Jayden Courtney is a visionary that founded Jayden’s Joy Foundation, a 501c3 organization and division of S.E.E. Foundation, in 2017. The goal of her organization is to encourage participation in community-based activities that empower kids to embrace their inner JOY and bring JOY to the lives of others. Her motto is “let kids be kids, while enjoying the freedom to experience the J.O.Ys of life without abuse”. This brings her J.O.Y.!

For Jayden, a successful life begins with love, belonging, laughter, having fun, and just simply being a kid. She has a passion for advocating for vulnerable citizens to live a life of joy, free from abuse. The Jayden’s Joy organization has partnered with Beyond Our Abilities (B.O.A.) Special Games to promote community inclusion of people with special needs. This event featured “unified games” in track and field that included “Tug of Unity “, a tug-of-war competition where those who serve in the local police department tugged against those who serve in the fire department. This event was epic! It brought together people of all ages, races, and abilities for a day of fun. 

Jayden also assisted her mom in planning the B.O.A. Concert, an event that placed performers with special needs on the same platform as professional artists and musicians. In addition to helping to coordinate the event, Jayden herself graced the stage with a contemporary dance routine and joined in an integrated ensemble, performing to the song, “Father Can You Hear Me”. Over 450 members of the community and local group homes who attended the event  joined the S.E.E. Foundation and Jayden’s Joy Foundation in celebrating the spirit of believing that we all have gifts; it is our duty to help each other “Be All That They Can Be”.    

When Jayden is not helping with community events, she enjoys hanging out with her friends and family. She has a love for tennis and dance. Currently she is embracing the teaching of choreography to individuals with special needs, in which she infuses dance into an eclectic variation of movement, joyful expressions, and behavioral therapy. 

A former competitive gymnast, who was affectionately named as the “Beam Queen”, Jayden is a member of the National Junior Honor Society and a former winner of the Little Miss AHCAC competition. Even after all of this, she will tell you nothing compares to spending time with her family, close friends and simply just being a kid.