Founding our nonprofit was never a consideration for our president, Tonianne VanDerveer. Not until her husband, Jamie VanDerveer passed away from cancer at the age of 50. Jamie, was a United States Marine. To say that he was proud of that achievement would be an understatement. He valued his time in the Corp. and used what he learned in the Corp throughout his life. Semper Fidelis, always faithful, is how Jamie lived his personal life and his professional life. He embodied it. Especially when it concerned his fellow brother and sister Veterans and active-duty troops. He respected and honored all branches of the military.

When Jamie was diagnosed in January of 2019, he faced cancer as he faced the battlefield in the Middle East, with grit and determination. Improvise, adapt and overcome were daily conversations. He never said why me, never complained not once and continued to work until he physically could not. While he was in treatment in New York City, Jamie would ask his treating chemo nurses, “do you know who Charlie’s Angels are?” Nine times out of ten they would say,”yes.” He would hand them a Guardian Angel bracelet that The Rosary is the Way gave him made by his sister-in-law and say, “well now you are one of Jamie’s Angels and you need to take really good care of me.” Tonianne never knew the importance of that statement at the time.

Two weeks before Jamie passed away on November 13th, 2019, he said to his wife that she needed to buy toys. Her response was, “we don’t need toys, our kids our grown.” He told Tonianne that he had been buying toys for the USMC Toys for Tots campaign since his return to the states, some 25 + years. She brushed it off as she was engrossed in his care.

Before Jamie’s services, the family was together, and Tonianne told her family members of Jamie’s patriotic gift giving to those less fortunate. That’s when Operation Jamie’s Angels was created. Tonianne and her Niece started the first of many toy drives out of her store, The Pretty Pink Rooster, in honor and memory of Jamie’s devotion to his Brother’s and Sisters. To date we have delivered over 12,000 toys to the Picatinny Arsenal. That’s 12,000 children that would not have gotten toys.

We participate every year in the Semper Fi 5k’s in Seaside NJ, since Jamie left us. A charity he held with great regard. We have won consistently for fastest team and largest team to date. 42 angels ran last year in honor and memory of our favorite Marine. Our “arsenal” of Angels continues to grow each year.

Operation Jamie’s Angels continues to model itself after its namesake. James “Jamie” VanDerveer. Tonianne is turning pain into purpose by helping returning Veterans and their families.

God Bless America.

God Bless Jamie

God Bless our Angels.