The Jeni Fund has been established to honor the life, loves, commitments, and interests of Jennifer (Jeni) Doherty Khoury. Jeni was a deeply loved wife, daughter, sister, aunt, teacher, mentor, and colleague. A vivacious spirit with an abundant heart and deep conviction, Jen cultivated and reveled in many enduring friendships from every corner of her life.
As a dedicated educator and union representative, to her journey as a burn survivor, Jeni embodied strength, resilience, and compassion. The Jeni Fund is a tribute to her passions and will continue Jeni’s legacy through enthusiastic support of initiatives she held dear.
The Fund aims to provide educational resources and opportunities for students; expand upon Jeni’s advocacy for workers' rights; initiate support and funding for other burn survivors and their devoted caregivers; and celebrate Jeni’s love for the Long Beach Island community by supporting local first responders and programs that promote the well-being of LBI residents and visitors.
We have been granted 501(c)(3) tax exempt status by the IRS and are also registered with the Office of the New Jersey Attorney General as a charity. Donations are tax deductible as permitted by law.
Jen's passion for teaching began while she was an undergraduate at Loyola University in New Orleans. In 2001, Jen began her teaching career at Paterson Public Schools and spent the next 21 years doing what she loved most. She did not hesitate to tell anyone she met that she was a teacher at Paterson Public Schools. She loved the work she did, she loved her students and she loved her co-workers.
She was also a dedicated member of the Paterson Education Association, serving on its Executive Committee as well as spending countless hours of her free time helping her co-workers with maternity and family leave requests and issues. She knew the value of a strong PEA and did all she could to ensure that her rights, and those of her colleagues were protected.
Why burns?
In the summer of 2012, while on vacation in the Caribbean, Jen was badly burned by a flambee gone bad. Fortunately, within 36 hours, she was able to be medically evacuated to the Burn Unit at St. Barnabas Medical Center, in Livingston, NJ. Jen then spent the next 7 weeks at the Burn Unit recovering from her burn injuries before she was allowed to go home and continue her recovery.
In typical Jen fashion, Jen turned what was an extremely traumatic life changing event into a positive. While at St. Barnabas, she became friends with the wonderful people who were caring for her. She also participated in the SOAR Peer Support Group where she made more life-long friends. This also sparked in her a passion to help those that have been burned and thus in October of 2013, Jen became a certified Peer Support Volunteer. From then until her passing, Jen helped other burn patients and survivors in their recovery.
Jen's "Happy Place" was Long Beach Island ("LBI"), especially, Beach Haven. She loved the beach but she also loved the people she met and who became her friends. She loved the small town feel of it and the relaxed atmosphere of life on the Island. She would always say that she felt all of her worries and life's headaches leave as she was driving across the bridge and onto the Island. It is because of her love of LBI and all that it did for Jen that we are working with the local beach patrols and first responders to provide funds for scholarships and their other needs.
Jen's formative years and were spent at the Academy of The Holy Angels where she formed many live-long friendships. Her connection to her high school and her experiences there are another reminder of the value of education. Thus, in conjunction with her classmates from the Class of 1988, we will seek to provide financial support to AHA and its many wonderful programs.
Each of our communities relies heavily on our brave and selfless first responders. Jen knew that and was friends with many of our dedicated neighbors who worked in policing, fire and EMT positions, either paid or volunteer. These people give to us every day and we want to be able to give back to them.
Our community is full of people who need our help. We are looking to help our communities in any way we can and will look to provide financial assistance to various local grass roots charities as needed.