Who's Sam?
SamJam is more than just an event—it’s a powerful journey of perseverance, gratitude, and paying it forward. It all began with one man, Sam Oswald, whose story is nothing short of inspiring.
At just four years old, Sam underwent spinal fusion surgery. He fought through months of grueling recovery, learning to walk again while also receiving a life-changing diagnosis—neurofibromatosis (NF), a neurological disorder affecting 1 in every 2,500 people. Though you may not have heard of NF, it impacts more individuals than Muscular Dystrophy, Tay-Sachs, and Huntington’s disease combined.
Sam’s path has been anything but easy. Over the years, he has faced—and conquered—countless surgeries, including brain tumor removals, bone grafting, knee surgery, eye surgery, and chemotherapy for a rare tumor in his leg. Despite these challenges, Sam remains a beacon of positivity, living independently and inspiring everyone he meets.
Now, at 40 years old, Sam isn’t looking for sympathy—he’s looking to make a difference! After everything he’s been through, he’s determined to give back, support others battling NF, and raise awareness for a disorder that could impact someone you know.
And what better way to do it than through music?
That’s how SamJam was born—a high-energy, feel-good music event that unites people for an incredible cause. Over the past nine years, with the help of our amazing supporters and sponsors, we’ve raised nearly $90,000 for NF Midwest. But we’re not stopping there!
Join us for SamJam 2025: The Encore! as we celebrate 10 years of music, community, and impact. This year, we’re aiming higher than ever—let’s break the $100,000 mark and make this the biggest and best SamJam yet!
Come for the music. Stay for the mission. Leave knowing you’ve made a real difference.
Let’s rock, give back, and change lives—together.
What's NF?
SamJam is organized by SamJam4NF, Inc., a non-profit organization supporting NF reseach and assistance to NF patients and their families. Proceeds from SamJam are used to benefit NF Midwest.
Neurofibromatosis (NF) is a complex, often devastating set of genetic disorders with possible complications throughout the entire body that may also hold the genetic mystery to a host of other human ailments. Affecting approximately 1 in 2,500 people or 2 million people worldwide, it appears equally in all races, ethnic groups and both sexes.
A common complication for a person with NF is the growth of tumors on the nerves anywhere in and on the body. There are currently several separate, distinct disorders classified as neurofibromatosis. This includes neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1), neurofibromatosis type 2 (NF2), and schwannomatosis. Others are also being identified.
If you or a loved one has NF, it is vital to be armed with a strong knowledge and understanding about the disorder and to see an NF doctor who is not only knowledgeable but also very experienced in the treatment of NF.
More information will be available at SamJam, or go to www.nfmidwest.org for additional information and resources about NF.