Please share this link with your family, friends, community and faith-based organizations. Please also visit the Jackson family website (www.deseanjacksonsfoundation.org), to learn more about the sacrifices the Jackson family have made and the impact they continue to make as Bill Jackson’s legacy continues. DeSean Jackson and the DeSean Jackson Foundation are avid supporters of MGB Inc. (Men Giving Back) in Macon, GA and the impact that they have made in our community has truly been a blessing. – Kelvin B. Middleton, CEO, MGB Inc.
MGB INC. (Men Giving Back), a community-based initiative, in Macon, GA reached out to NFL All Pro, DeSean Jackson, of the Las Vegas Raiders, to support the Kings Park Community Center after school program, that was in dire need of brand new, culturally-diverse and gender-specific books for academic and cultural enrichment. The Kings Park Community Center coordinators said that Mr. Jackson’s donation will meet a critical gap in the academic inequity of disadvantaged youth in the marginalized community that the Kings Park Community Center serves through the after school program, proposed summer academic programs; and, preparing the program participants for college and life.
DeSean Jackson, Las Vegas Raiders, Wide Receiver and DeSean Jackson Foundation, CEO/Founder
The DeSean Jackson Foundation (“DJF”) was founded by DeSean Jackson and his mother, Gayle Jackson, in memory of his father, Bill, who died from Pancreatic Cancer in 2009 during DeSean’s rookie season with the Philadelphia Eagles, for Pancreatic Cancer Awareness and advocacy for inequity in access to quality healthcare and education in the predominantly Black and other marginalized communities. During Jackson’s 14-year career in the NFL, the Jacksons have been successful in expanding the reach of DJF in all of the NFL franchise markets where DeSean has played (Philadelphia Eagles, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Washington Football Team, Los Angeles Rams and Las Vegas Raiders) and his home town of Los Angeles. In addition, DeSean embraces opportunities to collaborate with present and former NFL players who desire to Inspire Change in their communities.
Our Vision: One Team, One Purpose
“Building a path out of poverty through educational equity”, states DeSean Jackson, “is a pillar of our non-profit focus on Education Equity for Kids in Need. Our purpose is as bold as my career moves on the field as it is urgent: To create systematic change, To ensure equal access to quality education and To empower all the children in need who we are privileged to serve.” It is imperative that we foster an ongoing love of reading-because reading is foundational and fundamental to everything we do; and, it is unconscionable that millions of children are growing up in book deserts without access to books and the opportunity to open up a world of possibilities, enabling more children to explore places far beyond their neighborhoods.
We have lots of help developing the new Kings Park Community Center Resource Center
MGB Inc. (Men Giving Back), a community-based, initiative founded by former USFL and NFL player, Kelvin Middleton, is the recipient of the prestigious NFL Foundation Players’ Community Service Match grant.
About the NFL Foundation Players’ Community Match Grant Program
This grant is designed to provide nonprofit organizations with funding of up to $5,000 on behalf of a current or former NFL player who has donated financially to a nonprofit organization doing work to better the community . This grant allows NFL players and Legends to help support broad community efforts through the work of nonprofit organizations. Areas of support include, but are not limited to, Disease Prevention and Awareness, Mental Health, Youth Health & Fitness, Military Appreciation, Disaster Relief, Domestic Violence & Sexual Assault, Character Education, Anti-Bullying, Animal Welfare, etc. In order to be eligible for match funding (1:1 match must be provided by the current or former NFL player applicant),
DeSean Jackson states that he chose MGB Inc. and its founder, Kelvin Middleton because of the exemplary work that they are doing in the community; and, his admiration for Middleton’s decision to return to Macon after his NFL career ended to make a difference in his community.
Furthermore, Gayle Jackson, DeSean’s mother and Co-Founder of the DeSean Jackson Foundation, states that another reason why they chose to support Kelvin’s organization is because it has always been extremely important for DeSean, throughout his 14 years in the NFL, to learn as much about the NFL’s virtually unknown Legends; and, to give them the respect that they are rightfully due. “To DeSean, Mr. Middleton is one of those Legends”, states Mrs. Jackson. In 1987, Kelvin Middleton was a Pittsburgh Steeler during the infamous NFL players’ strike that divided teams, friends, loyalties and resulted in replacements of players who refused to cross the picket lines; and, the solidarity set the precedence for free agency. Kelvin choose not to cross the picket lines which ended his NFL career; and, to my son, DeSean, Kelvin Middleton is a Legend.
We are honored to present Mr. Middleton with this grant of behalf of the NFL Foundation and the DeSean Jackson Foundation.”
MGB INC. (Men Giving Back) played an integral role in helping the historical Kings Park Community neighborhood association plan and execute its annual Easter Hunt for the youth in the Kings Park Community. The event was held at the Kings Park Community Center in East Macon and was hosted by the Kings Park Community neighborhood association and well attended by approximately 40 children, their parents/guardians, Kings Park residents and a Macon-Bibb Co. recreation staff member.
Kelvin Middleton, CEO, of MGB INC., was instrumental in securing in-kind donations and sponsorships from NFL All Pro, DeSean Jackson, MGB INC., and local community stakeholders for decorations, plastic and gold eggs, baskets, candy and door prizes. Macon-Bibb Co. Parks & Recreation provided a small monetary donations that were placed in the gold eggs hidden in the grass and some food. The neighborhood association provided additional food and oversaw the event.
