The Jester & Pharley Doll made him feel better too. He helped Bristol-Myers Squibb deliver the dolls personally to the children in their hospital rooms.

Dr. Jerry Z. Finklestein, executive director of Jonathan Jacques Children's Cancer Center, accepted the donation on behalf of the national Children's Oncology Group.

"By donating 24,000 Jester & Pharley Dolls to pediatric oncology centers, we hope to provide encouragement, joy and strength to children fighting cancer," says Rick Winningham, President of Bristol-Myers Squibb Oncology/Immunology. "It is our goal to provide the dolls to all pediatric patients diagnosed with cancer to help them stay positive and remember the importance of laughter. We feel that treating the emotional needs of all cancer patients, especially children, is as important as fighting the disease itself."

In addition to the 24,000 dolls, the Bristol-Myers Squibb Foundation donated 600 copies of The Jester Has Lost His Jingle to the pediatric oncology centers. The books remain at the facilities to be read to or by visiting children. The dolls have found permanent homes with the children and their families who most need to find the laughter within themselves.

HAPPY RECIPIENT - Five-year-old Meghan Flynn says The Jester & Pharley help her feel better when she's sad. Meghan was diagnosed with Acute Lympathic Leukemia.

Hospitals receiving Jester & Pharley Dolls and Jester Has Lost His Jingle books from Bristol-Myers Squibb for their pediatric oncology patients include: