Consisting of approximately 200 young people ranging from ages 5 to 17 years old, The Berkeley Junior Jackets program has quickly become one of the premier youth sports programs in the Bay Area.  Our program requires all participants to maintain academic and community service standards in order to participate, and we offer services for those participants in need of additional academic support.  We consider you to be a crucial part of our success.

Your financial support goes directly to funding equipment, specifically the costs of high-quality helmets for our participants, ages 5-14 years old.  Our commitment to health, safety, academics, and community service is what separates the program from other youth sports throughout the Bay Area.  Our goal is to raise $85,000 each season in order to offset the cost of health and safety equipment, as well as uniforms and travel expenses for our participants; 85% of whom receive partial or full scholarships to participate in The Berkeley Junior Jackets Football, Cheer, and Dance Teams.

The Junior Jackets program’s philosophy has been that athletics, academics, and service go hand in hand.  At every level, our programs seek to develop well-rounded young men and young ladies who learn not only the fundamentals of football, cheerleading, and dance, but also the importance of education in an atmosphere conducive to developing sound character while having a good time.  Your support enables us to continue our efforts and to increase our impact in the lives of our youth.

Through our focus on mentoring, academic preparation, sports education, violence prevention, performing arts, leadership, healthy eating choices and parental involvement, we remain committed to making a difference in urban communities across the Bay.  Most of our participants are high-risk youth from vulnerable communities.  We engage this demographic in academic support and life-skills activities.

Will you join us?  As a nonprofit corporation, your donation is tax deductible.  Whatever you can do will be appreciated.  Thank you for supporting the Young Lives Matter Foundation.

Sincerely, Lorenzo Grayson

YLM Foundation