By Bradlee White ~It was a beautiful fall night as a sold-out crowd of 400 people gathered under big white tents erected over the tennis courts of Kismet Park to honor the late Jillian Metcalf and to raise funds for the J.A.M. Foundation established in her memory.
Jillian was a beloved young woman who grew up and lived in Kismet. Friends and family describe her as cheerful, upbeat and always ready to help anyone in need. In her words, “Life is what you make of it, so make it a good one.”
The J.A.M. (Jillian A. Metcalf) Foundation was conceived by a group of Jillian’s friends and family as they gathered for Kismet’s 2021 Christmas tree lighting ceremony. This group met in Sam Wood’s office on a biweekly basis beginning in January where they formed the not-for-profit organization, elected a board of directors and etched out the Foundation’s scope of activity.
Since Jillian was a nursing student it was agreed the Foundation’s scope would be health and medical issues, with the possibility of funding scholarships for nursing students, as well as contributing to the proposed emergency landing area near the old Kismet firehouse.
Jillian loved people and get-togethers so the planning group seized on the idea of creating a super outdoor fund-raising festival to honor her memory to be held in late September.
People came from all over the island and the mainland: The marina and afternoon ferries were full. Guests lined up to get special JAM wrist bands then were greeted by a black-suited “Blues Brother” look-alike as they walked a red carpet passing by a garbage truck (“only in Kismet,” Sam commented.)
Rows of tables and chairs were set up for dining in the north court, which also housed a display area of the nearly 100 individually wrapped auction items – even the bicycles sported bows.
Friends, neighbors, current and past Kismet residents dined on a wide variety of delicious entrees cooked and served from two food trucks parked just outside the tent area. The trucks were barged over from the mainland – that must have been quite a sight!
Guests were also served by 17 current and former local guest bartenders working on half-hour shifts at the long bar area at the end of the court. They bought raffle tickets from tables staffed by a dozen resident volunteers for the nearly 100 auction items donated by individuals and local businesses, as a circulating volunteer sold 50-50 tickets for a raffle that raised over $5,000.
A large banner listed close to 150 separate individual and service and business donors from all over the island and the mainland. Fire Island Ferries also provided a special midnight ferry.
Guests danced to the music of three bands which included “Tim Mooney and Friends,” “Barry’s Dead” and “Soul Junkies.” Fire Island native son Brian Kelly also spun tunes through the evening as disk jockey.
After the first sets of music and early dining, the crowd was summoned to the south court where Sam introduced a representative from the Town of Islip who presented a special proclamation to the Metcalf family.
Slides of Jillian’s life were projected and ran continuously through the night. Everyone keenly remembered why they were gathered together on this beautiful autumn evening. Jillian’s memory will live on in future J.A.M events to come.
