Mercer Times

Forty-seven children are diagnosed with cancer every day. TCNJam has spent the last decade working to reduce that number through fundraising and initiatives with the Andrew McDonough B+ Foundation, which supports families of children battling cancer.

Earlier this month, TCNJam concluded their year-long campaign by raising $130,211 at a six-hour dance party in Packer Hall. Over 300 attendees enjoyed music from two TCNJ student DJs and participated in activities such as a Battle of the Bands, a talent show, games, craft vendors, and food trucks.

To achieve this year's record-breaking total, TCNJam organized various fundraising events throughout the year. These included a flag football tournament, a 5k run, and a blood drive. The most successful event was "Team Up with TCNJam," which raised $55,000. Different student organizations competed to raise the most money in one week.

Since its inception 10 years ago, TCNJam has raised nearly $685,000 for the foundation. Their involvement extends beyond fundraising through the B+ Heroes Program. This program matches student organizations on campus with children battling cancer—B+ Heroes. So far, four TCNJ organizations have been matched with B+ Heroes.

Last year's top fundraising team, Theta Phi Alpha, was matched with Charlotte, a four-year-old battling leukemia. The sorority sisters engage in activities like hide-and-seek and crafting with Charlotte.

“Charlotte became my ‘why’ as soon as I got to know her and her family,” says Sophia Katsouris ’25, TCNJam’s campus engagement director and member of Theta Phi Alpha. “Our Heroes make everything real for us, giving us inspiration and more motivation to fundraise and increase awareness about their fight.”

“It is truly something special what we do at TCNJam,” says Emma Duffy ’24, TCNJam’s executive director. “We are the one organization across campus that brings together a huge portion of the student body to change our small corner of the world. We are college students who dedicate our lives to TCNJam so that kids battling cancer will grow up to live beautiful lives.”

The Andrew McDonough B+ (Be Positive) Foundation honors Andrew McDonough's life. He battled leukemia for 167 days before passing away on July 14, 2007 at age 14. His B+ blood type inspired his family and friends' motto during his fight against childhood cancer—to “Be Positive.”