When Grief Ignites a Mission
Ickey and Chandra Woods went from heartbreak to hope after losing their 16‑year‑old son, Jovante, to complications from an asthma attack. The loss sparked a fire that would change the lives of countless children battling asthma.
The Heartbreak Behind the Foundation
- Jovante’s fight with asthma turned into a personal tragedy that shook the family to the core.
- The realization that the community lacked resources, education, and clear action plans sparked the desire for change.
- Instead of wallowing, Ickey and Chandra turned their sorrow into social activism.
Asthma: A Silent Threat
Asthma is the #1 chronic condition among U.S. kids, claiming an alarmingly 11 lives a day. For the Woods family, that number was one too many.
They know that statistics are just numbers. Behind those numbers lies a child’s breath, a parent’s worry, and a community’s quiet defeat. Their mission? Stop the tragedy cycle by creating awareness, education, and research.
Turning Pain Into Purpose
“We started the foundation to show everyone how serious asthma is,” Ickey notes with conviction. “We’ll never lose a kid to asthma again. That’s what I do full–time.”
The foundation has become a cornerstone of asthma advocacy, pushing for better management and understanding. By teaming up with schools and local communities, they promote early detection programs that spot at‑risk children before it’s too late.
What They’re Doing Now
- Partnering with Children’s Hospitals and leading Pulmonary & Asthma research centers to spark new treatments.
- Creating engaging educational strategies to teach kids how to handle asthma.
- Building support circles that keep families informed and empowered.
- Continuing the #NeverAgain initiative to draw national attention to asthma’s plight.
From the depths of loss, the Jovante Woods Foundation took shape—and with it, a bold promise: to turn every ounce of grief into a movement that saves lives.
