Jacksonville Jaguars owner Shad Khan announced Tuesday that the team and the Boy Scouts of America-North Florida Council are partnering to kick off the “Every Boy Deserves a Chance” matching gift campaign. The Jaguars Foundation will match, dollar-for-dollar, every donation made and up to $100,000.
“Scouting had a tremendous impact on my life as a boy growing up in Pakistan. Indeed, I can frankly say that my scouting experiences played an absolutely vital role in preparing me for life,” said Khan, an Eagle Scout.
Khan said his most memorable scouting experience was when he attended the 1963 International Boy Scout Jamboree in Athens, Greece. He was the youngest in the group, turning 13 years old, as he and his fellow Scouts went on a six-week trek through various countries by land and water to reach Athens in time for the Jamboree.
The campaign is the North Florida Council’s first capital and endowment campaign. It will support the urban ScoutReach program that helps ensure that any boy can benefit from Scouting, regardless of his socioeconomic situation. It will also support infrastructure improvements at Camp Shands, including a new aquatic center, campsite shelters and housing.
The endowment will help secure the Council’s long-term future for generations of new Scouts.
When the campaign ends and major gifts are added to this phase, the North Florida Council hopes to raise $6.5 million.
“We are thrilled to partner with the Jaguars for this campaign. The Jaguars and the Scouts have had a great relationship including the team’s sponsorship of the ScoutReach Sports Luncheon from 2009-12 that has raised $40,000 to $60,000 annually in support of the Urban ScoutReach program,” said North Florida Council Scout Executive and CEO Jack Sears Jr.
“This new partnership takes us to the next level. The goal during this phase of the campaign is to raise $250,000 from our scouting families and friends. However, with the addition of the $100,000 Jaguars match, the total amount raised will now be $350,000,” he said.
Brian Sexton, the team’s game-day radio announcer since the team’s inaugural season, is the honorary chair of the grassroots campaign.
“I’m honored to help a cause so close to my heart. I have striven to exemplify the values I learned in the Scouting program throughout my life and now I get to share that experience with my sons. This campaign will help ensure that many more youth can have the same Scouting opportunities that my family and I have,” said Sexton, also an Eagle Scout whose sons are also in the scouting program.
For more information about the campaign, contact the North Florida Council at 388-0591 or email [email protected].