Scotts Valley issues proclamation recognizing Jacob’s Heart and its pediatric cancer support services

Scotts Valley City presented a proclamation to Jacob’s Heart to recognize the nonprofit’s services for families of children with cancer and to honor children who have died of pediatric cancer.

Heidi Boynton, executive director of Jacob’s Heart, accepted the proclamation and described the organization’s services, including guaranteed transportation to appointments, meal and housing support, and case management for families facing childhood cancer. “Every week, we get a call with a child who's facing the unimaginable,” Boynton said, and she told the council Jacob’s Heart currently supports more than 450 families across Santa Cruz, Monterey, San Benito and Santa Clara counties, and has served over 3,000 families historically. She added the organization welcomed the city’s recognition because proclamations “bring their voices to their community when they are too tired, too overwhelmed, or too little, or too sick to speak for themselves.”

The mayor and councilmembers thanked the organization and noted the city’s long-standing support. No formal council action or appropriation was taken during the proclamation; the item was presented as part of the meeting’s opening ceremonial recognitions.