Jax businessman takes Experiencing God to heart

Creates foundation for pediatric patients

Nov 5, 2009
By STAFF

LAHEY

JACKSONVILLE (FBW)—Three years ago Jacksonville businessman Carldon Lahey made a contribution to Wolfson Children’s Hospital after reading a story about an 18-year-old patient with bone cancer who was raising money to help the hospital. That gift was the first step in beginning Christ’s Starfish Foundation to help children in pediatric hospitals and families of non-cancer pediatric patients.

Lahey traces the inspiration for Christ’s Starfish Foundation to his Sunday School class’ study of Experiencing God. Author Henry Blackaby urged his readers to look for where God is working and join Him. Lahey, a member of Faith Family Fellowship, a new Southern Baptist church, said the concept changed his life.

“I learned that God initiates everything and everything came from Him,” Lahey said. “I know that when God puts something in your hand, you run with it.”

Looking for a way to become more involved with Wolfson Children’s Hospital in Jacksonville, he learned the organization that provided Christmas gifts for patients disbanded. He founded Christ’s Starfish Foundation in March 2007 to meet that need.

The foundation’s name came from the story of a man walking on a beach and throwing beached starfish back into the surf, Lahey said. When the man was asked why he had embarked on such an impossible task, he replied, “Son, the one I just put back in the ocean appreciates it.”

Lahey intended initially for the foundation to serve pediatric cancer patients and their families, but a pediatric oncology specialist told him non-cancer patients need more help. The Jay Fund, established by former Jacksonville Jaguars Coach Tom Coughlin, already assists children with leukemia and other cancers, she said. Lahey also intended for the foundation to begin a “book mobile” ministry to homebound patients.

“God has intervened all over the place,” he said. “We’ve never passed out one book and we’ve never worked with one cancer patient’s family.”

For two years Christ’s Starfish Foundation has provided Christmas gifts for children hospitalized on the holiday. The 600 gifts given in 2007 doubled to 1,200 in 2008. Also, social workers at the hospital call on the foundation if a child’s illness has created financial problems for the family, Lahey said.

Recently, a family traveling from Oregon to south Florida stopped in Jacksonville because their baby became ill. Because of the travel delay, the father lost a job offer, and the family, including an 18-month-old, had to remain in Jacksonville. Christ’s Starfish Foundation paid for day care for the toddler. Over the past two years, other families have needed help to pay for rent, utilities or gas for their cars.

“We never look for somebody to help. We wait on the Lord to find the starfish, and then we throw them back in,” Lahey said. “We do nothing on our own.”

Along the way, Lahey has received help from the Cathy family of Chick-fil-A along with scores of individuals. His wife, Becky, and their three daughters—all volunteers with the North American Mission Board and international missions—help as their own careers permit. Meanwhile the work of Christ’s Starfish Foundation is expanding.

As he was hosting a fundraiser at a local Chick-fil-A, Lahey met members of the staff of WAY Radio station who later invited Lahey to host a radio program, “Journeys with Christ.” The 30-minute show that focuses on Christians’ personal testimonies is broadcast at 9:30 a.m. and 11 p.m. every Saturday at 550 AM, or at www.wayradio.org.

For more information on Christ’s Starfish Foundation, go to www.christstarfish.org.

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