TeamNEGU: Never Ever Give Up!

What TeamNEGU: Never Ever Give Up! does

TeamNEGU: Never Ever Give Up! (legally the Jessie Rees Foundation, EIN 45-1836440) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 2011 in Irvine, California, following the cancer battle of 12-year-old Jessie Rees, who created JoyJars and coined the term NEGU before her passing in January 2012. The organization delivers encouragement to children ages 0-18 actively fighting cancer and their families primarily in the United States and Canada, with JoyJar shipments reaching all 50 states and 53 countries and partnerships with 200+ children's hospitals and care centers worldwide. Core programs include JoyJars (64oz jars stuffed with hospital-approved, age-appropriate toys), ClubNEGU (free recurring encouragement program for registered families), NEGU House of Hope (a resort facility opened October 2023 for family respite), and the Mobile JoyFactory (a portable team-building and JoyJar-stuffing experience deployable to corporate sites for groups of 10-1500+). Supporting infrastructure includes the iNEGU smartphone app (launched 2016) and the main JoyFactory fulfillment facility.

The organization operates a diversified nonprofit revenue model combining individual donations (one-time gifts and the JoySquad monthly recurring program), corporate partnerships (NEGU Network membership at $1,000/quarter and event sponsorships), four signature fundraising events annually (Gala in March, Night of Joy in June, Golf Classic in September, Santa Stroll in December), JoyJar sponsorships at $30-$60 per jar with branded merchandise gifts, and merchandise sales through the NEGU Gear online store. Go-to-market is community-led and event-driven, leveraging grassroots volunteers, celebrity and athlete ambassadors (including Olympic swimmer Kaitlin Sandeno as National Spokesperson, NASCAR driver Corey LaJoie, MLS clubs LA Galaxy and New England Revolution, and late-stage supporters such as Kobe Bryant, Jennifer Garner, and Clayton Kershaw), corporate Mobile JoyFactory engagements, and Kids Helping Kids school and community programs. Reported 2024 program efficiency was 87% of funds directed to programs, 4% to administrative expenses, and 9% to fundraising.

Name

TeamNEGU: Never Ever Give Up!

Legal name

Jessie Rees Foundation

Website

https://negu.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2011

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

TeamNEGU: Never Ever Give Up! (Jessie Rees Foundation) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that delivers JoyJars, ClubNEGU encouragement programs, and NEGU House of Hope respite to children fighting cancer and their families across 50 states and 53 countries.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Childhood Cancer Support Services

NAICS

Voluntary Health Organizations (813212), Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations (813), Grantmaking and Giving Services (81321), Other Individual and Family Services (624190), Civic and Social Organizations (8134)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Rare Disease & Special Needs Support Organizations (BPAGACAM)

akta.pro secondary industries

Cause, Community & CSR-Linked Sports Partnerships (Foundations, Youth Programs) (MPAKALAJ), Youth Mental Health, Counseling & Wellbeing (Education-Linked) Nonprofits (BPAGADAK), Community Fundraisers & Charity Events (Gala/Walks excluded) (MPAGAEAK)

Keywords

• Childhood cancer support
• Nonprofit encouragement programs
• Corporate social responsibility
• Family respite services
• Volunteer community engagement

Headquarters

HQ city

Irvine

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations: One-time and monthly donations from individual supporters. Monthly partners join the JoySquad program for recurring encouragement deliveries to children fighting cancer.
2. Corporate Partnerships: NEGU Network membership at $1,000/quarter provides corporate social responsibility engagement through Mobile JoyFactory events, volunteer opportunities, and employee engagement programs.
3. Signature Events: Annual fundraising events including NEGU Gala (March), Night of Joy (June), Golf Classic (September), and Santa Stroll (December) that generate revenue and awareness.
4. Merchandise Sales: NEGU Gear merchandise including t-shirts, sweatshirts, and wristbands sold primarily through the website. Sponsorships of JoyJars at $30+ include merchandise gifts.
5. JoyJar Sponsorships: Donors can sponsor JoyJars at various levels ($30 for one JoyJar with t-shirt, $60 for two JoyJars with sweatshirt) which includes merchandise gifts as appreciation.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

The Jessie Rees Foundation (TeamNEGU) primarily distributes JoyJars—64oz plastic jars filled with hospital-approved, age-appropriate toys and games—to children actively fighting cancer, alongside running ClubNEGU (a free recurring encouragement program for Courageous Kids, SuperSiblings, and parents), operating Mobile JoyFactory corporate team-building events, and providing respite at NEGU House of Hope. The organization funds these programs through individual donations, monthly JoySquad gifts, corporate NEGU Network memberships, JoyJar sponsorships, merchandise sales, and signature fundraising events.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• JoyJars: 64oz plastic jars filled with hospital approved toys and fun items for children fighting cancer
• ClubNEGU
• Mobile JoyFactory
• JoySquad
• NEGU House of Hope
• JoyFactory
• iNEGU

Products and services

• JoyJars
• ClubNEGU
• Mobile JoyFactory
• NEGU House of Hope
• JoySquad Monthly Giving
• NEGU Network Corporate Membership
• NEGU Gear Merchandise
• iNEGU Smartphone App
• Hospital JoyPack Orders
• Signature Fundraising Events
• Memory Canvas Program

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 550,000 JoyJars delivered to children fighting cancer in 53+ countries since 2011
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• LA GalaxycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for 'Kick Childhood Cancer' initiative including multi-day events: photoshoot, boot-making lab, JoyJar stuffing with staff, and game experience. 14 Courageous Families participated in the September 2024 partnership with dedicated warmup tops and on-field recognition.
• Corey LaJoie / Spire MotorsportscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNASCAR driver Corey LaJoie and Spire Motorsports served as primary sponsor on the No. 7 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 for six NASCAR Cup Series races in 2023. Partnership included hospital visits, Courageous Family race attendance, and racing JoyJar deliveries. Backed by a private family foundation.
• New England Revolution Soccer ClubcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCelebrating over 10 years of partnering through Andrew Farrell's NEGU Crew. Soccer club and players support kids fighting cancer with JoyJar deliveries and on-field experiences.
• Bristol-Myers SquibbcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWorld record holder for most JoyJars stuffed in one day: 17,500 during 2019 Global Patient Week across seven locations. In 2022, BMS employees stuffed 5,500 more JoyJars across three New Jersey locations with 400+ participants.
• Applied MedicalcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerLongtime NEGU partner since 2012. Hosted Community Resources Expo connecting the foundation with 3,800 Applied Medical team members. Medical device company committed to improving healthcare accessibility and affordability.
• Panasonic AvionicsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTook Mobile JoyFactory global, enabling employees in Japan, Dubai, London, and Singapore to stuff JoyJars internationally.
• American AirlinesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSupported the launch of Mobile JoyFactory in 2014 enabling the portable JoyJar stuffing operation.
• Kaitlin Sandeno HogancoreGTM or Marketing PartnerOlympic gold medalist swimmer and National Spokesperson for the Jessie Rees Foundation since 2012. General manager of DC Trident, one of the first female GMs in professional sports.
• Shea Center for Therapeutic RidingminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership of heart and purpose involving Mobile JoyFactory engagement with therapeutic riding center.
• Cal-MilminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner supporting Mobile JoyFactory operations and mobile JoyFactory unit.
• AnthemminorGTM or Marketing PartnerFirst corporate sponsor of the foundation in 2012.
• Saddleback ChurchminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHost venue for Jessie's Celebration of Life Service in January 2012 with over 5,000 attendees. Location of annual events including NEGU Golf Classic.

Scale indicators18 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• National Pediatric Cancer Foundation:
• CureSearch for Children's Cancer: CureSearch is a children's cancer nonprofit focused on accelerating cures through research and treatment access. It is comparable in mission (childhood cancer) and donor base, though it operates primarily through research grants rather than direct family encouragement like TeamNEGU.
• Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation: Alex's Lemonade Stand is a leading childhood cancer nonprofit combining fundraising, awareness, and research funding. It is directly comparable to TeamNEGU in mission focus (childhood cancer), grassroots volunteer-driven model, and donor base, though it leans more heavily into research funding rather than direct emotional support.
• St. Baldrick's Foundation: St. Baldrick's Foundation funds childhood cancer research through volunteer-driven head-shaving events and corporate partnerships. It shares TeamNEGU's grassroots event-based fundraising model and childhood cancer mission, though it focuses primarily on research grants rather than direct family support.

Broad incumbents

• Ronald McDonald House Charities: Ronald McDonald House Charities provides housing and family support services near children's hospitals globally. It overlaps with TeamNEGU's family support mission (akin to NEGU House of Hope) and shares hospital-distribution channels, though it operates at much larger scale with a housing-focused model.
• Make-A-Wish Foundation: Make-A-Wish is the largest US-based pediatric critical illness nonprofit, fulfilling wishes for children with critical illnesses including cancer. It is directly comparable to TeamNEGU in serving the same beneficiary population (children with cancer) through emotional/experiential support, though at vastly greater scale and with a wish-fulfillment rather than direct-encouragement model.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/teamnegu
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCv0BCqw6XQR0NOE8B8A70MQ
• Facebookfacebook.com/teamnegu
• Instagraminstagram.com/teamnegu
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/teamnegu

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles37 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about TeamNEGU: Never Ever Give Up!