The 11th Annual Jelly Bean Jump Up
Jelly Bean was an amazing tri-colored Corgi who I had the honor of spending 17 great years with. She brought me so much joy, caring companionship, and comfort over the years. Jelly Bean helped me through any number of hard times and she showed me what resilience could be like as she worked through her own medical challenges over the years. Over the years she taught me about unconditional love and how to live life happily and fully every day. For most of her life, Jelly Bean ran with me each afternoon. Even now, many years later, I can’t help but smile as I think about her positive, generous-of-spirit presence.
The grief that followed Jelly Bean’s death on May 27, 2015, was very difficult for me to deal with. Anyone who has lost a dog they loved like that will likely know the feeling. In an effort to make something positive out of the pain of her passing, we decided to start a fundraiser in her memory. At the suggestion of Marsha Ricevuto, who helped care for Jelly Bean over the years, we named it “The Jelly Bean Jump Up.” We decided that we would use the Jump Up to raise money for SafeHouse Center, the local shelter for victims of domestic abuse here in Washtenaw County, for a few reasons. Providing safe spaces for victims of domestic abuse is so critical in modern society, Tammie and I live very close to SafeHouse, and many members of the SafeHouse staff would see me and Jelly Bean out and about each afternoon as left for, or returned from, our run.
For many people trapped in violent home situations with no place to go, SafeHouse offers exactly what its name implies: a safe shelter that takes in those in need. With the current state of the country, with so much funding being cut from not-for-profit organizations that help those in need, and with tensions up nationwide in what writer Elif Shafak calls the “Age of Anxiety,” victims of domestic abuse are even more at risk than usual. Which means that supporting SafeHouse Center and other comparable causes has become even more important than ever.
Jelly Bean Jump Up 2026 Calendar
This calendar features photos of a dozen or so local dogs and cats, including a few of Ari’s! Dollar Bill Printing generously donates the printing work, so the entire $20 purchase price of each calendar goes directly to SafeHouse.
The Jelly Bean Jump Up calendars are available for sale at the Coffee Company, Deli, and Roadhouse. If you live out of town and want to buy some calendars to be shipped, email Melaina Bukowski, coordinator of our community giving program, at [email protected].
Special Event: 11th Annual Jelly Bean Jump Up Dinner
We officially wrap up our annual fundraiser in support of SafeHouse Center with a special dinner at Zingerman’s Roadhouse and an online silent auction.
This year’s event is focused on an ingredient beloved by humans and pups alike—BACON!
We’ve had the great pleasure of cooking, serving, and eating Nueske’s applewood smoked bacon every day at Zingerman’s for over 40 years. So we’re understandably thrilled to welcome our friends from Nueske’s for a very special evening featuring what we think is the best bacon you’ll ever eat. Chef Bob has created an incredible multi-course dinner showcasing just how good Nueske’s smoked bacon is in a variety of ways. Join us to hear stories about what the Nueske’s family does best—bacon.
Tuesday, March 31 at 7:00 pm
Zingerman’s Roadhouse
2501 Jackson Ave
Ann Arbor, MI
