The Jestina V. Jones Memorial Fund was established in 2014 in Freetown Sierra Leone to support two projects near and dear to the late Jestina V. Jones. The projects are: the Jestina V. Jones Athletic Scholarship and the Jestina V. Jones Free Breast Screening.  This Fund was set up by her family and close friends to perpetuate the spirit and character of JVJ, as she was affectionately called.  JVJ was called home on July 29, 2013 at the age of 71 after fighting a 7 year battle with breast cancer. She was known for having been a keen sports woman, from her years in high school when she excelled in track & field events to holding the championship cup in women’s tennis for several years later in life.  Having earned a degree in physical education, she not only taught and coached young girls to excel in various sports but she led by example all her life.  Click here to learn more about JVJ.

The goal of the Jestina V. Jones Athletic Scholarship is to fund girls who are interested in athletics and who are current students attending the high school alma mater of JVJ, the Annie Walsh Memorial School.  To date, four (4) girls have received full scholarships that includes uniforms, textbooks, and sports tunic.  Click here for more information about the Athletic Scholarship Fund.

The goal of the Jestina V. Jones Free Breast Screening is to annually provide up to 71 marginalized or low-income women the opportunity to get free breast screening, ultra-sound, and biopsy follow up, if needed.   To date, the fund supported 10 recipients in 2016, 12 in 2017, 20 in 2018, 24 in 2019, 44 in 2020, and 76 in 2021.  Click here for more information about Free Breast Screening Fund.

We invite you to make a donation to the fund by clicking here.

The Board of Directors extends sincere thanks and appreciation to all our donors and supporters.  Awards could not have been possible without their generous contributions to the JVJ Memorial Fund,

Photo Caption: JVJ with Venus and Serena Williams, 2000 Olympics, Melbourne. They exchanged pins!