President, Jacksonville Jaguars Foundation
Mission
As the philanthropic arm of the Jacksonville Jaguars NFL franchise, the foundation provides grants and assistance for programs that support local economically and socially disadvantaged youth. Believing that children represent the future of Jacksonville, the foundation supports programs that provide a “hand up” not a “handout” to youth, with opportunities to help “level the playing field” for success.
Serving Jacksonville
The foundation was incorporated in 1994 and awarded its first grants in March 1995, well before the team played its first regular season home game in September 1995.
Those served
Greater Jacksonville area — Duval, Clay, Baker, St. Johns and Nassau counties.
Biggest challenge
Determining the best way to allocate our limited resources for the greatest impact, which means having to say no to a lot of worthy initiatives.
Biggest satisfaction
Knowing that children are receiving what their parents want for them to help prepare them to be successful in life. That might include a safe place for after-school hours and during the summer, good adult supervision, help with homework and tutoring, art and music classes, fitness and fun activities, computer labs, healthy snacks and meals, counseling, mental health services, domestic violence prevention and similar assistance.
We are successful when we help provide the support and tools in order that low-income youth can excel in school and outside of school and are prepared to successfully transition into college, a trade school or the military and break the cycle of poverty. And on game-day, who doesn’t love to see and wave to the kids with the yellow shirts in the Honor Rows? Those students are recognized for earning their seats through setting and achieving goals and through voluntary service. More than 4,000 kids participate annually in the Honor Rows.
Hometown
Born in Connecticut, I grew up in a small town in New Jersey called Denville, and worked as a kid on one of the small farms in the valley. It used to be toward the far edge of the commute to New York (although that subsequently has extended way past), and still has farms, black bears, fox, deer and wild turkeys.
First experience with community service
My family has been involved in community service since I can remember. One memorable experience was doing my first 20-mile Walk for Hunger in sixth or seventh grade. I remember the energy of hundreds of people walking together for a cause on that crisp fall Saturday, and finishing it, which wasn’t easy.
Your job before joining the Jacksonville Jaguars Foundation
I began my career in social services working for about 12 years with runaways, homeless youth and urban street youth at Covenant House, starting in New York, then working in Toronto, Canada, and Houston, Texas. My wife, Kelly, and I then started Covenant House’s programs for street children in Tegucigalpa, Honduras. Upon returning to the states, I was hired to start the Northeast Florida Exchange Club Center for the Prevention of Child Abuse, which served families in Jacksonville and Clay County. I started with the Jacksonville Jaguars Foundation in September 2000 as director of programs, became executive director in 2001 and was promoted to president in 2011.
Upcoming events
The foundation doesn’t hold fundraisers, but it receives $1 million annually from the team owners for grant-making and other programs in the community.
Contact information
For grants and other program information, visit the foundation pages at www.jaguars.com.