About the Foundation
The non-profit, Jester & Pharley Phund was founded in 2000. It was started after the overwhelming national response to David Saltzman’s illustrated book The Jester Has Lost His Jingle. The Jester was David’s senior project at Yale University. Before his death from cancer at 22 in 1990, his family promised him that his book would be published as he envisioned it and that its universal message of hope, laughter and self-empowerment would be shared with children coping with cancer and other illness. Barbara and JoeSaltzman, David’s parents, currently live in Luanda Bay. They made the decision to bypass the major publishing houses and publish it themselves.
“We wanted to make sure that David’s work received the attention to detail and commitment to quality in its production that David brought to its art and words,” says David’s brother, Michael. “And that takes a level of time, dedication and care that we felt only we could give it.”
David’s mother, Barbara Saltzman adds “We wanted to publish the book ourselves to ensure that it would be printed with the quality of a fine-arts volume, that it will always remain in print and will be made available to the children David wanted to reach.” The Saltzmans established The JesterCo., Inc., in 1994 as a family corporation to make David’s book a reality.
The Jester & Pharley Phund
CELEBRATING THE JESTER’S 25TH ANNIVERSARY
Isolated kids and adults nationwide have been turning to David’s whimsical tale of finding laughter inside ourselves to get through days that have been lonely, sad, upsetting and just plain confusing. David’s optimism, hope and love of life in the face of life-threatening illness continue to help families cope with uncharted territory.
Medical professionals report that The Jester book and doll are especially appreciated by their patients now. One child told us, “I’m never alone when The Jester & Pharley are with me.” Notes Dr. Niloufar Tehrani, director of Harbor-UCLA Medical Center’s Primary Care Clinic in Torrance, CA, “The books are treasured by our patients and families, many of whom are either hospitalized for chronic diseases and/or who face a myriad of socio-economic challenges, especially during times of crisis as posed by the current pandemic. The beautiful story and message from The Jester can greatly encourage a child who is dealing with a significant illness.”
Adds Harmony Jackson, lead child life specialist at Valley Presbyterian Hospital in Van Nuys, CA, “Our patients are often hospitalized for days at a time and endure several procedures, surgeries and tests. During this time of COVID-19, many of our young patients are unable to have in-person visits from their brothers and sisters and friends. Having The Jester book and doll provides humor, laughter, normalization, increases patient coping and encourages patients to read. When a school-age child is admitted to the hospital they will find a Jester book and Jester & Pharley Doll on their bed.”As soon as COVID-19 shuttered schools and kids began studying at home, educators nationwide took The Jester online. “When the onsite spring 2020 literacy and outreach programs were shut down, we enthusiastically came together to come up with creative ways to inspire students to read, so we started a Read-A-Thon” says Barbara. “Students were encouraged to read as many pages as possible during a three- to six-week Jester Read-A-Thon to donate Jester books and dolls to local hospital patients.”
To learn more about this valuable organization or
to make a donation:
310-544-4733
www.thejester.org
