Shanna Swanson, Executive Director of the Firefly Sisterhood, is a kindred spirt. As I sat furiously taking notes during an interview with her, I paused for a moment and realized that I was anticipating her thoughts. If it wasn’t clear to me before we sat down (and it kinda was) it was clear to me ...

For the past few years, Jack’s has put on The Big GIVE – your classic nonprofit fundraiser with auctions, paddle raises, and inspiring speakers. The idea was simple: raise a lot of money in one night. But the truth is, there were a lot of yearly struggles. Many of our donors spend their falls and ...

Chris Maddox is both a Caregiver and an Artist. He’s hesitant to label himself as either. Like many guy Caregivers, Chris sees the commitment to caring for his partner as something he doesn’t think twice about. His caregiving journey started in 2018. She was diagnosed with POTS (a chronic auto ...

Jack Pallas has spent his life caring for and about other people. I first spoke with this caregiver a couple days after Christmas 2024. Jack reached out on the 26th and wasn't expecting to start his relationship with us within 24 hours. He shared with me his wife Julie had passed away a month prior ...

On Wednesday July 17th, 2025, we had a chance to roll up with The Storm Chaser to support the American Cancer Society's ACS Empower Open House at the Richard M. Schulze Family Hope Lodge in Minneapolis. We were proud to cook food, connect with everyone, and stand alongside so many incredible ...

It’s an honor to be the lead volunteer blazing the trail for the first ever Carry That Weight campaign. Just as Jack’s is blazing the trail for strengthening men who are caregivers. I came to Jack’s about a year and half ago after my late partner Kate passed away. The Sequel Makers side of Jack’s ...

Stephen Stewart is a regular attendee of Jack’s Caregiver Klatch. He is “a forever and always caregiver” for his wife of 49 years, Judy. I had the pleasure of meeting Stephen at a community table event a couple of years back. He became a member of Jack’s a short while later and views Jack’s monthly ...

From Left to Right: Erica Heyse, Diane Ty, Bryan Buckley, Paxton Baker, Richard Lui, Jason Resendez, Helen Bryant, Marion Phillips III, Didier Trinh, John Mullins, Kyle Woody, Rita Choula, Jean Accius, Liza Morris, Audrey Harrison, Dwan Reece

Gilda’s Club Minnesota has been around for about as long as Jack's Caregiver Coalition and I (Jeff) am lucky enough to have been part of the incredible organization since it opened its doors. Gilda’s was instrumental in helping me through my second go-around as a caregiver.

I’m confident that anyone who has ever founded a non-profit remembers the moment their first sponsor signed on. It was 2015, and I remember it like it was yesterday. There it was, a text from Bob Gardner telling me Gardner Builders would be the presenting sponsor of our first-ever fundraising ...

Roger embraces his path in life better than most. It isn’t easy being a widower (Sequel Maker, in Jack’s speak). He pays attention to his grief and knows that he can live in harmony with it. Last year, Roger took on the task of leading our monthly Sequel Maker Klatch (that’s a support group in ...

Our founders Dustin Cesarek, Justin Nicolay, and Kyle Woody in 2015 pictured here with Tom Trefethen, the first caregiver who asked for our help.

As the year comes to a close, we find ourselves reflecting on the incredible individuals and organizations who have made a difference at Jack’s Caregiver Coalition. From sharing stories that inspire, to providing unwavering support behind the scenes, these contributions fuel our mission and create ...

When people think of the holidays, one of the first things they focus on is the scrumptious meals and treats that have long been a part of their festivities. For Caregivers and Sequel Makers, this can become an added stressor as they feel the expectation of replicating past holiday meals. The first ...

My Story My husband, Dan, was diagnosed with stage IV lung cancer on our third wedding anniversary. That was the first of many celebrations that were never the same. Rather than celebrating another year together with many more to look forward to, we found ourselves counting years of survival, never ...

At Jack’s Caregiver Coalition, we’re passionate about supporting caregivers and celebrating their strength. In 2025, we’re launching One Million Strong, an ambitious campaign aiming to raise $1 million by 2026 and positively impact one million guy caregivers by 2035. T hi s initiative will ...

At Jack’s Caregiver Coalition, our passion for helping Caregivers runs deep. Every day, we see the extraordinary strength it takes to be a Caregiver, and we’re committed to being a community where Caregivers can find the support they need. For #GivetotheJacksDay on November 21st, we aim to raise ...

I like community events where I can be at a table and talk to the people who most need to know about what we can offer. Being a part of the nonprofit world for the past 15 years has taught me what to expect at these events and how to maximize downtime. Having a table at a community event is ...

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.

It was the day before Thanksgiving. In Norfolk, Virginia, in 2011, when my wife Sarah was diagnosed with Colon Cancer. She was only 34 years old. We had just celebrated our second son’s first birthday. About a year later, some friends from California traveled across the country to spend a week with ...

Navigating the challenges of caregiving can often feel overwhelming, especially for those just beginning their journey. That’s where Jack’s Caregiver Coalition steps in with its innovative Jack-to-Jack coaching program. At its core, this program connects individuals who have firsthand experience in ...

Mike Dykema joined Jack’s in August 2023. Mike saw that he was heading for heartache and knew that he needed the kind of help that only a someone unfamiliar to him, but with a similar experience could tackle. I remember sitting down with Mike just days after the loss of his wife, Emily. He was ...

We are proud to announce that Dr. Jean Accius has officially begun his term as our newest Board Chair. Jean’s connection with our coalition dates back to 2016 when he stumbled upon us while conducting groundbreaking research on male family caregivers at AARP. His work culminated in the publication ...

We are pleased to announce that we have purchased a trailer. In its current form, it’s basically the shell of our future mobile kitchen. Caregiver, Fred Sklenar has created a brilliant and detailed plan to trick out the trailer, giving us all the features we will need to execute Storm Chaser’s ...