ABOUT US

In 2012, Denise Jacobson was a 4th grade teacher and shared a classroom with one of her best friends, Tiffany Thompson. In February 2012, Tiffany was diagnosed with Stage IV Her2+ breast cancer. As you can imagine, this news changed the lives of many. Tiffany began treatments to eradicate the cancer, while Denise did everything she could to support Tiffany through this difficult time. At the end of the school year, Tiffany decided to end her teaching career to allow her body to heal. Denise also took a year of leave to be available for Tiffany. During that year, Denise realized that teaching was not what God had in store for her next. Denise quit her teaching job and started searching for what she would do next.  

While searching for where the next journey would lead, Denise volunteered at a variety of organizations. While volunteering, Denise was looking for a need that had yet to be met within the Indianapolis community. She wasn’t looking for anything specific, but really just exploring. While volunteering one day at the Ronald McDonald House in Indianapolis, the manager expressed that they are only able to serve the families of sick children.  However, families of adults request to stay, and they have to be turned away. Denise thought that creating something like the Ronald McDonald House was way out of her league, so she just pushed the thought aside and went along with her day. 

On a bike ride, later that evening, Denise was telling her husband, Scott, about her day. She mentioned what she was told by the manager that day.  Having a background in real estate, Scott suggested the idea of buying a larger house, renovating it, and allowing people to stay in the house. This is where it all began. Denise wanted to share the love of Christ with others by opening a home in downtown Indianapolis to give cancer patients and their families a place to stay when they are coming from out of town for cancer treatments.   

After that evening, Denise came up with a group of ten friends from all areas of her life that she thought might have the desire to help with this “crazy idea”. One evening in May 2013, Denise & Scott hosted their friends for dinner, and with everyone crowded in their living room, explained this new idea and asked for each of them to prayerfully consider helping with the cause. Every single person in the room, along with most of their spouses, eagerly agreed to come alongside Denise to see if this dream could become a reality.

On June 19, 2013, the SON Foundation was officially registered business. A 6-bedroom house in downtown Indianapolis was purchased in September of the same year. On December 23, 2013 (Denise’s birthday), the SON Foundation was granted the official 501(c)(3) status in record time.