Jackie Joyner-Kersee Foundation

Theory:Youth and adults can overcome obstacles and become successful through access to healthy lifestyles, quality educational opportunities and character education.Mission Statement:The mission of the Jackie Joyner-Kersee Foundation is to instill youth of the Greater East Saint Louis area with the dream, drive and determination necessary to succeed in academics, athletics and leadership.History:The Jackie Joyner-Kersee Foundation was founded by Jackie Joyner-Kersee herself, who is also recognized by ESPN as one of the, "50 Greatest Athletes of all time" and winner of six Olympic Medals. Jackie is the first women to win back to back gold medals in the heptathlon, the first African American women to win an Olympic Medal in the long jump, and the first women to score 7,000 points in the heptathlon. Born and raised in East. Saint Louis, Jackie is committed to ensuring that all children have access to high quality programs, safe recreational places within their own communities, and caring adults to help them achieve their dreams. Jackie launched the JJK Foundation in Los Angles in 1995, but move the Foundation to her home town of East Saint Louis that same year. Inspired by the closing of her old neighborhood community center Jackie grew the Foundation by raising over 12 million dollars to help expand programs, and build a comprehensive youth and sports campus that finished construction in 2000.