2025: A Year in Review
- Jamie Misick
- Jan 22
- 7 min read
Updated: Jan 23
First, we can hardly believe that 2025 is already behind us. It seems like the years are flying by so quickly that we can barely keep up. The Hazel Joy Memorial Foundation has now been operating for 2 full years, and it feels incredibly rewarding to see the impact we've made in such a short time. We are confident that our girl is smiling down on us, proud of the work we've done in her honor.
Each year, we believe it's crucial to be transparent about everything we've achieved. As a donation-based 501(c)(3) that relies entirely on your support, we think it's essential to show you where your contributions are going. So, let's dive right into it!
January: Hazel Joy Turned 3 Years Old
We always begin the year with Hazel's birthday, which honestly feels like the perfect way to start. It serves as a wonderful reminder of our purpose and for whom we are doing it. Each year, as we gather to celebrate her life, it brings a mixture of joy and bittersweet nostalgia. The memories we share, the laughter that echoes, and the stories we tell all encapsulate the essence of who she was and the impact she had on our lives. In 2025, it marked the third year without our daughter. This milestone weighs heavily on our hearts, yet it also reinforces the importance of cherishing every moment. As we blow out the candles and share some yummy cake, we remember not only the joy she brought into our lives but also the lessons she taught us about love, resilience, and the beauty of life itself.
February: 2nd Annual Night at the Races
We began 2025 with our inaugural event, The 2nd Annual HJM Night at the Races. As it was our second time hosting this event, we truly refined it for this year! We sold out all the tables, and everyone had an amazing experience. We enjoy hosting an indoor event like this at the start of the year and plan to continue doing it annually. We raised an impressive $13,000 at this event, and after covering expenses, we netted $6,000 to support our Hazel Joy Memorial Scholarship!
March: Jamie & Sean's First Q&A
Throughout our journey, we've received numerous questions, and we finally mustered the courage to come together in front of the camera to answer some of them. This was definitely something new for Sean, and we're very pleased we could show our faces... it truly makes a difference.
July: 3rd Annual Hazel Joy Memorial Golf Outing
This event is consistently the highlight of the year! I can't believe we've already hosted three of them. Each year, our golf outing community expands, and we are incredibly thankful to Bunker Hill Golf Course for organizing such a seamless event. Without their support, our success wouldn't be possible. This year, we raised an impressive $15,000, and I am so proud of everyone who helped and contributed to making this happen. The atmosphere at the event was electric, filled with laughter, friendly competition, and a shared sense of purpose. Participants not only enjoyed a fantastic day of golf but also came together to support a great cause.
Hazel's name continues to reach more communities thanks to these events, and we are truly grateful for the growing support from our sponsors, volunteers, and participants. As we look forward to next year, we are excited to build on this momentum and continue making a positive impact. Together, we are creating lasting change, and I can't wait to see how our community will come together again to make the next outing even more successful!
August: The Hazel Joy Memorial Scholarship
This year, we were able to increase our scholarship amount to $5,000. After Hazel passed away and we decided to establish a foundation in her honor, we also knew it was important to honor her brothers. We felt it was crucial to recognize all the siblings who have endured the loss of a brother or sister, as our children unfortunately faced this devastating experience at a young age. Often, siblings are overlooked, and we wanted to change that. Therefore, we created a scholarship for students who have faced the trauma of losing a sibling but have managed to overcome it and achieve something in their lives. This initiative might be our favorite activity each year, and I am eager to continue expanding it.
This year's winner, Jonathan Fuentes, sent us a heartfelt note upon receiving the scholarship. He truly deserved it, and we are incredibly proud of him!
August: 2025 Lifebanc Gift of Life Walk
It's well-known that Hazel was an organ donor, and she truly is a superhero. During our difficult time in the hospital with her, we connected with Lifebanc through her organ donation and have remained involved in the Lifebanc community. Our foundation is dedicated to supporting other families who have experienced the loss of a young one, as well as aiding organizations in continuing their remarkable work in this community. In 2025, we raised $5,500 for Lifebanc and were among the Top 10 Fundraising Teams! We will continue this walk in Hazel's honor.
September: Jamie on NBC4i Columbus: The Motherload with Jenn (Bullock) Moore
Jamie and Jenn have been friends since their time at Ohio University over 15 years ago. While they initially connected over beers, bars, football, friends, and typical college activities, they now share an experience that few encounter—the loss of a child. Jenn, an anchor at NBC4i Columbus, invited Jamie to her streaming program, The Motherload, to discuss this shared experience. This marked Jamie's first public discussion about the loss of Hazel and the accompanying challenges, and she is deeply thankful to Jenn for providing the platform to share her story. Keep an eye on these two; they might have something planned for 2026!
You can watch all 3 episodes below! Find the October 20th, 27th, and November 3rd episodes:
October: Coming together for Jaxon's Family
Lucas, Hazel's older brother, lost a classmate last year, which deeply affected both him and the community. Recognizing this as the very reason our foundation exists, we felt compelled to support Jaxon's family during this challenging period. We promptly began gathering donations to help cover Jaxon's funeral expenses and the associated costs of losing a child. This situation is all too familiar to us. The Hazel Joy Memorial Foundation matched these donations up to $5,000. The community came together swiftly, and we managed to raise $13,485 for the family. It was truly remarkable in the face of such a tragedy. This was our first opportunity to make a significant difference for a specific family, and it was immensely rewarding to alleviate their burden, even slightly.
December: UH Rainbow Babies & Children Toy Drive
This marked our third year taking part in the toy drive with UH Rainbow Babies & Children. We eagerly anticipate this event at the end of each year because we enjoy bringing joy to the children who, unfortunately, must spend their holidays in the hospital. It's a great opportunity to involve our kids and teach them the value of giving to others. Thanks to all of you, we donated over 100 gifts, and we look forward to this event every year.
December: The Sun News Front Cover
In 2025, we focused much more on "sharing our story." For the past few years, we remained within our small circle, but this year it seems we're continuing to expand and reach wider communities. Although this is somewhat nerve-wracking, it's precisely what we need to grow our foundation and, in turn, help more people along the way.
We had the pleasure of speaking with a reporter from The Sun News about our organ donation journey. We are thankful for these platforms that allow us to share our story and highlight the importance of organ donation. We are strong advocates for this cause and will do whatever we can to support organizations that provide the gift of life.
You can read the article here:
But wait...there's more!
Hazel Joy Memorial Foundation Merchandise:
This year, we achieved $4,731.48 in merchandise sales. It's truly amazing to see so many of you proudly wearing our daughter's name. We are thrilled to keep expanding our line and to see an increasing number of people wearing The Hazel Joy Memorial Foundation!
Get yours here:
or
Cribs for Kids Partner:
In 2025 we were so excited to announce our partnership with Cribs for Kids to promote safe infant sleep and prevent Sudden Unexpected Infant Death (SUID). We care about the infants in our community and want to do our part to ensure they have a safe sleeping environment. This organization is obviously incredibly near and dear to our hearts since our Hazel passed away from SUID.
More about Cribs for Kids here: https://cribsforkids.org/
The Shannon Crew Lemonade Stand:
Hazel's amazing cousins in North Carolina, Emma, Peyton, Kenzie and Brayden, collected $92 for The Hazel Joy Memorial Foundation with their lemonade stand! It's heartwarming to see the younger generation engage with the foundation and support the memory of a loved one. Hazel's passing impacted the entire family, and these thoughtful acts from some WONDERFUL kids are truly touching!
Minted Fundraising Partner:
We successfully established a partnership with Minted this year, which is exciting for Jamie (Hazel's Mommy) since she is a HUGE fan. We earn a commission from anyone who uses our code. This partnership extends through all of 2026, so if you need invitations, cards, stationery, signs, prints, or anything else, be sure to check them out! We earned $108 from our code being used.
USE CODE: FUNDRAISEHAZELJOY
In closing...
We want to take a moment to express our gratitude. This is a deeply heartfelt thank you, as words cannot fully convey how appreciative we are for your ongoing support. The success of the Hazel Joy Memorial Foundation is entirely due to the love and backing we consistently receive. We are so proud of all the accomplishments in 2025 and look forward to what 2026 brings!
With Love,
Jamie & Sean
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