Driven by the grief in losing their 17 year old daughter, the Jade Lee Marasigan Charitable Fund was founded in December 2020 by Jade's parents — John and Soo Marasigan — as a way to help bridge the gaps in a medical system where adolescents are an underserved age group. Play for Jade Events Inc. was created in August 2022 to enable the Marasigan's to reach out to a wider range of donor support beyond their family and friends. Together with the elected, volunteer Board of Directors, they have provided the vision and purpose of the organization's mission to fundraise for the Jade Lee Marasigan Charitable Fund and raise awareness for mental health and suicide awareness. By building the financial base of the Charity, we can help continue to provide services to young patients needing treatment for their mental health in the hopes of saving them from a similar set of circumstances that Jade had faced.

Due to the strict compliance guidelines in California, it became necessary to pursue the creation of a non-profit entity so that we could solicit donations and corporate sponorships for our planned events. The directors of the organization were selected as friends and parents, but also for their special relationship with Jade, skillsets, and their unique perspectives on mental health and the affects of surviving suicide.

Our success will be contingent on the visibility, generosity, and participation of advocates, community involvement, and increased awareness at our events. Our validation will be in knowing we are providing valuable resources to help individuals get through a rough patch so that they can thrive in their young lives.

On Saturday November 2, 2024, John Marasigan was invited by friends at AFSP to speak at the Pasadena Out of the Darkness Walk to share his lived experience of how suicide has affected him. As a multiple suicide loss survivor —  sister-in-law, Eliza (2011); daughter, Jade (2020); and high school buddy, Chad (2022) — and someone who has struggled with depression and anxiety throughout his life, John wants to inspire hope and encourage others to tell their stories, as well as those of their loved ones. 

All of the individuals serving on the Board of Directors are unpaid volunteers for Play For Jade Events, Inc. Each of the Directors were carefully considered due to their relationship with Jade and the Marasigan family, ties to the community, understanding of the importance of adolescent mental health and suicide prevention, and their commitment to the Mission of Play For Jade Events Inc. Play For Jade Events Inc. is an equal opportunity organization and will not allow discrimination based upon age, ethnicity, ancestry, gender, national origin, disability, race, size, religion, sexual orientation, socioeconomic background, or any other status prohibited by applicable law.

John Marasigan - Founder + President, Director | Jade's Father

Sooyeon Lee Marasigan - Treasurer + Secretary, Director | Jade's Mother

Despi Perros-Barrett - Director | Jade's Favorite School Teacher

Jung Kang - Director | Friend of the Family

Rick Woolsey - Director | Friend of the Family

Andrea Chasek (not in photo) - Director | Friend of the Family (elected 3/10/2024)

Former Directors
Clare Gardner - Director | Friend of the Family (resigned 3/10/2024)

Incorporation Date: 8/1/2022

EIN: 88-3573420

501(c)(3): Tax-Exempt Effective 8/1/2022

Public Charity Status: 170(b)(1)(A)(vi)

California State Charity Registration Number: CT0285371

California Entity: 5180873

California Tax Exemption: Effective 8/1/2022

California Raffle Registration: RF0015629 (2024)

California ABC RBS Certification: 3132622741