DR. KITAJEWSKI BRIEFS THE PATIENT BRIGADE ON HIS CANCER RESEARCH

Photo courtesy of Courtney Colvin, University of Illinois.

In March, the Patient Brigade had it’s first meeting of the year. The brigade had the opportunity to get an introduction to cancer research from someone on the frontlines of that research. Dr. Jan Kitajewski is the associate director of Basic Science at the UI Cancer Center. Dr. K, as many students call him, gave us the highlights of his innovative breast cancer research. One of the main areas of his studies focuses on finding treatments that block cancer cell growth by impending the blood vessels that feed cancer cells. His latest project should be of interest to African Americans because the Duffy gene he is studying is found in two-thirds of the African American community. In the Duffy Project, Dr. Kitajewski’s lab is examining whether a Duffy mutation harms or helps cancer cells. This could help in the discovery of a different cancer treatment. Dr. K promised another visit to talk about the Duffy Project.

Timbuck 2 Forever 2018

Video courtesy of Miguel Cisneros.

On Dec. 18, 2018 the 4th Annual Timbuck2 Forever Tribute was celebrated at the House of Blues in downtown Chicago. The venue once again opened it’s doors to the Timothy Francis Jones Foundation in order to spread the message of healthcare awareness for men of color.

Despite the tradition of keeping the entertainment lineup secret, the night was filled with music and memories as the sellout crowd remembered Chicago’s own DJ Timbuck2. Specialty merchandise designed by Louis De Guzman, Hebru and New Era quickly sold out. The festivities were led by WGCI’s Morning Show hosts Kyle, Kendra G and Leon Rodgers. The mainstay of the evening’s entertainment were notable Chicago DJ’s and performers. The list included Boi Jeanius, DJ Word, Vic Lloyd, Jay Illa, and the Twilite Tone

Friends of Tim’s who flew in to participate in the event included Stretch Armstrong, Just Blaze, mikeflo and DJ Mos.

Tim’s mother, Bernadette, and members of the foundation were joined on stage by cancer survivors and family who had lost loved ones to cancer. Bernadette and Rich Lomax delivered the message of how men maintain their health affects not only them but also their families.

The special guests of the night were Capone & Noriega. The Queensbridge duo performed their biggest hits. After their performance, Capone presented Tim’s mother, Bernadette, with the shirt he wore after inscribing a personal sentiment on it. Before taking the stage N.O.R.E and DJ EFN recorded a Chicago edition of their popular podcast Drink Champs. The Drink Champs crew was joined the Twilite Tone in a conversation centered on the origins of hip hop in Chicago.

Photos courtesy of TFJ Foundation supporters.

Drink Champs In Chicago

On Dec. 18, 2018, not only did Capone and Noreaga perform for the 4th Annual Timbuck2 Forever tribute, N.O.R.E. and DJ EFN brought their nationally aired podcast, Drink Champs, with them to record a Chicago Edition. The Queensbridge born artists are no strangers to Chicago with family and friends living in the area. The podcast was recorded at the House of Blues Chicago on the same night as their performance. Chicago’s own, producer Twilite Tone, sat down and gave his prospective on hip hop and the Chicago music scene. With the drinks and words flowing, the conversation looked at the origins of hip hop in Chicago and the differences between the New York and Chicago sound. Watch the complete episode via the following link: https://vimeo.com/381591554

Chapter 37:Jay Illa’s birthday bash

As many of you know, Chicago’s own DJ Jay Illa has a celebration for each of his birthdays. Each time he has encouraged donations to our foundation from those who planned to attend. Every year the growing popularity of his parties has produced a spike in donations and merchandise purchases for us and this year was no exception. Not only did we have an uptick in donations but Jay and the host venue, Per So Na, decided to donate the evening’s proceeds to further help our cause. With the help of host Leon Rogers, the event and online donations netted the foundation a sum of $1835.00.

This generosity comes as no surprise to anyone who knows Jay or Leon. Jay Illa aka James Davis was a fast friend of Tim’s ever since Jay shared an apartment with him. Despite holding down a day job, DJ’ing for the Chicago Bears’ games and growing national demands for his musical talents, Jay continues to find time to be a member and supporter of our foundation. Leon, like Jay, was a longtime friend of Tim having worked with him at WGCI. He is a Chicago fixture on the radio, television and stand-up comedy but takes every opportunity to promote our cause.

Thank you to Jay, Leon and everyone who came out. With friends like you we can’t possibly lose!

Tim's 37th birthday celebration

We had a great turn out for Tim's 37th birthday celebration at Timbuck2uesdays. Thanks to the folks at Beauty Bar for keeping us going and thanks to our foundation members who work so hard to keep Tim's spirit alive! It wouldn't have been a party last night without the friends, fans, celebrities & DJ's who came out. Finally, a special thank you to everyone across the country who posted remembrances of Tim this week. We're sure Tim loved it and so do we.

Ed & Bernie Jones

Tim’s Legacy

Foundation friends,

We would like to acknowledge everyone who has donated to our cause. Too often, you donate or make a purchase, receive a receipt and it seems your contribution is forgotten. We want you to know that it's not forgotten. We are revising our website to show you how your money is spent. We're also working to bring you the stories of men who heard our message and how their lives were dramatically affected by it. Your donations have helped us establish this foundation as a force to inform the underserved portions of our community about the importance of all forms of healthcare.

Those gifts via United Way, Amazon Smile, Network for Good and through our website don’t just help us survive, they reinvigorate the organizations we support. The University of Illinois and Rush University Medical Centers are making great strides in cancer treatment and pushing that research from the laboratory to the communities most in need of that treatment. Your dollars nourish our collaboration which helps them work on the cures and helps us in keeping you informed.

Again, thank you for your generosity but remember that our mission has only begun. We have been supported materially by companies that believe in our cause but over 90% of the financial support comes from people just like you. So, don’t stop supporting us and tell others about us.

Finally, support us by acting. It is the most important single action you can do. We can bring you the information but only you can put that information into use. Make a doctor’s appointment. Start walking more. Make some changes in your diet. Sit quietly for a few minutes and decompress. In the end, you are the only one who can change or even save your life. That’s a legacy that Tim would take pride in.

All of Us research program begins May 6, 2018

In the past, medical research hasn’t always represented the rich diversity of the U.S. The key to the All of Us Research Program is diversity. The more we know about what makes people unique, the more customized health care can become.

Nike Blazer honoring Timbuck2 sneak preview

Nike Blazer honoring Timbuck2 sneak preview from Timothy Francis Jones Foundation on Vimeo.

As announced at the 3rd Annual Timbuck2 Forever tribute, Nike has committed to creating a shoe to commemorate Timothy Jones, a.k.a. DJ Timbuck2. Being a serious sneaker head, Tim had hundreds of pairs of shoes but the Nike Blazer SB was Tim's shoe of choice. Tim was laid to rest wearing his beloved Blazers and it was only natural that Nike use it as the basis for a tribute to his memory. Nike has made a tradition of creating limited edition shoes revolving around notable individuals, causes and events involved in the community. We are so proud that the folks at Nike felt Tim's impact on Chicago deserved merit. This clip from the 3rd Annual Timbuck2 Forever tribute shows the sneak preview of the shoe and was captured by videographer, Miguel Cisneros. Special thanks to Charles Williams of Nike and Sharreeff Williams of Ten35 for making these shoes a reality. Enjoy the clip and watch for updates on the auction.   

University of Illinois at Chicago Cancer Center 2018

Photos courtesy of Courtney Colvin, UIC.

On April 11, 2018, the Timothy Francis Jones Foundation presented another grant in Tim’s name. This was the second year a check was given to the University of Illinois Cancer Center which is where Tim participated in a clinical trial for his cancer. The fact that these trials and research are not free is often overlooked and the check for $5,000 will help support that research. At the presentation, Bernadette and Ed Jones, Demo Salazar, Rich Lomax and PJ Jones represented the foundation. Accepting for the university were Dr. Robert Winn, Dr. Susan Hong, Davyd Chung, Martha Carlos and Dr. Kareem Watson. Dr. Winn is director of the University of Illinois Cancer Center and a long time critic of the healthcare disparities in underserved communities. As a foundation partner, Dr. Winn spoke at the 3rd Annual Timbuck2 Forever tribute held at the House of Blues in Chicago on Dec. 19, 2017. Surrounded by a bevy of hip-hop celebrities, Dr. Winn engaged the audience with our common message of staying in touch with your health. You can see a portion of his advice and the great reaction to Dr. Winn’s message.

Our organization looks forward to working with Dr. Winn on improving the healthcare disparities in under-served areas and on bridging the gap that prevents research successes from reaching the community. Thank you to the University of Illinois Cancer Center for their hospitality and support. We especially thank all of you who helped make this grant possible.

Dr. Winn's message to you: "Stay Woke"

At the 3rd Annual Timbuck2 Forever tribute, we had the privilege to have Dr. Robert Winn address the audience that attended. As those of you who follow us regularly know, Dr. Winn is an award-winning physician and scientist who is the associate vice chancellor for community-based practice and director of the University of Illinois Cancer Center. His ideas on medical disparities and lack of inclusion in medical research for underserved urban communities helped us shape the mission of the Timothy Francis Jones Foundation. Dr. Winn's ability to relate science to every day health served the audience well as he encouraged everyone to "stay woke" to their personal health. He also let them know that the future is now for life saving treatments. Medical breakthroughs that may have saved Tim and many others are coming on line but we need to seek them out. We appreciate Dr. Winn's support of the foundation and hope that you will support his efforts in the community. Click on the links to learn more about his work.