Tom Coughlin went about his life being the hard-nosed, disciplined military man that he was. But during his time at Boston College, something shifted. He watched one of his players, Jay McGillis, being diagnosed with leukemia when he was just 21 and then fighting through it for eight long months before passing away in 1992. The loss was heartbreaking, and that stayed with him. But what shook him to the core was witnessing the toll the period had on McGillis and his entire family. That was when Coughlin knew he wanted to do something about it, something that made a difference. And so he did. 

That experience became the foundation of his journey that goes far from the sports world. A year after Coughlin went on to become the first head coach of the Jacksonville Jaguars in 1995, he launched the Tom Coughlin Jay Fund in honor of McGillis.

“I wanted to give back in a way that I knew how after having gone through the experience with Jay McGillis’s family and seeing what they went through,” he said. “I wanted very much to help families who had a child with cancer.”

For decades, the foundation has been supporting families affected by pediatric cancer. Now his work for the people of his community is being recognized with a prestigious award. According to reports, Coughlin and his daughter, Keli Coughlin Joyce, co-founders of the foundation, will receive the President’s Medallion.

The honor will be presented at the 2026 OneJax Humanitarian Awards, an initiative established in 1970 to recognize individuals whose vision, commitment, and community service create a lasting humanitarian impact.

The President’s Medallion, in particular, is reserved for those whose influence goes far beyond their professional careers and helps strengthen entire communities. Coughlin and his daughter fit that description.

At its core, the foundation isn’t just about raising money, but it’s about stepping up for families when they are at their most vulnerable. So the foundation offers direct financial support for everyday essentials, whether it’s rent, mortgages, or food and transport. And these everyday things are what become overwhelming when a child is battling cancer. But it doesn’t stop here.

The families need support, too, and so they are offered tools to manage their finances during this difficult time. They are given one-on-one support from financial coaches and even a playbook with details. As for the kids, they are given a way to feel normal again. They host events like Valentine’s Day parties, Remembrance Weekend, NY Giants Tour, Sundae Blitz, Fall Festival, and more. And now what started as a small foundation has grown into something big.

Tom Coughlin transformed his foundation into a $34 million effort

The foundation started small in the late 1990 and its first Celebrity Golf Tournament in 1996 raised a modest $51,600, with a mission narrowly focused on supporting leukemia patients.

Fast forward more than two decades to 2017, and that same fundraising event was generating over $600,000. By then, the organization had already distributed $8 million in assistance to more than 4,000 families across Florida, New York, and New Jersey.

Now, as Tom Coughlin and Keli Coughlin prepare to be honored for their work, the scale has grown even further. The foundation has delivered more than $34 million in aid to over 6,700 families.

Annual initiatives like the Champions for Children Gala continue to drive that mission forward, while also creating meaningful community moments, including events hosted at Giants facilities for children and families.

Now, when you look at that growth and long-term impact, it becomes pretty clear why OneJax chose to award Tom and Keli Coughlin the President’s Medallion.