On September 12, 2025, the greens of Rock Manor Golf Course in Delaware came alive with laughter, conversation, and the familiar clink of golf clubs as over 150 participants gathered for the inaugural MJ33 Forever Memorial Golf Tournament. The event was more than just a fundraiser; it was a heartfelt tribute to a man who touched countless lives as a father, husband, coach, and friend—Matt Janicki Jr.—while also supporting pancreatic cancer awareness and research through Project Purple.
A Day on the Green
The sheer number of participants was remarkable, with golfing spots selling out two and a half months before the tournament. Golfers of all ages at the event, from seasoned players to beginners picking up clubs for the first time, found themselves united by a shared purpose, and from the first tee-off, the atmosphere was electric.
Between holes, participants paused to greet familiar faces and swap stories of Matt, some reconnecting for the first time since his funeral in 2018. “It was really cool to see everyone hugging, shaking hands, and talking about all the great times they’ve had with my dad in the past,” Matt’s son, Sam, reflects.
The diversity of people who showed up was astonishing, reflecting the many ways Matt had touched lives—as a coach, colleague, friend, and family man. High school teammates mingled with former players, coworkers laughed with golf buddies, and perhaps most powerfully, many of the kids Matt had coached returned as adults to play in the tournament in his honor.
“Seeing multiple generations and all the different parts of Dad’s life come together in one place was really special,” says his son, Matthew III. “Knowing all the roles he played in people’s lives and seeing them all culminate at a single event was really cool.”
Beyond the cool merchandise and branding the family had created for the event, the invisible threads of connection and remembrance were just as powerful. Daughter Marissa’s fiancé, Frank, and Matthew’s wife, Brianna, both of whom had never met Matt before his passing, felt deeply connected to him through the stories, laughter, and shared memories that day.
“You truly don’t know how great of a person someone is if you haven’t met them, but the next best thing is sharing stories and anecdotes of him,” Matthew shares. “It was a great way to make those who didn’t know him feel like they could still be a part of his life, and speaks volumes to them wanting to be there without even knowing him.” Marissa adds, “It’s like we’re bridging the past and present together because of him.”
Why a Golf Tournament?
The idea for the MJ33 Forever Memorial Golf Tournament began nearly a year before the inaugural event, in early September 2024. Matthew envisioned a golf tournament as a way to honor his father, preserve his legacy, and bring together everyone whose lives Matt had touched—a celebration of the impact he had made.
Matthew quickly rallied his family around the idea, holding weekly planning meetings, developing agendas, dividing responsibilities, and reaching out to Matt’s friends, colleagues, and fellow golf enthusiasts for guidance. “Before we knew it, it was going to be a real thing, and it was really cool to see it all come together,” Matthew recalls.
Support poured in from every corner: friends with event-planning experience offered advice, local business owners shared insights on sponsorships, and community members, each touched by Matt in different ways, eagerly contributed to the tournament’s success. “A lot of people who wanted to see this succeed because of my dad were very important contributors,” Matthew says.
The choice of a golf tournament was both personal and deliberate. Matt had long loved the game, playing alongside friends for years, and it perfectly reflected his spirit: inclusive, social, and rooted in camaraderie. Many participants had never golfed before, yet the event welcomed everyone, just as Matt had welcomed all players and friends into his teams and life.
While the Janicki family had participated in runs and walks for pancreatic cancer in the past, golf truly reflected Matt’s personality and passions. Unlike a traditional walk or run, it offered an immersive, interactive experience: engaging, social, and enjoyable for participants of all ages and skill levels.
“They’re doing something that they enjoy,” Donna, Matt’s wife, says. “Plus, you do it with your friends, you’re active, and you’re reminiscing while you’re there.” She also notes that the golf outing drew support from companies and businesses that, like the family, had been personally affected by pancreatic cancer.
Partnering with Project Purple strengthened that connection. As Marissa explained, “Project Purple truly took the time to get to know us, to hear what we had to say, and to learn about my dad.” This personal approach, combined with the organization’s mission of raising awareness and funding research, resonated with participants and sponsors alike.
But it wasn’t just about golf; Donna recalls meeting people involved in the event who explained that the large turnout and the amount raised weren’t remarkable for their own sake, but because it was for Matt: “It’s him as an individual—the number of people he knew and the lives he touched who wanted to come back.”
The Man Behind It All
Matt Janicki Jr. truly did it all. From being a devoted father and husband to coaching youth sports and mentoring friends and colleagues, he wore many hats with dedication, warmth, and humor. Those who knew him often remarked on his ability to connect with people of all ages and backgrounds, making everyone feel seen and valued.
He served in the Army National Guard for decades, developing a reputation not only for his dedication but also for his practical skills; he literally knew how to fix anything, from helicopters to backyard pools. “He was doing DIY before it was cool to be doing DIY stuff,” Matthew laughs.
Matt carried himself with charisma, a love for music and concerts, and a perpetually positive, carefree mindset. “He was always down to do something fun, and always taught us to live life to the fullest and go experience things,” Marissa shares. “But he always put his family first, no matter what.”
But what he was really well known in the community for, though, was being a coach. “In the spring, our family would be part of six teams at a time, but he coached them all,” Donna remembers, laughing. “It didn’t matter what sports he played, he coached it.”
It wasn’t just the amount of time he put into coaching, though, it was the dedication, even through hard times. Sam remembers that during his freshman year, even while undergoing chemotherapy, his dad would come straight from his appointments to coach football practice. “I think that speaks a lot to his heroism, that even during chemo, he still kept such an intensity and passion for sports and coaching.”
It was that same integrity that carried Matt through his pancreatic cancer diagnosis. After losing significant weight and experiencing concerning symptoms, Matt saw his family doctor, who ran several tests over a few weeks, but couldn’t determine the cause. A CAT scan was eventually ordered, though insurance delays meant it couldn’t be completed immediately.
Amid the uncertainty and testing delays, Donna noticed that Matt had become jaundiced. She insisted he be seen in the ER, where he was ultimately diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. Despite the frustration, the family remained focused on supporting Matt and ensuring he received the care he needed.
Even through treatment, he remained focused on his family, his coaching, and the people around him, showing the same strength and positivity that had defined his life. “He did everything that a father should do and more,” Matthew says. Matt Janicki Jr. passed away in 2018, but his spirit, dedication, and love continue to inspire everyone who knew him.
Legacy and Lessons
Reflecting on the success of the MJ33 Forever Memorial Golf Tournament, Marissa says, “We are this successful because of Dad, because of who he was and how much of an impact he had on everyone. This really is his legacy.”
The family is proud to share that the event raised over $45,000 for Project Purple, funding pancreatic cancer research. But the tournament wasn’t just about raising money: it also had the critical purpose of spreading awareness about pancreatic cancer and the importance of early detection. When Matt first became sick, his family faced countless obstacles, from insurance delays to doctors overlooking symptoms.
“I wish we had information at our fingertips,” Donna recalls. But once they found Project Purple, they realized they weren’t alone; there was a community ready to provide support, resources, and guidance, which give families the critical information they wish they had when Matt was first diagnosed.
That wish has now become part of the family’s mission. During the event, they distributed papers listing the warning signs of pancreatic cancer, and spoke about the importance of recognizing symptoms early, noting how 83% of Americans cannot name a single symptom of pancreatic cancer.
As Marissa points out, “There are so many doctors who don’t recognize them. That’s the missing piece of information. If people can be educated, then people will know about it. We need to be talking about it. If we can prevent another family from going through what we did just by raising awareness, that would be the greatest accomplishment.”
Matthew reflects on how far-reaching the impact of the event can be: “There were around 150 people at the tournament, and each of them will go back and tell someone about it—at work, at dinner, with their families. They’ll say they were at a golf tournament for pancreatic cancer, and that’s 150 new conversations. That ripple effect is so powerful. My dad’s not here anymore, but through this event, he’s still raising awareness, still funding research, still making a difference.”
Donna hopes that the true takeaway from the tournament is inspiration, especially for the younger people who attended, to “go out and do good things with your life and make a difference somewhere”—just as her husband did throughout his life. All in all, the family truly believes that Matt was with them in spirit that day. Because, as Marissa says, “This isn’t just about what happened to him; it’s about what’s happening because of him.”
If you’d like to organize or take part in your own event to support Project Purple, like the Janicki’s did, visit our Community Events page.
