JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Although many feared an NFL lockout was eminent this year, fall is upon us and the season has officially begun. To kickoff their season, the Jacksonville Jaguars hosted more than 500 youth, who earned a seat at their opening game versus the Tennessee Titans, as part of their Honor Rows program.
According to the Jaguars Foundation website, the Honor Rows program began in 1995 as a way to “…provide goal-setting programs for economically and socially disadvantaged youth to earn a seat to a Jaguars home game.” To earn a game day ticket, youth ages nine to seventeen participate in a program that runs a minimum of eight weeks that helps them set and achieve goals in areas of personal and academic improvement. The program encourages youth to eat nutritionally, become more physically active, provide volunteer service in their communities, and also requires participants to take a pledge abstaining from the use of tobacco products, alcohol and illegal drugs. A parent or guardian co-signs the pledge card and agrees to support their youth to help ensure they stay committed.
Since the program’s inception, support from parents, mentors and agency staff has helped more than 90% of youth participants meet their goals and earn a game day ticket. More than 60,000 youth, staff, parents and volunteers have been guests as a part of the program. 5,000 youth will be honored and attend a game this year.
Additionally, youth honorees are provided with a complimentary meal, shirt, cap, pledge card, and a certificate of completion. Wayne and Delores Barr Weaver, the Jaguars team owners, also lead the Jaguars Cheerleaders and fans in a wave during the game to congratulate and recognize the youth for their outstanding achievements.
For their continued support and recognition of youth making a difference, we also recognized and award the Jaguars Foundation Honor Rows program with a well deserved gold star!
- For more information, please visit: http://www.jaguars.com/news/article.aspx?id=10502
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