2025 TCS New York City Marathon
The Official webpage of team JCK Foundation!
Welcome to the Official 2025 Marathon Webpage of Team JCK Foundation!
We are so pumped to see you here and excited to tell you more about who we are and what we do!!
Our organization works directly with schools & communities to improve mental wellness and resilience amongst our youth through hands-on workshops and educational programs. By way of these programs, we help students, faculty/staff members and parents find new ways of connecting and building community to protect against mental illness and improve emotional wellness and resilience, with the overarching message being that NO ONE is ever alone on their mental health journey!
Since the inception of our programs in 2019, we’ve run our programs at 135 Schools and directly impacted over 50,000 students, parents, and school faculty/staff members. Last year, 2024, was the most impactful year yet reaching over 24,000 students, 700 faculty members, and 100 parents. The organization accomplished this by working in 65 different schools that year completing a total of 118 programs. The JCK Foundation is projected to finish 2025 reaching over 30,000 students in 70 different schools. Through our student, faculty and parent programs, we strive to create a holistic community approach to break down the stigma associated with mental health challenges; challenges that students are facing every day. The more we educate those around the student, the more impactful our work with students becomes and the easier it is for them to have life changing conversations and access life saving resources.
We want to share quotes with you from each of our stakeholders. These are just a few of many testimonials from people we have reached!
“When students are struggling they need time, resources, and the ability to feel safe in an environment where they can be themselves and share. The JCK Foundation is an incredible resource for my students. John and Kevin care so much about kids. They have deep conversations that are certainly intense but are so supportive. Everyone who hears John and Kevin speak leaves feeling motivated to be there for others and to take steps toward accepting themselves. It is a legendary experience that students always remember. John and Kevin are an inspiration. The JCK Foundation is saving precious lives with the work they are doing.”
- Jaime Ciliberto, Health and Nutrition Teacher at Yorktown High School
“We've had several speakers come in and talk about things like empathy and understanding how people are going through things that we may be unaware of but none of them have hit home like yours. While I went into the assembly thinking it was going to be just another surface level conversation about the meaning of mental illness and how to accept people who have them, I came out of it with a completely different view. I think the same thing goes for many of my peers as well, as I've already had productive conversations with my friends over the contents of your's and Kevin's stories. I've listened to speeches on mental health and we've talked about the topic in various classes throughout the years, but nothing has ever really stuck with me, until now. What you guys are doing and how you go about it is something that I extremely admire and hope that one day I can do.”
- High School Student
“I finally have a few quiet moments after an extremely difficult day and wanted to reach out and express my immense gratitude for your taking the time to introduce us to the remarkable mission of the JCK Foundation in anticipation of the work you will do with the students. I certainly didn’t intend to share so openly at the end of the program, however, as you can probably imagine, I have been through a lot with our daughters and eradicating the stigma associated with mental illness is something we are all committed to. So much of your story resonates with me; John - you are brave and resilient, warm and empathetic and I can only imagine how proud your mom is of you”
- Parent
We are thrilled to be an OFFICIAL Charity Partner with the New York Road Runners for the 2025 TCS New York City Marathon! Our foundation is built on community, connection, authenticity and passion and we want this to be a special and empowering experience for you!! We will be there every step of the way on your Marathon journey.
Interested in running for the JCK Foundation in the 2025 TCS New York City Marathon?
**Fundraising Minimum is $4,000**
Please email John Tessitore at john@jckfoundation.org and Kevin McMahon at kevin@jckfoundation.org to learn more!
