According to records kept by Central Indiana Community Foundation JT'S HAND has raised more than $687,000, helping nearly 4,000 families throughout Central Indiana since its founding in 1998.  JT'S HAND is the only organization of its kind in the United States.  Our unique objective is to aid the families of the critically ill newborns and preemies by easing the burden of daily life.  We know how important it is for the families to be at their baby's bedside.  The baby is much more likely to get healthier and stronger with the care of his/her loved ones.

The cost of having a baby in a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) can be overwhelming to the new parent.  Parents typically are not expecting their baby to be admitted in a NICU.  Not only is having a critically ill newborn emotionally difficult, it is often financially straining.  Some babies stay in the NICU as little as one day while others may be patients for months.

JT'S HAND assists these babies and their families in many ways.  We provide parking, gas or bus vouchers so that the families can be at the hospital.  We pay for basic phone services so that the hospital is always only a phone call away.  Some parents may need assistance with the cost of medically necessary baby equipment or breast pumps.  Each family's needs are different.

JT'S HAND learns of these families through the social workers housed in the Central Indiana hospitals.  The social workers identify the needs of the families and then file a request to our office.  Our organization contributes all funds directly to the service provider.

Our desire is that the families can devote their time to be with their baby by easing their other worries.  There is nothing that compares to holding the tiny hand of your baby and looking into his/her eyes.  Thank you for helping to make this possible.

Because families need support emotionally and financially, Jon and Tanya Hand founded JT's HAND -- A Neonatal Fund in honor of their son, Jon Thomas Hand, Jr. (JT). Born more than 15 weeks early on September 23, 1995, JT was taken from his parents at the tender age of 28 days. Out of their loss, the Hands turned grief into giving.