Today we’d like to introduce you to Patrick Giblin, David Robins, Amber Hill, Ciara Guedesse, Fadi Hamdi and Tiffany Tapella.
Big Josh Foundation was created when San Diego native, and beloved bartender/manager, Joshua Gehlbach, was diagnosed unexpectedly with terminal, stage 4, non-smoking lung cancer. Josh began working in the Service and Hospitality Industry when he was just 20 years old. It wasn’t only a lifestyle for him, it was a career; one he loved and to which he dedicated himself. Josh spent 20 years working long hours in multiple positions: security, bar-back, doorman, bartender, and manager. Complimenting such dedication and work ethic was his kindness, and charisma, impacting all those around him. Owners were beyond proud to have Josh representing their establishments.
Following a long shift, Josh was finishing up his General Manager responsibilities, when a pain in his eye brought him to his knees. He thought to himself: “Damn headaches and exhaustion…”. The intense pain caused him to go to the Emergency Room, but he never imagined the news that was to come. Hours after his hospital arrival, Josh was admitted into the Oncology Unit.
TERMINAL, STAGE 4, NON-SMOKING, LUNG CANCER.
This was his diagnosis; not simply a headache and exhaustion. No one, including Josh, could be prepared to hear such words at 40 years young. In one moment, his entire life changed.
This is when Big Josh Foundation began, with Josh as Patient Zero. A terminal diagnosis immediately forces a person into a mandatory disability leave from work, and Josh’s new job was to fight for his life. He needed support and assistance from those around him, to help offset the loss of income due to his sudden, unforeseen inability to work, and additional health-related expenses. Disability benefits for anyone whose income relies heavily on tips or commissions simply aren’t enough.
The continued goal of Big Josh Foundation is to help those with terminal diagnosis working within the service industries, or similar employment positions, which are lacking the infrastructure and benefits of large corporations. We strive to offer financial and emotional support to the “family” existing within the service AND related industries.
BJF steps in when we are needed to help cover day-to-day expenses such as rent/mortgage, cell phone payments, hospital co-pays, grocery needs, etc. We also help cover the costs of things such as soccer, gymnastics, or other activities when our patients have children, to help them maintain normalcy during this difficult time. Even with insurance, costs such as those mentioned above, in addition to out-of-pocket expenses or deductibles that must be met, pose a significant financial burden to anyone receiving monthly disability benefits that are barely enough to cover their rent alone.
Josh started the foundation with his wife, Katie Gehlbach, and three of his closest friends: Patrick Giblin, David Robins, and Amber Hill. His wish was that the foundation would continue to grow and help others who needed it after his death. Since, the foundation team has grown with the addition of a few more of Josh’s longtime friends (Ciara Guedesse, Fadi Hamdi, Stephanie Beck, Tiffany Tapella) and a network of BJF “ambassadors” who help the team reach the community and execute events.
With the help of others, our assistance allows our patients to worry less about finances and focus on two very important objectives: fighting every day and spending every possible moment with loved ones.
Has it been a smooth road?
It hasn’t always been a smooth road, of course. Big Josh Foundation grew larger more quickly than anyone anticipated. Some so many people wanted to host events or offer other ways of support that it was overwhelming; amazing, but overwhelming! The team members of BJF are not paid through the foundation; we all volunteer our time. We do what we do out of pure love for our late friend, a desire to keep our promise to him to continue to help others, and because we each want to help anyone we are able who needs us. We all work full time jobs in addition to the time we put into the foundation every day. We soon were spreading ourselves too thin, not sure how to juggle everything that needed our attention; patients, events, fundraisers, etc. But we learned how to delegate responsibility and compartmentalize so that we were able to manage it all effectively. The team added new members and we even formed our BJF Ambassadors group – a team of BJF volunteers who help us out wherever and whenever they are needed; when we need a few extra hands on deck! It was a learning curve…it still is. We are always learning ways to improve.
It also can be tough emotionally. Our patients are all terminal. And we become integrated into their lives during their final months. Whether we intend to or not, we form bonds with them and their family and loved ones. We are there in their final months of life. It can be very heart wrenching to have to say goodbye to those who have become our friends, part of our extended family when it is their time to go. And then to do it all over again with a new patient. We do speak with professionals as a team to help us deal with this part of what we do; to help keep us all emotionally healthy as well.
We’d love to hear more about your oragnization.
Big Josh Foundation is a nonprofit organization assisting those who are diagnosed as TERMINALLY ill, whose disability benefits are less than adequate to maintain normal everyday life; hospitality workers, AS WELL AS other professions such as Uber drivers, Stylists, commission-based employees, etc.
We all know a bartender, a teacher, or a freelance web designer. More than 70% of Americans work in the service industry or are employed as contractors or freelancers. These are people employed without a strong benefits package or company backbone who can’t afford to miss a paycheck; literally cannot afford to be sick.
BJF is focused on providing financial and emotional support and counseling to people diagnosed as terminally ill who do not have access to adequate disability benefits.
BJF steps in when we are needed to help cover day-to-day expenses such as rent/mortgage, cell phone payments, hospital co-pays, grocery needs, etc. We also help cover the costs of things such as soccer, gymnastics, or other activities when our patients have children, to help them maintain normalcy during this difficult time. Even with insurance, costs such as those mentioned above, in addition to out-of-pocket expenses or deductibles that must be met, pose a significant financial burden to anyone receiving monthly disability benefits that are barely enough to cover their rent alone.
Big Josh (Joshua Gehlbach) was the foundation’s 1st patient and one of the founders. Since Josh’s passing, with the help of all those who love and stand with us, BJF was able to offer support and assistance to our 2nd patient, Darina O’Harran and, 3rd patient, Chris Beauharnois.
Is our city a good place to do what you do?
The high cost of living in San Diego and the fact that it is such a tourist city are what make Big Josh Foundation so necessary and needed here. Cities that have a heavy reliance on tourism through vacationers, conventions, etc, always have a large demographic of hospitality workers or other self-contracted workers who do not have access to corporate health benefits or adequate disability benefits to survive in such an expensive city.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.bigjoshfoundation.org
- Email: info@bigjoshfoundation.org
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/bigjoshfoundation?igshid=16u0aaaulhepi (@bigjoshfoundation)
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bigjoshfoundation/
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