Jonathan Jones has never asked for help before. He didn’t ask now.
His friends and family are stepping in now due to the urgency of the situation as well as the immense impact on his quality of life. Please help us raise funds for a new, handicap-modified, specialty van that will allow him to continue being active both in the community and through his work of service, helping others as a counselor. We estimate the cost of a modified new van to be around $75,000. Every penny of your donations will support the van purchase. (If there are any extra funds from our fund-raiser, they will be earmarked for gasoline and future van service appointments.)
In July 2003, at the age of 26, Jonathan dove off a boat into murky water and shattered his C-5/6 cervical spine. Face-down and unable to move, he feared he might die. Fortunately, a nearby boater and his stepbrother saw what had happened, swam to his aid, and flipped him over so that he could breathe. After fighting through rehabilitation and tendon surgery that gave him limited use of his hands, Jonathan learned to navigate life in a motorized wheelchair and a specially equipped van.
Bolstered by his wry sense of humor and “never say quit” philosophy, he also went back to school, earning both an undergraduate and a Master’s degree while also meeting his work and life partner, Katie Pinholster.
Fast forward to the end of 2025 – December 27th.
Now a nationally certified counselor and a licensed professional counselor in the state of Georgia, Jonathan is genuine in his work helping others, but due to a severe illness, he suddenly found himself in the opposite situation, completely dependent on others.
Jonathan’s unstoppable spirit nearly met its match. A severe bout of influenza, followed by double pneumonia, a gnarly urinary tract infection, and bladder stones – ALL AT ONCE – sent him to the Intensive Care Unit of Northside Hospital in Atlanta. He was placed on a ventilator and given a feeding tube. The situation became dire. His partner Katie, along with his mom Donna and sister Jessica, stayed by his side. Loyal friends like Sally and Nigel Rowe, and countless others, were frequent visitors and pitched in at home. Candles were lit, but in true Jonathan form (and the indomitable spirit of the Morgan and Jones families), he slowly, stubbornly battled his way back!
That’s the good news. The bad news is that, as a self-employed Professional Counselor, he couldn’t work or earn money during his illness.
Even before his hospital stay, Jonathan was struggling to keep his old van running. The “Blue Beast” – an antique Dodge Ram – has been on its last leg for a while now. Jonathan’s wheelchair can no longer be locked into place behind the steering wheel, so that it must be secured with ratchet straps. One window is being held up by silver duct tape. The tires are badly worn. Multiple systems need expensive service. At times, the wheelchair ramp even stops working.
Please help Jonathan buy safe, reliable new transportation for his work commute. As a counselor, Jonathan specializes in helping those who are struggling with addiction, but he enjoys working with anyone in need, from young people to adults and couples. Working with teens at risk has been particularly rewarding for Jonathan and Katie, who met 20 years ago at Georgia State University, when they were both attending college to start second careers. Together, they are raising two rescued pups while running Pinholster Family Counseling.
In addition to his professional pursuits, Jonathan, a country boy at heart, loves raising vegetables and flowers in the garden behind his home. He and Katie also enjoy watching the hummingbirds that frequent their yard as well as the frogs that hang out in their barbeque grill. If the University of North Carolina Tarheels basketball team or the Atlanta Braves are playing on TV – look out!
Jonathan never hesitates to share his professional insights, deadpan humor, encouragement, and love with others.
Will you please help Jonathan remain productive by supporting the much-needed purchase of a new special-needs van? We hope to reach our $75,000 goal and buy Jonathan a new work vehicle so that he can get back to his fulfilling, productive life of service to others.
Thank you, from Jonathan’s closest friends and family – too many people to list, but please know how much you are all appreciated and the immense gratitude we all share for any amount given toward reaching the goal.