The Jester’s Gift: Hope, Laughter and Inspiration

©™

THE JESTER & PHARLEY PHUND 800-9-JESTER www.thejester.org

Winter 2014-2015

Quietly resting in her bed, young Alexia enjoys the comfort of The Jester & Pharley Doll.

“The little girl was so engaged with reading the book that she would describe what she saw in the pictures. She acknowledged that the little girl in the book was like her because she was in the hospital, too. And she would jingle her Jester & Pharley Doll when we would read their names in the story.

“By the end of the book she was laughing and smiling.” Y

At 2, Jeremiah finds The Jester & Pharley’s adventures as much fun as his own as he pedals his trike in the cheerful playroom of Miller Children’s Hospital Long Beach, CA.

The Jester Has Lost His Jingle has been a part of the professional lives of pediatric oncologists nationwide since its release in late 1995, five years after the passing of author-artist David Saltzman. “I can remember the day I first laid eyes on the book as a pediatrician in training at the Mayo Clinic,” recalls Dr. Divya-Devi Joshi, now Chief Medical Officer of Miller Children’s Hospital Long Beach, CA.

“This wonderful book wakes up the inner smile in every child and has been on the shelves of all the children’s hospitals I have worked in in Minnesota, Wisconsin, Florida and California,” she notes. “Children and their families facing chronic, possibly terminal conditions, experience suffering on many levels: physical, emotional and spiritual. This book, with its whimsical rhymes and pictures, but profound meaning, speaks to the anguish of the suffering child.

“I have seen children (and adolescents too) relate to The Jester and his loving advice”:

Whenever I feel like crying I smile hard instead! I turn my sadness upside down And stand it on its head!Other health professionals regularly report experiences similar to this one related by California Hospital Medical Center Child Life Specialist Tanya Ybarra:

“Recently I read The Jester Has Lost His Jingle to a 6-year-old little girl who was all by herself here in the hospital. The little girl was crying for her mom and clearly very sad. We decided to read The Jester Has Lost His Jingle together as we waited for her mom to return.

The Jester & Pharley Phund is a non-profit 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization. Federal Tax ID # 95-4785834.Your tax-deductible donation supports our programs benefiting ill and special-needs children and literacy.

OfficersBarbara Saltzman, President Allan C. Jones, D.D.S., Vice President Joe Saltzman, Vice President Liz Mitchell, Secretary Thomas DelPonti, Treasurer

MembersGregory S. AlbanCraig R. Fox, Ph.D.Mandaar Gokhale, M.D.Mauricio Heilbron, Jr., M.D.Divya-Devi Joshi, M.D.Beth KleidNorman Panitch, M.D.Robin PanitchJordan Raphael, Esq.Michele Botwin RaphaelJennifer Glimpse Saltzman, M.Ed.Michael SaltzmanMark WiedenmannDeborah Zwelling

We would like to thank all our contributors – foundations, service clubs, companies, individuals and in-kind donors – for all your support. You make it possible for us to continue helping ill children and supporting literacy. In an effort to economize, we recognize your generosity on our website — www.thejester.org.

Loving Tributes

IN HONOR OFRev. Harry & Manette Adams Joe & Barbara SaltzmanBaby Rachel Gabrielle Harry & Stacy StarkPearl Berg Joe & Barbara SaltzmanDr. Nimrod & Mrs. Sharlene Blau’s first grandson Harry & Stacy StarkAllen & Marilyn Conrad’s first grandchild — Tatiana Harry & Stacy StarkDr. Daniel Diamond Dr. Randy & Corinne O’HaraTsvi & Navah Epstein Jacquie Nemor Carole Solis Joe & Barbara SaltzmanDr. Jan Witkoski Fields Harry Stark, Ph.DLynne Goldklang Harry & Stacy StarkLori Gray Liz MitchellDr. Robert & Marcia Handin Joe & Barbara SaltzmanAustin Nicholas Hays Nick CucciaInnovative Solutions Insurance Core Agents and Staff Lynne Rosenberg Dr. Allan Jones & Dr. Janice Chou Maureen BriganteSarah M. Kadzielski, M.D. Mark KadzielskiRabbi Dr. Chanan & Mrs. Barbara Klaristenfeld’s newest grandchild Harry & Stacy StarkLynn Kusnierz Nestor & Jean KusnierzAlexandria Mells Harry & Stacy StarkDr. Thomas Miklusak Harry Stark, Ph.DMeg Milligan Christina Bevacqua Lou Harmon Liz Mitchell Norm & Carolyn NewberryFloyd Mutert David & Leigh MutertBryce Nelson Joe & Barbara Saltzman

Sarah Ragan Jim & Deb RaganDale & Judy Rozzen Harry & Stacy StarkBarbara & Joe Saltzman Julie Fosgate Liz Mitchell Dr. David Natharius & Dr. Mary-Lou GalicianMichael Saltzman Bruce Bolkin & DeAnn HelineDr. Greg Schwarz Harry Stark, Ph.DFrank & Barbara Sotomayor Joe & Barbara SaltzmanLinda Tedrow Elizabeth DobbinsMark Ethan Toporek Annette Insdorf Robert Weatherholt David & Leigh MutertRobert & Maria Weiss Joe & Barbara SaltzmanDr. Jack Wu Harry Stark, Ph.D

IN MEMORY OFIrwin Brownstein A Better PerspectiveJerry Burns Joe & Susan JaresSam Butterfield Joe & Barbara SaltzmanJim Bylin Joe & Susan JaresKathleen Clark Dorothy ClarkAllene Cowan Scott & Shawna GruwellMaurice Cutler Howard Gingold & Fayma GoldmanAmber Delos Santos Joe & Barbara SaltzmanLucille Doty Don & Charleen RobertsAlan “Chick” Epstein Jack & Barbara EpsteinElliott Epstein Benita Epstein & Ted CaseScott Epstein Benita Epstein & Ted CaseDave Franco Steve & Natalie Franco

Michael Giardino AnonymousPhillippa Glover Felix & Maria GutierrezDave Goforth Jerry & Karen SwerlingJeannette Goldstein Fred & Paula HerdanArt Harmon Lou HarmonHobart (Hobby) March Henley David & Ludie HenleyCarl Howerton Carol GlennTy Jurras Sylvie Drake JurrasIrene Kazy Nestor & Jean KusnierzJohn Klug Paula KlugDiane Kovacs AnonymousChris Kukowski Joe & Barbara SaltzmanJack Langguth Joe & Susan Jares Stella Lopez Joe & Barbara SaltzmanLittle Lady Lori Barbara MeislinO.L. Luke, Jr. Oscar & Janis Roberts Joe & Barbara SaltzmanStephen McNally Amy HastingsAdele Meyerson Joe & Barbara SaltzmanLizz Munter Benita Epstein & Ted CaseFred C. Petry, Jr. Robert & Donna McHughSheila Rabinovitch David & Marsha RabinovitchIrving Riegel Seth & Jill Goldstein Laura RiegelJack & Pearl Rosenfeld Rick & Sharon MayerTaku Saito Joe & Barbara SaltzmanDavid Saltzman Bronwyn Anthony James & Bonnie Brittain Diane Colman Jack & Barbara Epstein Robert & Rebecca Fisher John & Patsy Fiske Rabbi Evan & Lori Lander Goodman Monte & Wendy Kravat John Lloyd Verna Pontrelli Laura Riegel

Don & Charleen Roberts Don & Marcia Rutberg Colin & Wendy VincentSusan Schweitzer Peter SchweitzerTara Praeger Sims Pam Tajima PraegerRobin Boyarsky Smith Bill & Nancy BoyarskyDon, Celeste & Kelly Snyder Donna SnyderDouglas Sperber Ben & Jennifer Herschbein Laura RiegelTed Tajima Calvin & Marie TajimaTed & Setsu Tajima Pam Tajima PraegerHitoshi “Jerry” Takemoto Debra Ono & James VasquezTom Tombrello Joe & Barbara SaltzmanCarol Webster Al & Nancy RossiRandy Weeks Rusty & Judy WeeksCharles Weinstein Clare WeinsteinJane Wolfe Debra Ono & James Vasquez

BOARD OF GOVERNORS

TO CONTACT USThe Jester & Pharley PhundP.O. Box 817 Palos Verdes Estates, CA 90274800-9-JESTER; 310-544-4733www.thejester.org • thejester13@cox.net

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When Amber Delos Santos walked up to say hello, she looked as if she had just stepped out of The Jester Has Lost His Jingle. Dressed in a medieval costume as part of her school’s celebration of characters in literature, she looked like she and The Jester & Pharley lived in the same kingdom.The Gauer Elementary 6th grader had been coping with leukemia since 2nd grade. And she was not having an easy time of it Our reading program brought us together. Megan Brown, Amber’s teacher at Gauer Elementary in Anaheim, CA., called to see if we could bring the program to Gauer so that Amber’s friends could participate in a Read-A-Thon in her honor. They wanted her to know how much they loved and admired her and they wanted to help other children fighting cancer. “The assembly was definitely a hit,” said Principal Debra Schroeder. At the end

How Jester Literacy Programs Help Students Discover: ‘It’s Up to Us to Make a Difference’

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Amber Delos Santos finds joy in The Jester Has Lost His Jingle and with The Jester & Pharley Doll.

David Saltzman and Barbara Saltz-man at his Yale graduation in 1989.

Executive Director’s Message by Barbara Saltzman

of the assembly, I asked Amber to come forward so I could present her with a special copy of The Jester Has Lost His Jingle and a Jester & Pharley Doll. Her classmates rose in a standing ovation, clapping loudly. She smiled her beautiful smile. And we hugged. That was the last day of February.We met again in April, after Gauer students had read 228,245 pages in three weeks to give Jester books and dolls in her honor to patients at CHOC Children’s in Orange, CA. The Read-A-Thon was generously sponsored by The Noble Foundation. Amber was presented with a Certificate of Recognition by Anaheim Mayor Tom Tait and she was honored with a State Assembly Resolution from Assemblymember Al Muratsuchi, from The Jester’s 66th district. “As you can tell, our students are deeply connected with Amber and what she is experiencing,” said Dr. Schroeder. “Finding a way to demonstrate their love for her through The Jester program will help them cope with what is occurring. And, I sensed it made Amber feel the love.”Later, the Anaheim City School District Board asked her to speak about her experiences as a cancer patient. Mayor Tom Tait gave her a special tour of City Hall.When she returned to CHOC for treatment over Mother’s Day weekend, The Jester & Pharley Doll always curled up with her. In June, she mustered all her strength to leave the hospital, put on a bright orange dress and join her classmates for graduation. She sang a Whitney Houston song on stage during the matriculation ceremony from 6th grade to middle school.

‘I have that book,” the first grader said quietly, “and the doll. I got them when I was at the hospital.” I don’t always get to meet the children cheered up by The Jester book and doll. But I recently did. At the end of an assembly at Murchison Street Elementary School in East Los Angeles, Erik came up to me to tell me that he had a tumor, too, just like the little girl in the story. He said that he loved the story and that it helped him feel better. When I mentioned this to his literacy coach, she said that he had never talked about his illness before. Something in David’s story and my talking about how he had created it while battling cancer emboldened Erik to come forward. A few weeks later, Erik came forward again – this time to be recognized by all his classmates. They had read nearly 150,000 pages in his honor to give Jester books and dolls to hospitalized children in a Jester Reading Makes A Difference program.I think about Erik a lot lately And about the thousands of other children helped by The Jester Has Lost His Jingle. When people ask me what I do, I tell them about Erik.Y

Erik H. proudly shows his mom the label with his name saying: “This gift of laughter donated in honor of Erik H. by students at Murchison Street Elementary School and the USC Good Neighbors Campaign.”

But Amber didn’t join her classmates in middle school. She died July 9 – having touched many lives deeply, including mine. Since The Jester’s release 19 years ago, I’ve met many children coping with cancer. I remember them all. But Amber always will have a special place in my heart.Y

Erik

Amber

When my son David created The Jester Has Lost His Jingle, I don’t think he had any idea how much it would impact so many lives. The stories on this page reveal how The Phund’s literacy programs can help students show how much they care about help-ing others. The book also opens the door to conversation about illness and how we can help.As David’s acclaimed book ap-proaches its 20th anniversary of publication next year, we’d like: To know how The Jester Has Lost His Jingle has affected you Your name, age and how to reach you A picture of yourself with The Jester book or doll A short YouTube video telling us your Jester storyPlease write us at thejester13@cox.net or call 310-544-4733

Sheridan ElementaryPrincipal Dr. RobertoSalazar enthusiastically thanks USC’s GoodNeighbors Campaignfor supporting theReading Makes ADifference program.Students at this EastLos Angeles school cheer classmates whoread thousands of pagesto help brighten the spirits of patients at White Memorial Medical Centerin East Los Angeles.

When Reading Means . . . Sharing and Caring‘It is not every day that a child is given an opportunity to enhance another child’s life,” said Jonathan Howard, associate director of the Office of Development at Texas Children’s Hospital. “It is not every day that a child learns what it means to help someone who is less fortunate.”

But the students at Benbrook Elementary in Houston who hung on his every word knew that satisfaction. They had just participated in a Jester Reading Makes A Difference program sponsored by Comcast in Houston and had read 108,035 pages to give Jester books and dolls to Texas Children’s patients.

“Thank you so much for inspiring us, encouraging us, and contributing to the overall health of our young patients,” Howard said. “We are tremendously inspired by the message that your contributions send to our patients and families at a difficult time.”

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Vermont Avenue Elementary students find a lot to enjoy asthey listen to The Jester Has Lost His Jingle being readin a Phund RMD program sponsored by USC’s GoodNeighbors Campaign. They read 222,558 pages to giveJester books and dolls to Los Angeles Shriners Hospital.

Albion Street Elementary students in Los Angeles happily raise their hands to show they’ve each read hundreds of pages to give Jester books and dolls to California Hospital Medical Center patients. In three weeks, Albion’s 269 students read 106,995 pages in this S. Mark Taper Foundation Reading Makes A Difference program, an average of 398 apiece.

The adventures of The Jester & Pharley entrance students at Buford Elementary in Lennox, CA, in an RMD program sponsored by the Kiwanis Club of Rolling Hills Estates, CA. Buford students tallied a whopping 765,042 pages read to give Jester books to patients at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles.

When Reading Means . . . Sharing and Caring

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As the centerpiece of The Phund’s literacy program for low-income students, The Jester Has Lost His Jingle is a daily motivator. This program sponsored by foundations, corporations and individuals has resulted in students reading more than 32 million pages in 13 years to give copies of the award-winning story and accompanying doll to children in local hospitals.

As part of the program, each school receives a set of three educator enrichment manuals and the book for every classroom. “The book and manuals are a perfect complement to the new core curriculum,” noted one principal. After assemblies introducing The Jester and its history, students join three-week read-a-thons to donate Jester books and dolls to sick kids in their community.

To support a Reading Makes A Difference program or suggest a favorite school to participate in it, please call 310-544-4733 or email amy@thejester.org. Y

Comcast in Houston brings The Jester’s RMD program to Benbrook Elementary. Joining to congratulate students on their reading achievements, in 1st row, from left, are Comcast’s Yolanda Green, The Phund’s Barbara Saltzman. In 2nd row are Texas Children’s Hospital’s Jonathan Howard, Principal Dr. Dana Darden. Comcast Regional Senior Vice President Ralph Martinez is at far right. Students took great pride in reading more than 100,000 pages.

Laughter and color re-enter the kingdom as The Jester & Pharley – and students at Weemes Elementary in Los Angeles – find where laughter’s hiding in this RMD program sponsored by USC’s Good Neighbors Campaign.

Third grader Andrea Carreon, who read 4,575 pages to become Jefferson Elementary’s top reader, presents a Jester book and doll to Dr. Divya-Devi Joshi, CMO of Miller Children’s Hospital Long Beach, representing the many books and dolls donated for patients in this program sponsored by The Adams Family Foundation and Donna Snyder. Adding congratulations is Principal Mario Marcos, who was named one of eight national Terrel H. Bell Honorees for Outstanding Leadership by the U.S. Department of Education. The Phund’s School of the Year has successfully completed four Jester programs, with reading numbers rising steadily – from 82,624 in 2012 to 211,530 in 2014. This Compton, CA, school has been named a 2014 National Blue Ribbon School and a 2014 California Distinguished School.

Felton Elementary students, teachers and families enthusiastically bring the Reading Makes A Difference program to new heights with student-made Jester rainbows, above, and Pharleys, below. This S. Mark Taper Foundation program in Lennox, CA, resulted in Jester books and dolls donated to Children’s Hospital Los Angeles.

Edinburg Children’s Hospital, South Texas

One patient I gave The Jester to was an 8-year-

old boy battling acute lymphoid leukemia. I

came back in the afternoon to check on this

patient and to see if he and his mother had a

chance to read the book. They both smiled and

said how much they enjoyed it. The patient’s

mother explained how much of a difference

laughter makes in their day-to-day coping and

this book served as a friendly reminder. I

cannot wait to continue to give these books to

our patients and see the joy they bring.

— Brittany Horden

Child Life Specialist

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Bronson Children’s Hospital

Kalamazoo, MI

I am especia

lly grateful

that

The Jester H

as Lost His

Jingle

is now in a

bilingual ve

rsion. As

a pediatric

hematology/o

ncology

clinic that

serves 10 co

unties

in southwest

Michigan, w

e see

a high perce

ntage of His

panic

patients. It

is so nice

to have

this resourc

e that can b

e enjoyed

by these pat

ients and th

eir

family membe

rs.

— Elaine Catlin

Medica

l Social Wor

ker

Niswonger Children’s Hospital, Johnson City, TN The Jester Has Lost His Jingle has been enjoyed by numerous patients here. The book has helped bring back our patients’ smiles as they read the book. The Jester helps them get back in a comfort level where they are able to cope positively and explore their environment. It has also been wonderful being able to provide these books in a Spanish version as well to allow our families a resource to use for their children who are used to being read to in the Spanish language. — Erin Bachus Child Life Specialist

The Brooklyn Hospital Center, NYReading is a valuable resource for lifting the spirits of sick children and their families. The Jester Has Lost His Jingle books are vital in helping children cope with medical procedures and often lengthy hospital stays, helping to brighten their days and lift their spirits with hope and laughter. — Joseph Treng Child Life Program

‘I Can’t Wait to Give These Books to Our Patients and See the Joy They Bring’

Los Angeles’ Sacred Heart Student Council member gives a young White Memorial Medical Center patient a Jester book and doll to lift her spirits. Students participated in a Jester & Pharley Reading Makes A Difference program Read-A-Thon sponsored by USC’s Good Neighbors Campaign to provide the uplifting gifts.

Aflac Cancer and Blood

Disorders Center, Atlanta, GA

Given the amount o

f time many

of our patients sp

end in our

clinic receiving c

heckups and

treatment, as well

as the kids

in the hospital, t

hey will

truly love the opp

ortunity to

hear or read a sto

ry about

laughter. These ch

ildren

are incredibly bra

ve, but

even the brave get

sad or

disheartened. The

book will

not only help them

to laugh,

it will also remin

d them that

even children as f

ar away as

New Jersey [Netivo

t Montessori

School, East Bruns

wick, NJ] are

thinking of them.

Sometimes,

that’s the best me

dicine.

— Tamara N. New, M.D.

Clinical Director

Greenville Memorial Hospital, SCThe story of David Saltzman is inspiring and touching, and the book that he created is beautiful. Our patients will certainly find hope in The Jester’s story. Thank you for sharing it with us.— Anna Ingraham Child Life Department

I am now 28 and waiting for my second kidney transplant. I have been on hemodialysis four days a week for the past four years. People always ask me how I stay so strong. Just like The Jester, I tell people to stay positive, that even when things are going wrong and you feel sad and lost, that with love and laughter you will get through anything. In my 28 years of life I have had brain surgery and watched my father fight cancer and win. I have battled kidney failure as well as watch my younger brother battle it, too. And once again here I stand battling for my life. Without the spirit of The Jester I do not think I would ever be able to even have the guts to face all these battles head on. It takes a lot of courage to smile even when there’s nothing particular to smile about. The Jester has taught me to embrace life. And no matter how many more challenges are put in my path, I will get through them with a smile on my

face and with courage and love in my heart.I am so grateful to David Saltzman for The Jester, and I will continue to think like The Jester and share him with everyone who may need him.Yhttps://www.facebook.com/marinaneedsakidney

A Year of Phun Raising

I was in the 5th grade the first time my mother read me The Jester Has Lost His Jingle. She sat my brother and me down and read the book. It was her way of helping break the news that my father had been diagnosed with cancer. Things were going to get tough and we were all going to have to be strong and believe that things would be okay again someday. That little Jester always had such powerful impact on me even as a child. “When you’re feeling lonely, or sad, or bad or blue, remember where laughter’s hiding…It’s hiding inside of YOU!” In 2000 when I was a freshman in high school, that little message of The Jester came in handy. At age 13, I was diagnosed with renal failure and in need of a kidney transplant. I was immediately put on hemodialysis until a new kidney was matched. That was a hard year – 13 years old and not only going through all the ordeals of a teenager, but also the ordeals of a teen on dialysis with kidney failure. I spent numerous months in the hospital, enduring so much. But I knew just like The Jester that things would be okay someday and I had to make the most of it. I got through it and went on with life.

Marina Monica, 28, has laughed with The Jester since 5th grade.

‘The Jester Has Taught Me to Embrace Life’By Marina Monica

It’s aces for kids being treated for cancer at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center in Torrance, CA, as Jester books and dolls overflow the play yard from proceeds of The Jester & Pharley’s 2nd Annual Doubles Tennis Tournament, chaired by Heidi Grimm.

Citrus Valley Health Foundation Executive Director Joseph Zanetta and colleagues Eijiro Ubedi, left, & Vicki McGuire love leading an employee drive to give 1,000 Jester books to patients at four Citrus Valley, CA, facilities — with the first book donated to Penelope, 11.

April Phools Day means Jester books and dolls for young patients and laughs for Jester supporters at the Comedy & Magic Club in Hermosa Beach, CA. Enjoying the phun at the annual event are, from left, Derald & Ann Sidler, Diane Ronnau, Tracy Sidler and Bart & Nikie Hamilton.

PhunDay at the Races at Santa Anita Park and Race Track celebrating Joe Saltzman’s 75th birthday turns into a triple crown for hundreds of kids with cancer. They will receive Jester books and dolls donated in Joe’s honor by colleagues, friends and relatives from around the world.

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Yale Classmates Remember David “I wonder if I have touched someone’s life and at this moment they are thinking about me…What memory is being replayed?

—David Saltzman, Journal Entry, August 14, 1988

This past Memorial Day weekend, at the 25th anniversary reunion of David’s 1989 Yale University class, many were thinking of him.

They remembered his joy of life, his wry comic strips and his witty political cartoons. They remembered the fun he had being a tour guide and how proud (and surprised) he was to receive the David Everett Chantler Award as “the senior who throughout his college career best exemplified the qualities of courage and strength of character and high moral purpose.”

And this anniversary year they honored his memory by donating copies of his senior project —The Jester Has Lost His Jingle— and Jester & Pharley Dolls to patients at Yale-New Haven Children’s Hospital. It

was the hospital where he was treated for Hodgkin’s disease throughout his senior year. And it was the first hospital to receive copies of his acclaimed children’s book, published posthumously in 1995.

“Our patients LOVE the book and doll,” says Ellen Good, director of child life at Yale-New Haven. “They can’t wait to take a nap with The Jester & Pharley

With Appreciation for Donations to Yale-New Haven Children’s Hospital in Honor of the Yale Class of 1989and in Memory of David Saltzman Deborah Beck Kevin & Sarah Brennan Jacob & Jenna Farmer Miriam Lawrence

Robert ManningDr. Jeffrey Naiman & Marjorie FoxDavid & Dawn Pollay

Matty, 7, and Leislani, 4, enjoy their gifts from author-artist David Saltzman’s Yale classmates.

David Saltzman, left, jubilantly joins Yale friends on graduation day. His classmates donated copies of The Jester Has Lost His Jingle book and doll to Yale-New Haven Hospital patients at their 25th reunion.

At right, David and Yale classmates enjoy their Memorial Day rite of passage.

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The Jester & Pharley PhundP.O. Box 817Palos Verdes Estates, CA 90274

www.thejester.org310-544-4733

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Julie Haller PrentissEllen Bresler RockmoreJoe & Barbara SaltzmanLinda Thurston

The Jester and Pharley Phund

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Doll. Many thanks to all of David’s friends at Yale for this wonderful gift!”Y