THE KEATON F COKER FOUNDATION INC
Programs
Thumbs Up Mission Retreats
THE 2024 MINISTRY YEAR WAS ONE OF THE MOST IMPACTFUL AND JOY-FILLED SEASONS IN THE HISTORY OF THUMBS UP MISSION. BY GOD'S GRACE, AND THROUGH THE GENEROSITY OF OUR DONORS AND THE DEDICATION OF OUR VOLUNTEERS, WE WERE ABLE TO WALK ALONGSIDE FAMILIES FACING CANCER IN POWERFUL AND PRACTICAL WAYS. THIS YEAR, WE SERVED 160 GUEST FAMILIES BATTLING CANCER THROUGH TWO FULL- WEEKEND THUMBS UP RETREATS-80 FAMILIES IN FEBRUARY AND 80 FAMILIES IN NOVEMBER-BOTH HOSTED AT GREAT WOLF LODGE. OUR PARTNERSHIP WITH THE GREAT WOLF LODGE TEAM HAS CONTINUED TO DEEPEN; STAFF MEMBERS NOT ONLY REQUEST TO SERVE DURING OUR RETREAT WEEKENDS BUT NOW PROUDLY WEAR UNIFORMS FEATURING THE THUMBS UP MISSION LOGO CREATED SPECIFICALLY FOR THESE EVENTS. OUR RETREATS WERE SUPPORTED BY AN EXTRAORDINARY VOLUNTEER COMMUNITY. 275 VOLUNTEERS SERVED IN FEBRUARY AND 256 VOLUNTEERS SERVED IN NOVEMBER-MORE THAN 530 VOLUNTEERS POURING LOVE, TIME, AND ENERGY INTO OUR GUEST FAMILIES. WE ALSO CONTINUED TO SEE FORMER GUEST FAMILIES RETURN AS VOLUNTEERS, A DEEPLY MEANINGFUL SIGN OF THE HEALING, CONNECTION, AND HOPE THAT THE RETREATS FOSTER. WE WELCOMED FAMILIES FROM ACROSS THE SOUTHEAST AND BEYOND, INCLUDING GUESTS TRAVELING FROM ILLINOIS, TENNESSEE, NORTH CAROLINA, AND FLORIDA, IN ADDITION TO OUR CORE PARTNER HOSPITALS IN GEORGIA, ALABAMA, AND SOUTH CAROLINA. AS WE APPROACH OUR 25TH THUMBS UP RETREAT IN FEBRUARY 2026, WE CELEBRATE HOW GOD HAS EXPANDED THIS MINISTRY FROM A SINGLE WEEKEND EXPERIENCE TO A MOVEMENT THAT IS TOUCHING FAMILIES ACROSS MULTIPLE STATES. COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS CONTINUED TO FLOURISH IN 2024. -THE LANIER CHRISTIAN ACADEMY LEADERSHIP CLASS HOSTED THEIR ANNUAL GOLD OUT GAME, RAISING 17,000.00 TO SEND FAMILIES ON A RETREAT. -THE FAITH CENTER IN TUCKER, GA CONTINUED THEIR FAITHFUL COMMITMENT THROUGH THEIR 5K, CONTRIBUTING 15,000.00 DIRECTLY TOWARD RETREAT COSTS. -OUR ANNUAL DRESSED TO KILLCANCER FUNDRAISER FEATURED SEVEN CANCER WARRIORS MODELING WITH COURAGE AND JOY, HELPING US RAISE A RECORD-BREAKING 203,000.00 FOR RETREAT SCHOLARSHIPS. -A LONGTIME FRIEND OF THUMBS UP, NFL RECEIVER MACK HOLLINS, ENTERED A CHARITY CHESS TOURNAMENT AND WON 15,000.00 WHICH WENT TO SENDING NEW FAMILIES TO A THUMBS UP RETREAT. -OUR FALL FAMILY FUN DAY AT SKITTS MOUNTAIN FARMS WELCOMED 391 ATTENDEES, STRENGTHENING OUR MINISTRY FAMILY AND REACHING NEW SUPPORTERS. IN TOTAL, THUMBS UP MISSION RAISED 951,553.09 IN 2024-RESOURCES THAT DIRECTLY FUEL OUR MISSION TO BRING HOPE, CONNECTION, AND UNFORGETTABLE EXPERIENCES TO FAMILIES WALKING THROUGH THE DARKEST SEASONS OF CANCER. THIS YEAR MARKED AN IMPORTANT STEP FORWARD IN EXPANDING OUR TEAM. WE HIRED JUSTIN CHANDLER FULL-TIME AS DIRECTOR OF MINISTRY, LEADING OUR RELATIONSHIPS WITH NEW GUEST FAMILIES AND WORKING ALONGSIDE OUR DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS, ANDREW MCCLESKEY, AS THEY GUIDE OUR CORE STAFF AND VOLUNTEERS INTO NEW AREAS OF GROWTH. THESE AREAS INCLUDE DEVELOPING MORE ONE-DAY REGIONAL GATHERINGS TO CONNECT FAMILIES BY PROXIMITY, BUILDING DEEPER RELATIONSHIPS WITH CANCER NAVIGATORS AND SOCIAL WORKERS, AND INVESTING IN RETURNING GUEST FAMILIES WHO FEEL CALLED TO SERVE FUTURE RETREATS. 2024 ALSO BROUGHT A DEEP AND PERSONAL LOSS TO OUR MISSION FAMILY. WE MOURNED THE PASSING OF DICK BAXTER, A BELOVED LONGTIME MEMBER OF THE THUMBS UP STAFF, WHO FAITHFULLY SERVED THIS MINISTRY WITH COMPASSION AND JOY. DICK'S RELATIONAL MINISTRY CONTINUES TO RIPPLE OUTWARD-SHAPING OUR CONNECTIONS WITH CANCER NAVIGATORS, SOCIAL WORKERS, VOLUNTEERS, AND GUEST FAMILIES. HIS LEGACY REMAINS WOVEN INTO THE HEART OF THUMBS UP MISSION. AS WE LOOK BACK ON THIS REMARKABLE YEAR, WE CELEBRATE NOT ONLY THE NUMBERS BUT THE STORIES OF RESTORATION, JOY, AND COMMUNITY THAT GOD BROUGHT TO LIFE THROUGH THIS MINISTRY. AND WE LOOK AHEAD WITH ANTICIPATION FOR ALL HE HAS IN STORE FOR THUMBS UP MISSION AS WE DRAW CLOSER TO OUR 25TH RETREAT MILESTONE AND CONTINUE EXPANDING THE REACH OF THIS MISSION.GeographiesNot indicatedDatesJan 1, 2024 – Dec 31, 2024Source990No causes providedNo populations provided–$664.2K
Copyright 2026. All rights reserved to Chario Inc. (d.b.a. Impala)