September Smiles
September Smiles is a non-profit organization, founded by widows of September 11th, whose mission is to pay kindness forward in gratitude for the overwhelming kindness following the tragedy. September Smiles offers practical and moral support to other families facing the unexpected loss of a spouse, partner, or parent.
To order your free copy of our book,
What Am I Supposed to Do Now?,
please send an e-mail to JennaJD@optonline.net.
Executive Biographies
  |
Jenna Jacobs-Dick, Executive Director
Jenna Jacobs was 27 years old and nine months pregnant when her husband, Ariel Louis Jacobs, died attending a conference at Windows on the World on the 106th floor of Tower One. He died five days before his 30th birthday, six days before the birth of the couple’s only child, and twelve days before their first wedding anniversary. He had recently taken a new position as Executive Vice President of the Americas for Caplin Systems, Inc. after a swift rise to stardom at FutureSource. Ari could be described as charming, athletic, witty, smart, loving, silly, confident, winning, and a whole dictionary full of wonderful qualities. But, above all else, he was happy. In life and in death, Ari inspires people to live as fully and as effervescently as he did. His enthusiasm was matched only by his generosity, and that spirit is the inspiration for September Smiles.
Jenna was raised in suburban Minnesota, and moved to New York at the age of twenty to pursue a dream of being on Broadway – a dream that was fulfilled in February 2003. She met Ari, moved with him to Los Angeles in 1999 and then back to New York the following year, purchasing their home in Westchester and finally “settling down” and enjoying family, friends, work, and marriage. After a career in Human Resources, Jenna is now a stay-at-home mom and “professional volunteer.”
Jenna remarried in March 2004. She and Gabriel, along with their dogs, Marty and Nicky, now share a new love and a new home with Jenna’s husband, Chad, and his daughter, Madison. A baby boy is expected in March 2005.
  |
Julie McMahon, Director
Julie McMahon is the mother of Matthew and Patrick McMahon. Her husband, Robert (Bobby) was a fireman from Ladder 20 in Soho, one of the first companies to respond to the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001. Bobby perished in his attempts to save others in Tower 1, and life for Julie, Matthew and their unborn son, Patrick, was forever changed. Matthew was 19 months old at the time, and Julie was five months pregnant with Patrick. At the age of 35, Bobby lived a full life. He was a man of many passions: travel, photography, art, cabinetmaking, snowboarding, but most of all his family. Julie proclaims to this day that life with Bobby kept getting better day by day.
Julie returned to work part-time as a Pediatric Nurse Practitioner at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center where she works in the Pediatric Observation Unit. She finds working with these patients very "life affirming", and feels she is able to bring more to her work now than before 9/11. She continues to run a support group for parents of children who have died from cancer, something she has done for over 7 years. Julie also maintains her position as the Nursing Director of Happiness is Camping, a camp for children with cancer where she and Bobby met in 1994. Within the first year-and-a-half following Bobby's death, Julie paid tribute to him by dedicating a giant swing in his name at the camp as well as naming the street on which she and her children currently live "FF Robert McMahon Way". Julie is the person she is because of her husband, and she strives to keep Bobby's spirit alive. Even in death, he has continued to be a motivating factor in her and her children's lives.
  |
Kim Statkevicus, Director
Kim Statkevicus is a stay-at-home mom of sons, Tyler and Derek Chase. Tyler was only 13 months old when his father, Derek, died and Kim was halfway through her pregnancy with Chase. Derek knew that he was to have another son, and he and Kim had decided on the name Chase. Derek was employed as an equity analyst at the firm Keefe, Bruyette and Woods in Two World Trade Center. Unfortunately, he was at work on September 11, 2001, and perished in the attacks on the World Trade Center. Even though he was only 30 years old, Derek died at a time when he was truly happy with his life-his family, career and friends. An intelligent, generous, and fun-loving young man, he found humor in everything. He adored his family above all else and worked hard to make their dreams come true. Derek would be honored by those that have helped Kim during her difficult time, and would be proud of her for helping others in a similar situation.
Prior to Derek's death and Tyler's birth, Kim taught English classes at the local community college and was a freelance writer. Derek's death has become a catalyst for pursuing her hopes and dreams and not waiting for tomorrow. Seize the day is her new motto; life is too short not to. Kim and her sons, with their dog, Squirt, have relocated to North Carolina where Kim is pursuing a Masters degree in Divinity at Duke University. Her goal is to become a spiritual director. In addition, this summer (2005) Kim will be marrying her new love, Brian.