By Lori Butterworth
We are deeply saddened by the passing of our most treasured and longest serving board president, Melissa “Missy” McDill. When considering her own cancer journey, Missy always remembered the children and dedicated her life to improving theirs. She was one of a kind.
The Heart of Jacob’s Heart for 21 Years
Missy’s accomplishments during her 21-years serving on the Jacob’s Heart Board of Directors are countless, but let me name just a few. Missy created the annual Jacob’s Heart KIDRAGEOUS Carnival to celebrate the lives and loves of children with cancer. She helped lead the efforts to declare September Childhood Cancer Awareness Month in the State of California. And, she used her unique flare for design to transform every Jacob’s Heart office into a fun, often jungle-themed, playroom. Missy brought joy to the children.
A Powerhouse Philanthropist
Missy was fiercely generous and relentlessly motivated others to give to her beloved Jacob’s Heart. She cared deeply and personally, donating an average of $10,000 annually. During her tenure as president of the Jacob’s Heart board, Missy gave more than $100,000. She personally covered funeral expenses so that grieving families could honor their precious children and begin their own process of healing from such a devastating loss.
Living Her Legacy
Missy spent her precious time and resources to improve the quality of life for children with cancer and support their families in the challenges they face, a mission statement she helped draft. She will be remembered by our board as a strong, dedicated leader with sharp wit and business acumen. She will be remembered by the Jacob’s Heart children as the funny lady who danced and wore crazy hats while running the dunk tank at KIDRAGEOUS .
Missy’s legacy will live on through each and every child with cancer whose lives have been and will be touched by the graciousness and generosity she ignited at Jacob’s Heart.
Lori Butterworth is the executive director of Jacob’s Heart Children’s Cancer Support Services, a nonprofit based in Watsonville that works to improve the quality of life for children with cancer and support their families in the challenges they face. To give, visit jacobsheart.org.