Early in life, Pitt quarterback Phil Jurkovec saw firsthand the kind of impact specialized care can have on young children.
Jurkovec’s younger brother, Sebastian, was born 13 weeks premature, weighing 2 pounds, 2 ounces.
“His chance for survival was extremely slim,” Jurkovec said.
Jurkovec recalled ever-present consternation on the part of his parents, Jim and Sara.
“It was extremely stressful for my parents the first two years,” Jurkovec said. “(Sebastian) couldn’t eat until he was 4. I remember around-the-clock nursing care at home. He was in and out of the hospital his first few years of life, attached to tubes and everything.”
Thankfully, Sebastian Jurkovec, now a healthy 20-year-old, persevered, thanks in large part to the care he received at UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh in Lawrenceville.
Forever grateful for the care his brother received and a desire to give back to the community led Phil Jurkovec to launch his “5 For Kids” fundraising challenge, directly benefiting the Children’s Hospital’s neonatal intensive care unit (NICU).
Jurkovec, the former Pine-Richland standout who joined Pitt this past offseason after three years at Boston College and two at Notre Dame, announced the initiative Thursday afternoon on the sixth floor of Children’s Hospital.
Joined Thursday by fellow Panthers quarterbacks Christian Veilleux, David Lynch, Jake Frantl, Ty Dieffenbach and Nate Yarnell, plus linebacker Shayne Simon and tailback C’Bo Flemister, Jurkovec hopes to raise $100,000 by the end of Pitt’s 2023 campaign.
Jurkovec had the support of several teammates today: fellow QBs Christian Veilleux, David Lynch, Jake Frantl, Ty Dieffenbach and Nate Yarnell plus LB Shayne Simon and RB C’Bo Flemister pic.twitter.com/Ooo1bGglkk
— Justin Guerriero (@GuerrieroTrib) July 13, 2023
“Our NICU provides care for some of the tiniest, sickest and most fragile patients in the entire healthcare system,” said Dr. Jen Kloesz, director of UPMC Children Hospital of Pittsburgh’s Division of Newborn Medicine.
“Support from donors ensures that our NICU provides care that goes way beyond beds, machines and monitors.”
Jurkovec follows in the footsteps of several of his Panthers teammates, current and former, who have sought to use their positions and platforms to make a difference in the community.
Senior defensive lineman David Green is pledging to trim his signature dreadlocks in support of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Western Pennsylvania. Last year, defensive lineman Deslin Alexandre raised more than $50,000 in support of children in his hometown of Cap-Haitien, Haiti.
But perhaps most of all, Jurkovec seeks to emulate the success of former Pitt long snapper Cal Adomitis, whose “Cal’s Kids” drive in 2021 raised $115,000 for UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh.
“I was at Boston College, and I would see Cal, how much he was raising,” Jurkovec said. “I just thought it was so cool and that I’d love to do something like that.
“… Ever since I came to Pitt, I wanted to do something for the community, some sort of giving back. There’s such good examples of athletes in Pittsburgh who have done so.”
If Jurkovec’s $100,000 fundraising goal is met by the end of Pitt’s football season, a celebration will be held with community supporters and patient families, with details to be announced.
To make a donation or for more information on the “5 For Kids” drive, click here.
