The Jester & Pharley Phund

Author-artist David Saltzman created "The Jester Has Lost His Jingle" as his senior project at Yale. In the midst of it, he was diagnosed with Hodgkin's disease. He immediately realized that the book's heartening themes of hope, perseverance, laughter and optimism would help children with cancer and other serious illnesses, just as it was helping him continue to fight and keep a positive attitude throughout his illness. His family promised him before his death at 22 in 1990 that his story would be given to every child diagnosed with cancer in the U.S.

Our Smiles for Kids With Cancer campaign works to fulfill that promise. When "The Jester" book was released in 1995, 10,000 U.S. children were diagnosed with cancer annually. Now that number is 16,000. This increased number only adds to our determination to give these children the emotional support that "The Jester" provides. The Jester & Pharley are there to help kids upon diagnosis, during treatment and long after their initial hospitalization. To date, over 214,000 "Jester" books and Jester & Pharley Dolls have been donated to more than 300 hospitals nationwide.

Upon the book's publication, educators sent creative lesson ideas and activities inspired by their students' love of the story. Their input became the basis of our Reading Makes A Difference (RMD) literacy and outreach program brought to disenfranchised elementary schools. The centerpiece of the RMD program is a Read-A-Thon by which students read to donate "Jester" books and dolls to local hospitalized children. The program results in better reading performances, increased interest in reading and expanded development of reading skills. The project fosters a genuine enthusiasm for reading and a fervent commitment to helping others. Since 2001, over 175,000 students participating in 336 Read-A-Thons have read over 52 million pages to donate "Jester" books and dolls to sick kids in their communities.

Testimonials

"Since our school is a Title I School and faces an 86% poverty index, we are working diligently to share positive experiences with the children to help them see a brighter side to life and dream big. Thank you for empowering the next generation of community leaders to give with a heart of love that encourages the patients to have a nice day. The children were motivated with awareness, action, and altruism. This active learning experience gave us wings to soar. Keep changing the world one kind act at a time!"
Marcia Sidney-Reed
National Distinguished Principal
186th Street School, Gardena

"We work very hard to reinforce the importance of caring in our students, so that as they grow older they are tempted less by drugs and violence and more by empathy toward their fellow human beings. Character education requires a way for children to show their character. By offering the opportunity to actually give something to other children through their own efforts, you enriched their lives immeasurably."
Pam Sich, Librarian
Lincoln Elementary School, Long Beach

"Reading 'The Jester' books and having the comforting Jester & Pharley Dolls serves as a wonderful therapeutic tool for our pediatric patients in distracting them from pain and hospitalization in general."
Rita Goshert, Manager
Child Life Department
MemorialCare Miller Children's & Women's Hospital Long Beach

"As parents of a chronically ill child with a life-threatening disease, receiving this great book and Jester & Pharley Doll goes so far in helping with the healing process."
Rich & Anne Gomez
Long Beach

"The Jester's Mom gave me 'The Jester Has Lost His Jingle' in 1995 when I was 5 years old and in the hospital with cancer. That book changed my life. I've always wanted to meet David's mom. I looked for you everywhere -- to thank you and David for making me happy and giving me the will to live."
Jesse Hernandez, age 27
Torrance