Giving Back
​Jenna comes from a large, tight-knit family where bonds run deep and support is unwavering. Growing up surrounded by cousins, aunts, uncles, and siblings, family gatherings were always full of laughter, stories, and love. However, amidst the joy, Jenna's family has faced heartbreaking challenges—three of her younger cousins have been diagnosed with extremely rare and devastating childhood diseases. Two of her younger cousins (Nathan and Bennett Falcone) were born with Progeria Syndrome, a condition that causes rapid aging in children, and they are still fighting to find a cure for. And one of Jenna’s really close family friends (Joseph DeToma) was diagnosed with DIPG, also known as Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma, an aggressive and inoperable brain tumor at the young age of 16 and unfortunately lost his battle in November of 2021 at the age of 18.
Because of seeing how these diagnoses have deeply impacted Jenna and her family, strengthening their closeness even more and knowing how truly blessed and grateful she is to be able to live the life she does with wonderful opportunities like playing Division I softball in the SEC and playing professionally with the New York Rise. In honor of her cousins and in support of others facing similar battles, Jenna plans on donating 5% of all her merchandise proceeds at the end of each calendar year to organizations dedicated to research, support, and awareness for Progeria and DIPG. Jenna would also love to give you the opportunity to learn about both of these rare childhood diseases and make a difference by making donations yourself. Every little bit helps!
Progeria
(Hutchinson-Gilford progeria syndrome)
Hutchinson-Gilford progeria syndrome is a genetic condition characterized by the dramatic, rapid appearance of aging beginning in childhood. Affected children typically look normal at birth and in early infancy, but then grow more slowly than other children and do not gain weight at the expected rate (failure to thrive). They develop a characteristic facial appearance including prominent eyes, a thin nose with a beaked tip, thin lips, a small chin, and protruding ears. Hutchinson-Gilford progeria syndrome also causes hair loss (alopecia), aged-looking skin, joint abnormalities, and a loss of fat under the skin (subcutaneous fat). This condition does not affect intellectual development or the development of motor skills such as sitting, standing, and walking.
For more information about this illness and if you would like to donate click on this link:
NoahBRAVE Foundation
DIPG
(diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma)
Diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma (DIPG) is a rare, aggressive, and deadly type of brain cancer that primarily affects children under the age of 10, with most diagnoses occurring between 5 and 7 years of age. It is a type of brain tumor found in an area of the brainstem known as the pons which is an area that is responsible for many of the body’s essential functions, such as breathing, blood pressure control, and eye movement. DIPG makes up 10-15% of all brain tumors in children, with about 150-300 new diagnoses per year in the United States. Unfortunately, fewer than 10% of children survive two years from diagnosis.