As we emerge from the holiday season, I am overwhelmed by gratitude.

We spent a good part of the Christmas holiday in Florida visiting my childhood home. Part of the trip included time going through cupboards and closets, cleaning out the house for an impending sale. One of the things I found was a pink bracelet. When Charlotte was first diagnosed with cancer, friends of ours purchased dozens of these bright pink bracelets with the words Prayers for Charlotte printed on them. The bracelets served as a tangible symbol of our community’s support. They also served as the first official “fundraiser” for Charlotte’s care. People gave us money ($2, $5…sometimes more) for a bracelet and we used those funds to help with the many expenses that emerged for Charlotte’s care that year: travel expenses, medical bills, and more.

For years, I wore my hot pink bracelet. Sometimes the bracelets would break and I would replace them. Sometimes I would give a bracelet to another friend or family member and I would replace it. Eventually, the bracelet I was wearing faded to a light pink. Fifteen years later, I was sure that all the bracelets were gone. Then I found this one.

Fifteen years have passed since Charlotte died on January 7, 2010. In the time since we have built a small organization that serves thousands of families every year in their time of need. We have provided meals, blankets, financial assistance, smiles, and kindness. There have been dozens of fundraisers and thousands of supporters. CJSTUF has raised over $1 million in fifteen years.

Thank you.

We are so grateful for every donor who trusts us to be good stewards of the funds we receive.
We are grateful for every board member, staff member, and volunteer who has dedicated their time to making our small organization better every year.

We are grateful to those who knew Charlotte and help us keep her spirit alive in our work.
We are grateful to those who never had a chance to meet Charlotte but believe in our mission.

We are grateful to the dedicated staff and administrative support at Children’s Hospital of Richmond at VCU and UVA Children’s Hospital, plus our partners at Special Love and Ronald McDonald House (Richmond and Charlottesville). Together, we served over 11,000 people in 2024.

….to remember Charlotte and the legacy she leaves through this organization.
….as a beacon of hope to any family we may serve.
….as a reflection of gratitude for all we have accomplished and all that is yet to come.

Thank you for being a part of our ongoing journey.

Rachel Reynolds
CJSTUF Managing Director & CJ’s Mama