At 26 years old, JT embodied courage, service, and love for all. Through adversity and against all odds, JT persevered through extraordinary obstacles graduating from the University of North Florida in May 2013, fostering new breakthroughs in research for spinal cord injuries, and providing aid to countless families living with disabilities in our community. Under his leadership, our organization grew to what it is today.

JTTF will strive each and every day to fulfill his vision and carry on his legacy.

We love you, JT.

The public is invited Saturday, June 8th at University of North Florida Basketball Arena. Viewing will begin at 9AM with a Memorial Service at 11AM.

In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation to The JT Townsend Foundation.

We help families take the next first step by providing expensive medically approved equipment available to make living with a disabled child or family member as easy as possible even when insurance /medicaid denies payment. We have helped with wheelchair ramps, standers, cruisers and even pool heaters!

We understand the uncertainty that accompanies a disability from an injury or a serious medical diagnosis. And, we are here to help you focus on your child or family members well being not the financial burden you face.

Our staff is waiting to help you quickly and efficiently with your needs.

You will not want to miss this party to kick off of a fantastic Players Championship week, Tuesday, May 7th at 6PM. Tickets are $45 online pre sale. $50 at the door.

Just click on our DONATE button and you will receive a ticket for every $45 increment of your total donation amount via mail until April 28th. After April 28th you can visit our Will Call table at the event for your ticket.

Your ticket includes entry, a visit or two to the island buffet and one of Rudy’s signature BAD HABIT cocktails. There will be plenty of JT’s friends on hand…Jaguars, Roar Cheerleaders and of course our host Fred Funk and plenty of his Funk’s Punks.

There will be raffles and auction items to help us to help JT give back, so come prepared to do some bidding.

So, don’t wait another minute……click on that DONATE button NOW and see YOU at the Par-tee…….

This achievement is big. But, considering JT’s situation, it is even surprising. At 17 JT probably pictured this day very differently. He might have pictured himself walking across the stage at FSU and probably considering NFL or even NBA draft possibilities in his future. But, even JT could not have imagined this back in 2004 when the “incident” happened.

Many are not aware of what each day brings for JT, his nurses and family. He has a routine that takes several hours to prepare to go out the door. But, he faces each day the same way. He rises…gives thanks to our Lord for another day and he prepares for what is on his calendar.

JT has physical therapy several times a week to maintain his body so that when God is ready, he will be able to just get out of that chair and walk. He also must work on his mind. His studies have been important to him and he enjoys learning and the interaction with his fellow students and faculty. He attends classes regularly and seldom misses. He nurtures his faith by attending church services. And then, there is his heart – his Foundation. JT delivers just about every piece of adaptive equipment personally. He meets with families JTTF helps, his Mother Carmen at his side, answering questions from their personal experience giving the families hope.

JT has many friends. He has become a local celebrity. His contact list in his phone would really impress you. But, he even stops to speak to those he doesn’t know, the ones who know him from seeing him around town, on TV or hearing him on radio and of course social media. Oh and he loves to tweet and keep up on Facebook.

People are drawn to JT because they know his story and the courage and the tenacity he has shown over the past eight years. Many have cried for him, prayed for him and now are overjoyed with him.

Won’t you consider joining with JT to help him help children and adults with disabilities by donating today?

Thank you for your support.

Thanks to a kind supporters’ donation we are able to offer two (2) week long passes to the 2013 Masters at Augusta National, April 8th thru 14th for bid. Bids will be accepted up to April 1st, at which time the winner will be announced.

Email zjudes3@mac.com to get into the running. $4000 is the opening bid.

Help JT give back AND visit the most prestigious event in golf.

LaFonda and Aijalon…a story of a Mother’s love.

“Dear JT Townsend Foundation,
My name is LaFonda and my son’s name is Aijalon. I’m writing at this time to ask if we could be considered for some assistance in making our lives a little easier? My son is 6 years old and he has Cerebral Pasly, microcephaly, seizures, g-tube, trach etc. I fist met my son back in December 2006 when I began taking care of him as his private duty nurse when he was placed in foster care at the age of 4 months old.
Well, needless to say, I fell in love and was bringing him home with me to live as my sone on his 2nd birthday. I adopted him as a single parent and all of my family lives in South Carolina. It’s a little challenging at times, but it’s our life and we’re making the best of it. Aijalon.. requires 24 hour care. He doesn’t walk, talk, smile, etc. But I know when he’s happy.
…Prior to even thinking about adopting Aijalon I bought me a home, well it was a townhouse where all the bedrooms are upstairs. Herein lies our problem. I am the only one that brings my son up and down the stairs daily. He is growing and getting bigger and taller and it’s becoming more and more of an issue and I worry sometimes if something happens to me, how can I get him upstairs where all of our bedrooms are? The perfect solution would be to move, but with housing market the way it is now, that’s easier said than done.
So, I ‘m asking if we could be considered t receive some help possibly getting a chair lift for our stairs? That is the only possible solution that I can come up with that would help me with our dilemma. It would be greatly appreciated whatever you may help[ us do concerning this request
Thank you for your consideration.”

When this letter arrived in late February, we went right to work. How could we not help this loving Mother who was so willingly giving this little angel life?

Thanks to your help of support for our fundraising events and for your donations we were able to purchase and install a battery powered chair lift in the townhouse.

LaFonda Hayes Stairlift

Five month old Grayson Smith was born with Saggital Craniolsynostosis a condition which unchecked could result in mental impairment, seizures and many developmental impairments. The skull of an infant is made up of several boney plates that protect the brain during birth and slowly close by the time a baby is 2 or 3. When this condition is present, the closure of the skull has occurred prematurely causing pressure on the brain that can cause developmental problems and often a misshapen head.

In order for Grayson’s surgery to be successful, he needed to wear a customized remolding helmet immediately after surgery. The helmet must be worn 23 hours per day for as long as one year. The cost of the helmet is significant and insurance companies view the surgery as “cosmetic” and have denied coverage in this case.

A therapist at Wolfson Children’s Hospital suggested the Smith’s contact The JT Townsend Foundation for help.

“We immediately went into action.” Said J.T. Townsend about the phone call he received from Grayson’s Mother. He instructed Mrs. Smith to complete the Application for Assistance from the JTTF website and email or fax it in. She did this and within 48 hours she was assured the helmet would be paid for by the foundation allowing her to focus on Grayson’s recovery rather than how she would find the funds to pay for the helmet.

Thanks to YOUR donations, we are able to help families like the Smiths’ when insurance denies something so important to their babies development and their families future.

Thanks for helping JT give back!

Jonas Howell, 3 years old and so handsome.

Little Jonas visits his speech and occupational therapist weekly to help with mild autistic behaviors and delays in verbal communication. His therapist suggested the family purchase a therapeutic listening system for use at home. Due to other costly medical needs for a sibling, the purchase of the system was not possible. The therapist suggested they contact The JT Townsend Foundation for help.

Therapeutic listening is a sound therapy program designed for children. Thru the use of music and sounds the muscles and nerves in the ears are exercised stimulating areas of the brain necessary for processing sensory information. The program helps develop the brain and can also improve listening, movement and communication skills. During treatment, children hear specific electronic altered music chosen to meet their individual needs using high quality headphones.

J.T. Townsend will deliver the CD’s and headphone package requested and welcome the Howell’s into the JTTF family.

Jonas and his great family.