Jonathan Grula
Memorial Foundation

The Jonathan Grula Memorial Foundation has been formed by the parents, family and friends of Jonathan Grula in order to do charitable works in his memory. kgrula86@gmail.com

Jonathan Grula was a special and courageous young man who battled leukemia with a determination unequaled even by adults. He was taken to Heaven when he was 12 after fighting fiercely for 1 year. Jonathan was born on Halloween, 1986. He was the only child of Robert and Karen Grula. From the time he was very young it was apparent that he was special. At the age of 3 he decided that he wanted to become a doctor, and he never wavered in that goal. As he became older, he determined that he would be a heart surgeon, because he loved the idea of helping sick people become well.

Jonathan was a student at St. Boniface School and a member of St. Boniface Church where he was a dedicated altar server. He had many interests. He was on the St. Boniface Bears basketball team for 3 years. He loved to collect items and was very proud of his many collections, some of which included classic cars, key chains and golf balls. He had a great love for the outdoors and truly enjoyed spending time with his dad walking in the woods, doing yard work and fishing. He looked forward to the day when he would go deer hunting with his dad, but sadly, that day never came. However, his great passion was golf. He enjoyed it in any form and to him the perfect summer weekend was spent playing golf with his parents.

Jonathan was popular and well-liked by everyone who knew him. He was compassionate, considerate, happy and fun-loving. He loved to play practical jokes and he had a great sense of humor. He was very close to his parents and grandparents. Although he had everything a boy could want, he was always appreciative of everything.

When he was diagnosed with Leukemia in September, 1998 and relapsed a few months later, he fought bravely to maintain as normal a life as possible. He spent the last summer of his life in John Hopkins Hospital where he had a bone-marrow transplant. God sent him a miracle donor - an un-related perfect match! We truly thought that he would be cured and live a long, healthy life. But, God needed him in heaven. On September 7, 1999, he died of complications from the transplant.

Because Jonathan was such a loving and giving person, his family and friends have decided to honor him through the "Jonathan Grula Memorial Foundation". The proceeds will go to other children, both sick and well. We know that Jonathan is happy that even though he is in Heaven, he is still helping people and will continue to do so as long as generous people continue to offer support for his foundation.


Photos


Fundraisers

BINGO

Date 9/18/2022

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Pizza/Pierogi/Pastie Sales

Held every Lent and Fall. Food is from Sanitary Bakery and WE DELIVER!
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The Four Diamonds Fund - Conquering Childhood Cancer - Penn State Hershey

The history of The Four Diamonds Fund and its impact on lives over the past 40 years at Penn State Hershey Medical Center.
Video Link
Four Diamonds Website

THON

In 2012, Grula Foundation Officers, Karen & Bob Grula, and Joanne & William Joseph, attended the annual dance marathon known as THON. Over 700 Penn State students stayed awake for 46 hours to raise money for the Four Diamonds Foundation. The Grula Foundation Board Members were guests of Mr. Charles Millard, Co-Founder of the Four Diamonds. We were there on Family Day and spent most of the day in Mr. Millard's box, but we also took part in the walking of Four Diamonds Families across the stage. Several Four Diamonds Families whose children were being treated at the time spoke and told their stories. Photos of the children who lost their battle with cancer were shown on large screens. The most exciting part of the day was when the total was announced. A record setting amount of $10,686,924.83 was raised!

About the Jonathan Grula Memorial Foundation

This foundation was formed on February 18, 2000 by Jonathan's family and friends to the do charitable works in his memory. Over the 20 years we have raised over $367,500.00 to benefit the Four Diamonds, Hershey Medical Center, where Jonathan was a patient. The Four Diamonds was extremely helpful to Karen and Bob, Jonathan's parents. They provided financial assistance in the form of meals, mileage to and from Hershey, parking fees, and any medications – prescription or over the counter that Jonathan needed while battling cancer. Their social workers were available to help in many other ways, also. They are very active in pediatric cancer research. The board members visited the research labs many times and were very impressed with the progress being made.

Our foundation's first fund raiser was our golf tournament. Over the next 15 years we have held golf tournaments every July. We have also held several other fund raisers, such as candle sales, Christmas flower sales, Spaghetti dinners, Christmas Angel sales, and pizza/pastie/pierogi sales.

For the past 7 years we have held a Designer/Gift Card bingo. The prizes are items by Coach, Michael Kors, Dooney & Bourke, Vera Bradley, Jewelry, gift cards and much more. There is also a Theme Basket raffle, 50/50 and Bake Sale.

In addition to donating to the Four Diamonds, we had a scholarship to St. Boniface School, where Jonathan was a student and we have also donated over $10,000.00 to local individuals and families battling illness or disease.

We continue to persevere in the fight against childhood cancer. We look forward to the day when that terrible disease is eradicated, and we thank all the people who have been so generous to Jonathan's foundation over the past 20 years.

Board Members

Karen Grula

President

Joanne Joseph

Vice President

Mary Gorski

Treasurer

Robert Grula

Secretary

Members

Jean Behm
William Behm
Jill Gagliardi
Mike Gagliardi
Robert Gorski
William Joseph
Theresa Shrader

Contact Us

For more information call or email

(570) 829-0971
(570) 466-8221

The Jonathan Grula Memorial Foundation

1144 Spruce Street
Wilkes-Barre Township, PA 18702