![\"Players](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/SAV-L-TOURNEY-0820-02.jpg\")
Players participate in the 2025 Strong and Coura\u2019Jess Foundation\u2019s coed softball tournament. The annual event is the nonprofit\u2019s largest fundraiser. (Courtesy of Sam Donahue)<\/p>\nWhen people think of Jessica Rutkowski, strong is the first word they think of. The Strong and Coura\u2019Jess Foundation was created when Rutkowski initially became ill due to stage 4 triple negative breast cancer.<\/p>\n
While Rutkowski underwent cancer treatment, the mother of three turned to a holistic lifestyle. She lost her battle with cancer in June 2021 at 37 years old, so now her family and friends carry on her memory by helping others going through similar circumstances, as well as educating them about the benefits of a holistic lifestyle.<\/p>\n
The Strong and Coura\u2019Jess Foundation is hosting its fifth annual coed softball tournament this weekend in honor of Rutkowski and her wish to help other cancer patients. The tournament will be held Saturday, Aug. 22, at the Throop Little League fields, Sanderson Street, Throop.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen Jessica was diagnosed with cancer she began her mission. She wanted others to feel supported,\u201d said Jenn Mills, Rutkowski\u2019s cousin.<\/p>\n
The nonprofit raises awareness of different holistic therapies and assists cancer patients in receiving these services.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe carry on the foundation and help others in need: Whether it be if they want to do a holistic approach to healing, such as yoga or meditation, and feeling good from within through massages and other holistic approaches,\u201d Mills added.<\/p>\n
The foundation continues Rutkowski\u2019s legacy. \u201cWe do it for her because she was just the best. She brought the fun. She had all the best party ideas. Her compassion for others even when she was going through it herself was never-ending. We can only hope to do for others in her name what she wanted to do herself,\u201d Mills said.<\/p>\n
Others who were close to Rutkowski help plan events for the foundation and carry out its mission.<\/p>\n
\u201cJess and I were cousins. Our family still has Sunday dinners at grandma\u2019s,\u201d Mills said.<\/p>\n
Players participate in the 2025 Strong and Coura\u2019Jess Foundation\u2019s coed softball tournament. The annual event is the nonprofit\u2019s largest fundraiser. (Courtesy of Sam Donahue)<\/p>\n
Rutkowski lit up the room and made friends in her different paths in life, Mills said. She went to Mid Valley and played softball as a Spartanette. She then attended Lycoming College.<\/p>\n
When she moved back and settled into the North Pocono area, Rutkowski played softball in recreational leagues with her mother\u2019s friends from that area. They still support the foundation and play in the tournament every year, Mills said.<\/p>\n
One of Rutkowski\u2019s longtime friends, Sam Donahue, is also part of the special day honoring her.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis part of the foundation\u2019s mission is especially meaningful because it reflects Jess\u2019 own experience. Jess could receive cancer treatment, attend a holistic therapy appointment afterward and still be on the softball field with her team \u2014 all within the same week,\u201d Donahue said.<\/p>\n
In anticipation of the softball tournament\u2019s fifth year, Donahue explained how the Strong and Coura\u2019Jess Foundation\u2019s largest fundraiser has grown.<\/p>\n
\u201cDuring our first year, most of the teams were made up of people who knew Jess personally or wanted to support her through friendships with her friends\u2019 family members or teammates. From there, the tournament continued to grow through word of mouth and social media,\u201d Donahue said. \u201cOver the past five years, it has become such a sought-after tournament because everyone knows how much fun the day is and how special the atmosphere is.\u201d<\/p>\n
Donahue said it\u2019s such a special day for all who knew Rutkowski, and for those who didn\u2019t but believe in the mission.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen we shared the announcement this year, about half of the teams registered that same day,\u201d Donahue said. \u201cWe are fortunate to have such a great group of teams return and support us each year and the amount of support we receive continues to amaze us. It will forever be our favorite day in August,\u201d Donahue added.<\/p>\n
\u201cBeing part of the Strong and Coura\u2019Jess Foundation means having the opportunity to keep Jess\u2019 memory alive while helping others who are going through cancer treatments,\u201d Donahue said. \u201cThe foundation aims to give individuals access to holistic therapies such as massage therapy, salt therapy, float therapy and other services that may provide comfort and help their bodies feel better throughout treatment.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cHer strength and determination were incredible, but she also understood the importance of caring for her body and finding relief wherever she could. Being able to provide similar opportunities to others is a meaningful way to continue her legacy,\u201d Donahue said.<\/p>\n
![\"Players](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/SAV-L-TOURNEY-0820-03.jpg\")
Players participate in last year\u2019s Strong and Coura\u2019Jess Foundation\u2019s coed softball tournament. The fifth annual tournament on Aug. 22 honors Jessica Rutkowski and her mission to help other cancer patients. (Courtesy of Sam Donahue)<\/p>\n
Both Mills and Donahue remember Rutkowski for the kind, strong and courageous individual she was.<\/p>\n
\u201cShe had a way of making an impression on people and bringing happiness to those around her. Even while she was going through treatments, she continued to show up for the people and activities she loved,\u201d Donahue said.<\/p>\n
\u201cAlthough the tournament continues to grow and attracts teams who may not have had the opportunity to know her personally, we always want the heart of the day to remain focused on honoring Jess and celebrating her legacy,\u201d Donahue said.<\/p>\n
The foundation is also looking for donations of gift baskets, raffle items or concession stand items for the tournament.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe will take basket donations up until day of,\u201d Mills said. Those interested in dropping off a basket can contact Mills at 570-702-3166.<\/p>\n
There is also a raffle to win 18 tickets for the Scranton\/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders NBT Box Suite for a Sept. 17 game. All proceeds go to the Strong and Coura\u2019Jess Foundation.<\/p>\n
For those who can\u2019t attend the softball tournament, check out The Strong & Coura\u2019Jess Foundation Facebook page for other fundraisers, how to donate and to learn more about the nonprofit\u2019s mission. For more information, email strongandcourajessfoundation@gmail.com.<\/p>\n
If you go<\/p>\n
What: The Strong and Coura\u2019Jess Foundation\u2019s fifth annual co-ed softball tournament<\/p>\n
When: Saturday, Aug. 22<\/p>\n
Where: Throop Little League Fields, Sanderson Street, Throop. The public is invited to attend.<\/p>\n
Info: Visit The Strong & Coura\u2019Jess Foundation Facebook page or email strongandcourajessfoundation@gmail.com.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"When people think of Jessica Rutkowski, strong is the first word they think of. The Strong and Coura\u2019Jess…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":268637,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[15],"tags":[201,3052,28,178,180,179,3104,3053,3054],"class_list":["post-268636","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-scranton","tag-lackawanna-county","tag-midvalley","tag-pennsylvania","tag-scranton","tag-scranton-headlines","tag-scranton-news","tag-throop","tag-valley-advantage","tag-valley-advantage-news"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/268636","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=268636"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/268636\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/268637"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=268636"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=268636"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=268636"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}