Armed Services YMCA
The Armed Services YMCA is a national program providing specialized programs and services to currently serving junior enlisted military service members and their families. Their focus includes providing specialty-tailored, no and low-cost programs and services such as child care, day and resident camps, child development programs, early learning classes, emergent food support, deployment support, emergency travel support, health and wellness services, and more. The 2019 JSFF grant is two-fold: 1. Support 150 students in Operation Hero, a 10-week after-school curriculum to help school-age military children improve socially and academically and 2. Financially support 50 campers from Fort Hood at a summer resident camp, which offers immersive and experiential educational programs helping children in military families build skills and self-esteem.
Boot Campaign
The Boot Campaign mission is to connect communities with those who have served in the military by igniting the inner patriot in all Americans and providing life-improving programs for veterans and military families. This Christmas season, over 75 nominated military families from around the country will receive surprise gifts, funding and other support thanks to a special 2019 JSFF grant to the Santa Boots program; we are honored that it will surprise and serve both families in severe financial need as well as those who just need a little extra love and demonstration of our gratitude during the holiday season.
Camp Barnabas
The mission of Camp Barnabas is to change lives through disability ministry. Over the past 24 years, Camp Barnabas has welcomed 84,000 campers and missionaries to camp. The passion at Barnabas is palpable, not only in changing the lives of those with special needs and chronic illnesses, but also changing the lives of all who come in contact with Barnabas: siblings, missionaries, parents, staff, and donors. The JSFF partnership allowed Camp to provide over 130 camperships for individuals with special needs, physical or intellectual challenges and/or their siblings to attend camp at no cost in the 2019 summer.
Cooks Children’s Hospital
Cook Children's Health Care System embraces an inspiring Promise—to improve the health of every child in our region through the prevention and treatment of illness, disease and injury. The grant from the JSFF will be used to support a promising five-year clinical trial, a unique program specializing in the treatment of advanced ALL and Lly in pediatric cancer patients. In a partnership with St. Jude, this research opportunity will allow families without options for treatment to pursue a new outlet and the JSFF is honored to support Cook Children’s incredible medical staff in their heroic hunt for a cure.
The First Tee Fort Worth – Military Initiative
The First Tee of Fort Worth is a youth development organization introducing the game of golf and its inherent values to young people in the greater Fort Worth community. This specific chapter is recognized as one of the premier youth character-education programs in the country. The grant from the JSFF will cover two years of free programming for all military families, allowing for familial connection, relationship-building and junior golf growth through The First Tee programming. The grant will also include opportunities for community outreach and fellowship opportunities for military families through junior golf.
The First Tee Fort Worth – Squaw Creek
The First Tee of Fort Worth was founded in 2004 and is growing at a rapid pace serving over 30,000 in the community last year. This grant component will support the new Ben Hogan Learning Center at Squaw Creek, a satellite location opening to reach an entire new corner of the metroplex. The JSFF name will be featured on a swing sequence panel honoring the late, great Ben Hogan.
The First Tee Fort Worth – Transportation
The First Tee of Fort Worth is a youth development organization introducing the game of golf and its inherent values to young people in the greater Fort Worth community. Founded in 2004, The First Tee of Fort Worth is one of over 200 chapters of The First Tee, an organization that is recognized as one of the premier youth character-education programs in the country. The grant from the JSFF will support for three + years of finding a transportation solution for The First Tee of Fort Worth.
I Am A Golfer
The I AM a Golfer Foundation’s mission is to be a catalyst for community renewal and transformation in South Dallas. This will be accomplished by creating life changing opportunities for South Dallas youth through golf and golf related programs at Cedar Crest Golf Course. The three focus areas include golf instruction; jobs & training; and program scholarships. The grant from the JSFF will fully sponsor 20 participants, ages 6-18, in their 32-week golf program in the heart of South Dallas.
My Possibilities
My Possibilities is a Plano, Texas based non-profit that serves as a pioneering leader in vocational education and job placement for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) throughout North Texas. MP is changing the landscape for adults with IDD through avenues of school, community, jobs and so much more. My Possibilities will use the grant from the JSFF to fund speech therapy programs for special needs students, relieving financial burdens from families and opening more doors for these highly important people.
Nicklaus Children’s Hospital
Nicklaus Children’s Health System in Florida is the region’s only healthcare system exclusively for children. Founded by golf legend Jack Nicklaus and his wife Barbara, the Nicklaus Hospital cares deeply about patient experience during such trying times of a pediatric cancer diagnosis or treatment; the JSFF is thrilled to partner with them for enhanced holistic support from psychology to social and emotional support in the oncology and hematology departments.
NTPGA – Fairway to Success
Established in 2007, the North Texas PGA’s Fairway to Success Program annually awards scholarships to deserving Dallas high-school seniors based on academic performance, extracurricular activities, community involvement and financial need. The group hosts an after-school program focusing on junior golf, then introduces participants to office visits and scholarship opportunities. The grant from the JSFF provided three Fairway to Success students college scholarship funds, many of whom are first generation college applicants!
Operation Second Chance
Operation Second Chance provides veterans and their families with an immediate response for their urgent financial situations, so they can recover quickly, meet their financial obligations, and move forward. The grant from the JSFF will expand the amount of service they are able to provide in 2019 to over 60 people in financial crises. Third-party military support groups, such as the VA, will recommend veterans for aid such as utility bills, car repairs, emergency travel and so forth, with OSC responding with financial support within 48 hours. Meeting these individuals in their time of need is extremely important to the JSFF mission.
PGA HOPE – Northport VA
PGA HOPE (Helping Our Patriots Everywhere) is the flagship military program of PGA REACH, with a focus on introducing golf to veterans with disabilities to enhance their physical, mental, social and emotional well-being. The program introduces the game of golf through a developmental 6 to 8-week curriculum, taught by PGA Professionals trained in adaptive golf and military cultural competency. The cost of programming is free to all Veterans and the Met Section in NY has been one of the fastest-growing, most impactful programs to date. The JSFF is excited that this 2019 grant will fund the complete buildout of a golf-focused sports and recreation room at the Northport VA, home to the Met Section PGA HOPE Chapter. With the support of Full Swing golf, these veterans will have access to the space to grow in fellowship, improve their game and access the sport year-round despite the weather thanks to a Full Swing indoor simulator as a part of the total room remodel. The JSFF will officially open the newly designed PGA Hope gathering space late Fall 2019.
Project Healing Waters
Project Healing Waters Fly Fishing, Inc. is dedicated to the physical and emotional rehabilitation of disabled active military service personnel and disabled veterans through fly fishing and associated activities including education and outings. JSFF is honored to provide a grant to off-set vital program expenses such as fly-fishing and rod building supplies, fly-tying equipment, transportation, meals and other necessary specialized services and equipment allows PHWFF to better serve disabled active duty military personal and veterans.
Legacy Gifts
Seek Camp
SEEK Camp is a Christian camp designed to accommodate the special needs campers, ages nine through adulthood, making the special experience of camp available to many who have never been able to experience it! SEEK Camp is a unique opportunity for campers who are physically and/or mentally challenged to learn about love, friendship, sharing, caring and living in a Christian community. As a Legacy Partner of the JSFF, this commitment will provide annual funding for 30+ campers to attend the week-long camp over the next three years. The Foundation has seen first-hand the loving community provided at SEEK Camp.
Michaela’s Army
Micaela’s Army formed as a group of prayer warriors loving & supporting a young Micaela through her battle with Leukemia. Now Micaela’s spirit continues to inspire many to fight to find a cure for better treatments for childhood, adolescent, and young adults. Through fundraising for cancer research, education, awareness, and patient support, Micaela’s Army continues to battle the cancers that affect children, adolescents, young adults and their families. The Foundation is honored to support Michaela’s Army through a multi-year legacy gift, as Michaela was and continues to be one of the inspirations for the entire JSFF Pediatric Cancer mission pillar.
Rays of Light
Rays of Light is dedicated to providing free, quality respite care to families with children with special needs, across the spectrum, in the Dallas metropolitan area. Together with a strong force of volunteers, Rays of Light strives to lend support and relief to these families through a respite care program called Night Lights. The JSFF continues to support these wonderful families through a legacy grant underwriting a Spring Prom. The evening gives our friends with special needs a night to dance, fellowship and befriend local high school hosts that join for the fun.
North Texas PGA – Drive Chip & Putt
After seeing first-hand the amazing Drive Chip & Putt in person in Augusta, the JSFF has committed to a multi-year grant supporting the Dallas-area junior golfers growing in their game. Any youth that participate in a Drive, Chip and Putt qualifier this summer in North Texas who have never been a Member of the Northern Texas PGA Junior Golf Foundation will receive one free tournament on the NTPGA’s Junior Tour compliments of the JSFF grant. We are excited to support the growth of junior golf through interest in this wonderful initiative.