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Marathon Jam is back after 3 years: join us in Chapel Hill on February 24, 2024!
Join us on February 24, 2024 in Chapel Hill!
Join us for our first jam in 3 years, making music and raising money to support our mission of healing through music for our military and first responder heroes!!!
February 24, 2024
12 noon to 12 midnight
American Legion Post 6
3700 NC-54, Chapel Hill, NC 27516
Can't make it to the jam? Your donations will count toward our jam totals!
Big News from the Marathon Jam
Like many organizations, Marathon Jam (MJ) was hampered and held back during Covid even though we were still able to make significant contributions to the Fisher Houses at Fort Liberty (formerly Bragg) and Camp Lejeune this year as well as Camp Corral and others. But……Marathon Jam is back and on the move!
Big News from the Marathon Jam!
Like many organizations, Marathon Jam (MJ) was hampered and held back during Covid even though we were still able to make significant contributions to the Fisher Houses at Fort Liberty (formerly Bragg) and Camp Lejeune this year as well as Camp Corral and others. But……Marathon Jam is back and on the move!
First of all, the Board of Directors would like to recognize the work of Marathon Jam Founder John Santa in getting Marathon Jam to where it is. John has decided to step down as President and off of the Board. The Board has presented him with the honorary title of President Emeritus and John will continue to be part of the musical outreach of MJ.
The Board is working with the area VA Hospitals to renew the regular events of playing music for the veterans in the hospitals and there will be announcements soon about when and where.
The Board is also working to schedule a date and location early in 2024 for resumption of the 12-hour marathon jam events to raise money and bring the past “Iron Pickers” back together in the musical circle and even create new Iron Pickers (those who play in the circle for the full event).
We will also be refreshing the Board of Directors with new members willing to serve in this worthy cause of “Healing through Music” and anyone who has past interest or participation in Marathon Jam events and would like to serve as an active non-board member volunteer is encouraged to message us through Facebook or contact a current Board member you may know. There are lots of opportunities for you to contribute your time and talents in an effort to support veterans!
Stay tuned to our Facebook page for coming announcements about these and other exciting new changes for the Marathon Jam!
Robert Welch, Karen Gruschow Pepin, Tom O'Shea, Steve Oglesbee, Susan Leigh Keever, Borgesi and Daniel Jones
Marathon Jam Helps Gold Star Families
No one wants to be a “Gold Star Family”.
The title, which is reserved for families of military members who have died in the line of duty, is meant to honor the service member’s ultimate sacrifice while acknowledging their family’s loss, grief, and continued healing.
Here’s how we helped.
No one wants to be a “Gold Star Family”.
The title, which is reserved for families of military members who have died in the line of duty, is meant to honor the service member’s ultimate sacrifice while acknowledging their family’s loss, grief, and continued healing.
Knowing this and knowing Gold Star Family members, Marathon Jam this year set out to help. We became a Gold Star Sponsor at one of the highest levels, the “Home of the Free” level, and donated $1000 to help with the event and honor the families. With that we sponsored the Marathon Jam table and eight families.
Please read more about Gold Star Families and the Gold Star Family Dinner
https://www.army.mil/goldstar/
https://goldstarfamilydinner.org
Enjoy the photos here, think about those who you may know and reach out to them.
Attention Marathon Jammers
Many of you have been asking if we will be meeting at American Legion Post 6 at the end of the month for our annual fund raiser, the Marathon Jam.
Sadly, we are going to have to delay the February MJ due to covid health and safety concerns. We don’t have a definite date yet, but our current thinking is we will hold Mini MJs like we did last year. Please let us know if you’d be interested in hosting at a place where you can safely gather with a small group of musicians. We already have Mini MJs in the works for Greensboro, Fayetteville, Raleigh and possibly Asheville but you can help us wherever you live!
As an added enticement we are making the following offer:
Play the traditional twelve hours OR anything you like as long as it is for a minimum of SIX HOURS and live stream/post periodic videos to Facebook (or other social media) and we GUARANTEE all the musicians who play the entire jam will receive our newly designed elite corps IRON PICKER T shirts!
Details will follow!
You can reach us at our website www.marathonjam.org/contact-us
contact Marathon Jam President John Santa via John Santa on Facebook
or by email at johnsantastudio@netscape.net
A 2021 Thank you from Marathon Jam
A Note from the President of Marathon Jam
I have started every Marathon Jam by saying:
“Without you, the musicians who come and perform for our Veterans at VA Hospitals and our fundraisers, and without all the people who trust and support us, I am just a guy with a dream.” To that end, the Board of Directors is proud to announce that because of all you amazing, talented, and giving people, and in the middle of a pandemic that kept us from gathering together, Marathon Jam raised more money in 2021 than ever before.
Just a few weeks ago, the Board authorized sending
TEN THOUSAND DOLLARS to the Fort Bragg Fisher House and
TEN THOUSAND DOLLARS to the Fisher House at Camp Lejeune.
In addition, we were able to send TWO THOUSAND DOLLARS to Camp Corral, a summer camp for the children of injured, wounded or fallen military families.
https://www.facebook.com/campcorral/
And we are beyond delighted to announce we have also sent THREE THOUSAND DOLLARS to North Carolina First Responder Peer Support which provides ongoing emotional wellness resources to the fire service, law enforcement and emergency medical service community.
https://www.facebook.com/ncpeersupport
While most charities struggle in this pandemic, Marathon Jam has succeeded beyond all our expectations and that is, quite frankly, all because of YOU.
The Board wants to thank our amazing Iron Pickers, our VA Hospital Volunteers, our Iron Quilters, and all you incredible people who donated in support of our mission to assist the families of injured soldiers and first responders.
On a personal note, I am humbled and inspired by the passion and dedication of our Board Of Directors who together have guided Marathon Jam to a Gold Seal of Transparency ranking for its non-profit mission and performance.
This prestigious designation was awarded by Guidestar, one of the largest charity watch organizations in the country.
https://www.guidestar.org/profile/81-1669086
THANK YOU for helping Marathon Jam!
Your Marathon Jam Board Of Directors are:
John Santa, Founder/President Daniel Jones, Vice President Steve Oglesbee, Secretary Susan Borgesi, Treasurer
Karen Pepin, Member Tom O’Shea, Member Robert Welch, Member
Marathon Jam has earned Guidestar Gold
Marathon Jam is proud to report that one of the largest charity watch organizations, Guidestar.org, has awarded Marathon Jam the Gold Seal of Transparency ranking for its non-profit mission and performance.
A huge “Thank You” goes out to all you Marathon Jam donors and volunteers for helping keep our goals and actions at the highest levels of trust.
Marathon Jam is back
The surge in COVID Delta cases has made us play it safe, and though we will not be able to hold our annual fundraising event at the American Legion in Chapel Hill, we CAN do it online! So we hope our Marathon Jammers will be gathering in small, safe groups to hold their own MINI Marathon Jam over the next few weeks and live stream their events on the Marathon Jam Facebook page.
This is the first one and we hope that it can be an online event that will help and guide others.
Join us by checking in to Marathon Jam on Facebook and checking in here on our website! You can always help our cause by contacting us or donating right here!
Thank you!
MARATHON JAM ANNIVERSARY 2021
The Marathon Jam is committed both to the health and safety of our community and to holding our annual Jam in 2021.
The Marathon Jam is committed both to the health and safety of our community and to holding our annual Jam in 2021. While we’re postponing from our usual date, the last Saturday in February, we hope to see you at the BRAND NEW American Legion in Chapel Hill tentatively in August or September! A lot is still unknown right now.