In a delightful blend of fun and philanthropy, Eli Manning, Tom Coughlin, Shaun O’Hara, John Harbaugh, Juan Carlos Amorós, and Midge Purce donned Super Mario costumes to host five families facing childhood cancer at RPM Raceway in Jersey City.
The event featured an afternoon of go-kart racing, arcade games, and food, creating unforgettable memories for families often weighed down by medical challenges.
The children, also dressed in Mario-themed costumes, took to the track first and embraced the thrill. One young participant shared that she was excited but nervous before her first lap, only to immediately ask to race again afterward. The adults then turned the raceway into a hilariously competitive showdown, with championship-winning coaches and players bringing high energy and laughter.
At the event’s close, the Jay Fund Foundation surprised each family with $5,000 to help cover transportation costs related to treatment—gas, car maintenance, Ubers, and travel to appointments.
This year marks the Jay Fund’s 31st anniversary, honoring the jersey number of Jay McGillis. Today, “31” symbolizes far more than football: It means mortgages paid, groceries in the fridge, lights on, and gas in the tank.
The creative idea behind this event originated with Lynn Chwatsky and Karen Hart, long-time consultants for the Jay Fund. The pair excel at blending fun with purpose, turning big ideas into meaningful moments that leave an impact.
“Whenever Lynn Chwatsky and Karen Hart tell me they have an idea, I’ve learned to just say yes first and ask questions later. Somehow, they always come up with something fun, meaningful, and completely unexpected. With those two, it’s never boring, and it’s always for a great cause,” said Eli Manning.
“Karen and Lynn push me in directions I would never have thought to go in. But that’s exactly why I’ve worked with them for the past 15 years, and honestly, I don’t want to share them with anybody else. They have a way of turning big ideas into easy, unforgettable moments that bring everyone together, and this Go-Kart event is another perfect example of how they mix play with purpose,” added Tom Coughlin.
Through their work with Eli, Coach Coughlin, Trevor and Marissa Lawrence, and others, Chwatsky and Hart continue to demonstrate why giving back should be central—not secondary—to athletes’ legacies.
This article originally appeared on Giants Wire: Eli Manning, Tom Coughlin suit up for Jay Fund Foundation Mario go-kart event
Reporting by Dan Benton, Giants Wire / Giants Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
