A parent’s worse nightmare…
On November 30, 2013, what began as a joyful Thanksgiving weekend with family turned into every parent's worst nightmare. While visiting relatives in New Smyrna Beach, 2-year-old Jake quietly slipped out a back door after dark and fell into the Intracoastal Waterway. Despite a desperate search and every effort by first responders, Jake could not be revived.
In an instant, our lives changed forever.
Jake's passing became the inspiration for the Live Like Jake Foundation. We are committed to raising awareness about childhood drowning prevention, providing financial and emotional support to families affected by drowning, and offering scholarships for lifesaving self-rescue swim lessons.
We share Jake's story with one hope: that another family never has to experience this unimaginable loss. If sharing his legacy saves even one child's life, then Jake's life continues to make a difference every day.
Meaning Behind "Live Like Jake"
Jake was a joyful, kind-hearted little boy who found happiness in the simplest things—nature, smiles, and time with the people he loved. His gentle spirit touched everyone he met and continues to inspire us every day.
After losing Jake, we asked ourselves what it truly means to Live Like Jake. To us, it means seeing the world through the eyes of a child: finding joy in life's simple moments, choosing kindness over judgment, sharing smiles, creating your own happiness, and being grateful for what you have.
Jake's legacy reminds us that even the smallest acts of kindness can make a lasting impact. Through the Live Like Jake Foundation, we honor his life by spreading hope, saving lives through drowning prevention, and encouraging others to live with compassion, gratitude, and joy—just as Jake did.
The Live Like Jake Foundation exists to raise awareness for childhood drowning prevention, to provide financial and emotional support for families who have experienced a drowning accident and to provide scholarships for self-rescue swim lessons for families that cannot afford them.
