About Us

Who Are T.J.’s Friends?

T.J.’s Friends is a group of student volunteers who are dedicated to raising awareness and funds for Leukemia, Cancer and AIDS research. The specific focus of T.J.'s Friends, is to partner with The T.J. Martell Foundation, a leader in funding innovative medical research to find cures for these devastating diseases. 

The T.J. Martell Foundation began with a vow in 1973 that music industry executive Tony Martell made to his then 17 year old son T.J.
T.J. Martell was battling leukemia. He asked his father to raise a million dollars for cancer research so that “no one else will have to experience what I am going through.” Over the next 2 years, T.J. and his Dad accomplished that goal. Sadly, T.J. lost his battle in 1975. The T.J. Martell Foundation was born out of an undying love from a father to his son.

Holly Hawkins had volunteered for the T.J. Martell Foundation for several years. After watching her mother dedicate herself to this organization, Sarah Beth Perry, her oldest daughter, told her mother that when she grew up she wanted to work for The T.J. Martell Foundation as well. Sarah Beth wanted to become an active volunteer, a leader for the organization, but most importantly, she wanted to further the efforts of fundraising with the ultimate goal of finding a cure for cancer. Her Mom told her that she didn’t have to wait to raise money for cancer research, so she and her sister, Grace Ann discussed different ideas over the next few days. With the help of their mother, T.J.’s Friends was founded September, 2010 in Atlanta, Georgia by Sarah Beth and Grace Ann Perry.
 
T.J.'s Friends was launched October 17, 2010.