Special Event
Josh & Jase
We are deeply grateful to our British friends Josh & Jase and Matt for the genuine connection, compassion, and joy they shared with our Jo Elyn Nyman Anchors Programs for Children, pediatric hospice families.
Please consider donating to our Pediatric Hospice Endowment to help ensure that there is no financial burden to families in pediatric hospice care for the next 30 years.
Josh & Jase Throws Their First MLB Pitch on Behalf of Pediatric Care
On Saturday, August 15th, the Jo Elyn Nyman Anchors Programs for Children hospice team with Hospice of Michigan and the NorthStar Care Community joined together for a Detroit Tiger’s game. Josh & Jase threw out the opening pitch wearing T-shirts representing the foundation created by the family of Cailen, Cailen Loves Everybody. They mentioned in their on field interview that they met the family at a meet and greet in Grand Rapids with the Hospice of Michigan team and wanted to honor him on the field.
Thank you, Josh & Jase for your incredible dedication to spotlight on our Jo Elyn Nyman Anchors Programs for Children to support children and families facing a potentially-life limiting illness.
Jo Elyn Nyman Anchors for Programs for Children Detroit Tigers Josh & Jase Pitch Gallery
Our Time Together
Josh & Jase and Matt did more than visit, they listened, laughed, learned our families’ stories and made each person feel truly seen. Thank you for using your hearts and your voices to help sustain this care for generations of families.
Thank you to Celebration Cinema Studio Park and Elsa’s for creating a private, welcoming space where our families could enjoy an afternoon of ice cream, crown-making and a special opportunity to connect with each other.
MLive
Josh & Jase bring toys to Hospice of Michigan’s youngest patients, kick off special fundraiser
This week, they invited their huge social media audience to see the good work being done by Hospice of Michigan, a non-profit that helps those near death – and their families.
Josh & Jase visited some of the youngest patients and their families in what turned out to be an emotional day for the social media stars.
Michigan Field Guide
Josh & Jase came back to Michigan looking for another adventure, but one stop in Grand Rapids became something much more personal.
The British social media duo visited some of Hospice of Michigan’s youngest patients through the Jo Elyn Nyman Anchors Program for Children, bringing as many toys as they could carry and hoping to create a few smiles for children and their families.
They made artwork, wore handmade crowns and spent time listening, laughing and learning the families’ stories. Josh Clarke, who recently welcomed a baby girl of his own, said the experience hit especially close to home.
The pair admitted that keeping their usual upbeat energy was difficult. They described the children and parents they met as some of the strongest and kindest families they had ever encountered, and praised Hospice of Michigan’s staff for supporting not only patients, but entire families facing heartbreaking circumstances.
Hospice of Michigan thanked Josh, Jase and their driver, Matt, for doing more than simply stopping by. The organization said they made each person feel seen through genuine connection, compassion and joy.
The visit also kicked off a special fundraiser benefiting Hospice of Michigan’s pediatric hospice work. It continues a pattern for Josh & Jase, whose Michigan travels have increasingly become about giving back. During their winter trip, a visit to Grand Rapids’ Mel Trotter Ministries helped raise thousands of dollars for shelter programs.
They are now one week into a three-week Michigan tour that has already included Detroit, Ann Arbor, Yesterdog in Grand Rapids and a Lake Michigan sunset in Grand Haven.
Some visitors come here for the sights. Josh & Jase keep finding the people who show what Michigan’s heart really looks like.
13 on Your Side
Hospice of Michigan
receives more than $20k in donations following Josh & Jase visit.
During their time in Grand Rapids, Josh and Jase spent time with pediatric hospice patients and their families at Hospice of Michigan.
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — The viral social media duo Josh & Jase have helped raise more than $20,000 for Hospice of Michigan’s statewide pediatric hospice program this summer.
The fundraising campaign was launched in support of the Jo Elyn Nyman Pediatric Hospice Endowment Fund to support children and families statewide as they face potentially life-limiting illness.
Josh Cauldwell-Clarke and Jase Riley became famous on social media for their travel videos reacting to American food, culture and exciting experiences.
The duo spent three weeks in Michigan this past January, and they returned on July 24 to get a taste of Michigan in the summer.
During their time in Grand Rapids, Josh and Jase spent time with pediatric hospice patients and their families at Hospice of Michigan.
After their social media post about the visit, more than 350 donations flooded in to Hospice of Michigan from across the country.
Meijer also joined the effort with a $5,000 gift to the Jo Elyn Nyman Pediatric Hospice Endowment Fund.
“Supporting children and families through life’s most difficult moments is at the heart of what we do,” said Marcie Hillary, vice president and chief experience officer at Hospice of Michigan. “We are so grateful to Josh and Jase for spending time with our families, listening to their stories and using their platform to help ensure that no family facing a child’s hospice journey has to worry about the cost of care.”
Josh and Jase thanked everyone who donated since their visit.
“We can’t begin to explain how grateful we are for you all. We know the hospice itself will benefit so much from this money raised,” the duo said.
During their time at Hospice of Michigan, Josh and Jase learned about a 7-year-old boy named Cailen who lost his life to cancer after spending nearly half of it battling the disease.
“But always stayed positive throughout. Always smiling. A true inspiration,” the post said. “He enjoyed our videos, and was a young man with a strong faith. And was a huge Detroit Tigers fan.”
In honor of Cailen, Josh and Jase will wear shirts with his name on them when they throw the first pitch at the Detroit Tigers game on Aug. 15.
“Thank you again for everyone who kindly donated,” the post said. “You really are the best community in the world!”
The funds raised will support the Pediatric Hospice Endowment, helping ensure children with life-limiting illnesses and their families continue to receive extraordinary, compassionate hospice care for the next 30 years and beyond.
Coming in September
Josh & Jase’s incredible curiosity, and generosity is one of the moments that our story telling initiative, Life’s Big Moments, is all about. Where asking questions, telling stories, and coming together spreads hope and light around end-of-life care.
Life’s Big Moments is a story telling initiative that celebrates and empowers these defining hallmarks in time, sponsored by NorthStar Care Community – a nationwide organization of mission-driven palliative care, hospice care, grief support and other supportive end-of-life programs and services.
Expert end-of-life care typically can add days to life and add life to days. Fortunately, many families across the nation are now learning about services available, often at little or no cost to them. By becoming a donor and supporter of Life’s Big Moments, you can help educate patients and families about access to vital end-of-life care – and be the spark for making more of Life’s Big Moments possible.
We share stories that helps normalize conversations and planning around end-of-life care so meaningful, timely discussions can happen when they matter most.