MISSION

The Floyd Mayweather Jr. Foundation strives to empower community alliances, impact youth leadership, promote health and wellness, and strengthen family foundations through community development, entrepreneurialism, and education resulting in a wholesome community.

PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE

Welcome to 2021! We’re all freshly coming off a year of momentous change, and while this isn’t the place to focus on all that went wrong, it’s essential that we highlight how remarkable it is to be celebrating life in the new year. As I prepare for another year as President, I will approach 2021 with enthusiasm while also ensuring that The Floyd Mayweather Jr. Foundation will continue to build and be ready for whatever comes our way.

Due to us currently being unable to be physically together, we’re planning for a year that connects us all and helps us grow. When it’s safe to be together again we’ll plan for that. Until then, we are excited about the Fan Connection newsletter that will ensure you’re receiving valuable tips and information that will contribute to your overall health and wellness. Additionally, all members of TFMJF are committed to bringing the foundation’s vision for community health and wellness, economic growth and development, and youth education to life with forward progress in every way possible.

As we look forward to the year ahead, my team and I are honored to be able to serve you.

Sincerely,

FIGHT-FOR-YOUR-EDUCATION

With school campus closures  at an all-time high, students and teachers are relying on e-learning/distant learning and technology to help close the gap in the loss of educational opportunities   caused by the pandemic.  It is especially important for us at The Floyd Mayweather Jr. Foundation (TFMJF) to continue celebrating student achievements during this unprecedented time.  We know that by empowering our community to remain steadfast in their education, we will help keep students, families, and communities encouraged!

We are honored and thankful to be in a position to offer four Advancement of Women in Sports & Entertainment Scholarships per semester. Additionally, we will continue highlighting the achievements of our honor roll students that are fighting daily for their education through the Honor Roll Spotlight. Read on to learn about our recent scholarship recipients and Honor Roll spotlights!

Spring 2021 Scholarship Recipients

The Advancement of Women in Sports & Entertainment Scholarship was created to help fill a void due to underrepresentation of women in the industry. This scholarship fund has been established to aid women in furthering their education, encourage their valued participation in the profession, and benefit the profession. Read about our Spring 2021 scholarship recipients Joy Rowden, Breanna Pursley, Mia Sannasardo, and Julianna Kissinger and the paths they’ve chosen to achieve their goals and excel in this once male-dominated field.

If you are currently enrolled in an undergraduate or graduate school program with a major in Communications or Marketing, and are looking to break into the sports and entertainment industry, you may qualify to be a recipient of The Advancement of Women in Sports & Entertainment Scholarship. Visit www.tfmjf.org/scholarships to review the scholarship requirements and download the application. The deadline to submit for the Fall 2021 scholarship is June 14, 2021.

Name: Joy Rowden

College: California State University, Long Beach

Year in College: Junior

Major/Minor: Journalism/Business Administration

Passion Statement: “I’m doing this for future me, so that she gets to live the life that she deserves” -Unknown

As a child, Joy Rowden’s struggles with learning made her think that a bright future wasn’t in the cards. Lucky for us all, Joy was wrong! Despite the difficulties that she experienced retaining the basics in elementary school, Joy’s desire to be self-sufficient and independent would ignite a flame in her that would instill in her the importance of education. Looking back, the setbacks that Joy faced seem minor in comparison to all that she has accomplished. Today, Joy is a Junior studying Journalism at California State University, Long Beach (CSULB), taking 18 credits this semester, interning, working 40+ hours a week, and still finds time to work on her You Tube channel.

Journalism hasn’t been easy for Joy to pursue, but over time she has realized that choosing this route was worth it. Admittedly, journalism wasn’t Joy’s first choice as a major; her first love is theatre. However, the lack of support to pursue a career in theatre by her father helped to put things in perspective. After completing an undergraduate degree, the goal is to find consistent employment, something that theatre would not likely offer. Ultimately, Joy is secure in her decision to choose journalism, and empowered by her ability to equip herself with  life skills.

Joy continues to excel in her studies. Not only has she made it on the President’s Honors List five semesters in a row, but she was also awarded the Phyllis Jackson Memorial Endowed Scholarship last year. Joy’s short-term plans involve graduating next year and living debt free, but until then will continue working to balance and prioritize her education, health, and relationships. Joy would also love to intern for Her Campus Media, the #1 media portfolio for college and GenZennial women. Over the years, Joy has also taken an interest in creating videos for her You Tube channel. With such a busy schedule, finding time to attend on-campus meetings for different organizations proved difficult but keeping up with social media conforms to her schedule.

No matter how much Joy may have struggled to get to this point, she has never given up! College is hard, and the pandemic hasn’t made it any easier, but survival is not impossible. Joy has utilized much of this time to accomplish her goals, every day striving toward independence and becoming the best version of herself. We know that Joy Rowden will do great things in the world of journalism and we can’t wait!

Name: Breanna Pursley

College: Cameron University

Year in College: Sophomore

Major/Minor: Journalism & Media Production/ French

Passion Statement: Don’t give up no matter how hard it gets because you never know what’s around the corner.

Breanna Pursley is determined, and nothing will stand in her way. Multiple attempts to steer her away from pursuing a college degree was no match for her commitment to education. Over time, Breanna left the unsupportive and negative influences behind to focus on her goals. Separating from loved ones  has been a difficult pill to swallow but she keeps going because she knows that her latter will be greater than the past.

On her journey of higher learning, Breanna Pursley has dodged many curveballs, conquered a new language, and made plans for the future. About 45 minutes from her hometown of Rush Springs, Breanna attends Cameron University and studies Journalism & Media Production while also minoring in French. Breanna has no familiarity with the French language but was encouraged by her fiancé Sebastian to minor in a language in order to increase her opportunities as a journalist.

Breanna is wise beyond her years as evidenced by her short and long-term goals. Her immediate goals include passing the current term and becoming a Junior next year, getting married over the summer, and taking her first cruise vacation in hopes of catching a glimpse of the ocean for the first time. Her long-term goals include becoming a travel journalist for National Geographic, being the first in her family to receive a college degree and live like no one else. Although Breanna would accept any travel journalism position, working for the National Geographic is ideal and tops her list of ultimate goals. Knowing that her career path would require a degree, Breanna made it her mission to seek continued education in hopes that the seeds she plants now will take root in her family, and others will follow in her footsteps. Also, Breanna’s take on Dave Ramsey’s famous quote “If you will live like no one else, later you can live like no one else,” simply means that the financial decisions she makes today will put her in a better position in the future.

It is people with stories like Breanna that strive to positively impact the world. She will continue prove her harshest critics wrong and use their words as the fuel needed to be an inspiring example for others.

Name: Mia Sannasardo

College: University of Minnesota, Twin Cities

Year in College: Junior

Major/Minor: Double Major in Sport Management & Business Marketing Educations/ Mass Communications

Passion Statement: This too shall pass.

Mia Sannasardo always knew that a career in sports and a college degree were in her forecast. In high school, Mia took the time to research degree possibilities and local universities before choosing Sport Management and University of Minnesota, Twin Cities. Why did she choose this university? The sport management program is second to none, the campus is beautiful, and the local area has a great sports market. Mia knew that the professional possibilities for sports marketers in the twin cities would be endless, so choosing this school was a no-brainer.

Mia quickly accelerated through her undergraduate coursework and had the opportunity to graduate a year early, but instead chose to add an additional major to her workload. Her desire to acquire marketing skills has led to her majoring in both Sport Management and Business Marketing Educations. A minor in marketing would’ve sufficed but the business school programs at the University of Minnesota don’t offer this option.

For the last year, Mia’s coursework has been strictly virtual. Although she misses the classroom, networking on campus, and spending time with her friends, Mia is still focused on applying herself and nurturing the connections she’s made to get through these hard times and seek out future opportunities. To date, Mia serves as the Vice President of Member Engagement for the Sports Management Association, which is responsible for introducing different industry professionals and their roles in the field to students twice a month. She’s also the recipient of the J Anna Norris Scholarship awarded to students who are actively engaged in professional preparation in the School of Kinesiology. Only 8 students received the award, and Mia is just one of 3 undergraduate students honored.

Mia is looking to land an internship with a minor or pro league team after completing her degree but her long-term goal is to become of the Director of Community Relations for the NHL Chicago Blackhawks franchise. She may not have the specific experience to land her dream job just yet, but Mia intends to work hard and work her way up the ranks until she accomplishes her goal.

Name: Julianna Kissinger 

College: Saint Joseph’s University

Year in College: Sophomore

Major/Minor: Communications Studies/ Double Minor in Marketing & Film Studies

Passion Statement: “The key to success is to start before you are ready” -Marie Forleo

Meet Julianna Kissinger, a sophomore at Saint Joseph’s University in Philadelphia, PA who’s working to gain knowledge and experience while also enhancing her skillset in Communications, Marketing and Film. Like her passion statement says, “the key to success is to start before you are ready,” and it truly identifies with where Julianna is at this stage of her career. There was never a question of if she wanted to continue her education, only what career she would pursue.  Julianna doesn’t know the exact direction she wants her career to go just yet, which is why she’s focusing on building strong connections with those who share similar interests at her university. However, she’s confident that the one thing she truly enjoys is the process of creating. There’s nothing like the process of making something and seeing others enjoy it, and Julianna wants to feel that joy often.

Insert the field of communications, where Julianna could merge her love for the arts with the growing field of digital media. At her university, Julianna is the Vice President of Marketing for her sorority Alpha Gamma Delta. Within her sorority, a multitude of opportunities for volunteerism exists including food drives and fundraising. She’s also on the programming board for the Hawk Hills Productions Club, that focuses on creating memories for the students on campus through activities, fairs, and events for the students on campus. It is essential that during the present Julianna has found a place of acceptance at Saint Joseph’s. From the moment she stepped on campus she felt a huge amount of belonging. Now, during these tough times it is those friends that were so accepting of her that she’s been able to depend on. From Zoom parties to socially distanced parking lot hang outs, they’ve been determined to get through this pandemic together. The same feeling Julianna felt about Saint Joseph’s when she first visited the campus still holds true.

The best advice that Julianna has to offer to women planning to follow in her footsteps may sound cliché but still remains true: trust your gut! Choose what feels right, study what interests you the most, and work hard until the rest of the world takes notice.

TFMJF “Honor Roll Spotlight”

At TFMJF, we love to recognize and celebrate students who are achieving academic success throughout the school year while also participating in extracurricular activities. Karma Kyeong Farber, Jayden Talley, and Cordelia Zuniga-Rodriguez have made it their mission to continue striving for excellence in academics and sports. Although the current COVID-19 pandemic may have resulted in a few setbacks, these three stars continue to shine. Read further to discover what the honor roll students consider to be their favorite subjects, sports they participate in, book series they love and much more.

Karma Kyeong Farber

Karma Kyeong Farber is bursting with talent and a love for education! She currently holds a 3.8 GPA, is on the A/B Honor Roll at DeLand Middle School in DeLand, Florida and is destined for greatness. Karma has already learned the importance of hard work and dedication. Find out more about how Karma juggles her activities and school, what goals she’s already accomplished, and what she aspires to be when she grows up.

Q:  Is this your first-time making Honor Roll, if not, how many times have you made Honor Roll?

A: I have always made honor roll.

Q:  What is your favorite subject and why?

A: Math is my favorite subject because it is interesting, and I learn something new every day.

Q: What is your favorite book/series and why?

A: I love the Harry Potter series. It’s adventurous and interesting plus I like the magic.

 Q: What helps you stay focused & motivated in school?

A: I motivate myself by thinking about school regularly, focusing on my boxing goals, and never forgetting that I want to be a doctor when I grow up.

Q: Who do you look up to as a role model and why?

A: My mom and boxing coach are my role models. My mom drives me 200 miles round trip to my boxing gym. She also keeps me focused on maintaining good grades and being the best student I can be. My coach trains me in boxing so that I can become a champion.

Q:  Are you involved in any after-school programs or sports, if so, what?

A: I am involved in boxing and tennis after school.

Q: How do you juggle school and after-school commitments?

A: Juggling after school activities is easy because I stay focused and study hard.

Q: Do you have any other achievements or accomplishments that you would like to share with everyone?

A: I’m a 2x time national champion and a 3x state champion amateur boxer.

Q: When you’re not in school or studying, what do you like to do in your spare time?

A: In my spare time, I love to box, go roller skating or skateboarding, and talk to my friends.

Q: What challenges did you face or are currently facing while studying and completing your schoolwork during the COVID-19 pandemic?

A: No, I did not face any challenges during the pandemic because I can get through anything.

Q: Tell us something about yourself that we haven’t already asked that you wouldn’t mind sharing with our readers (ideas: a cool place you’ve traveled to, an interest in animals, etc).

A: I have traveled all over the world with my mom. We have gone to India, Thailand, Korea, Japan, the Philippines, and Puerto Rico. We have also lived in Hawaii and St. Croix Virgin Islands.

Jayden Talley

Jayden Talley is a fourth-grade student at T. Clay Wood Elementary School in Bristow, Virginia who has been on the honor roll every semester and manages to do so while being a star player on a competitive soccer team. Read below to learn about what Jayden enjoys reading, what he likes to do in his spare time, and why Lionel Messi is his role model.

Q:  Is this your first-time making Honor Roll, if not, how many times have you made Honor Roll?

A: I have made the Honor Roll every marking period of elementary school.

Q:  What is your favorite subject and why?

A: My favorite subjects are Math and Science. Math is fun, challenging, and I’m really good at problem solving. I like Science because I like doing experiments.

Q: What is your favorite book/series and why?

A: My favorite book series is Dogman because it is full of action.

 Q: What helps you stay focused & motivated in school?

A: What helps me stay focused and motivated in school is knowing I have to make good grades and do what is expected of me or I will not be allowed to play soccer.

Q: Who do you look up to as a role model and why?

A:  Lionel (Leo) Messi is my role model because he is a great soccer player.

Q:  Are you involved in any after-school programs or sports, if so, what?

A:  Yes, I play on a U10 travel soccer team for the Virginia Soccer Association.

Q: How do you juggle school and after-school commitments?

A: My mom helps me stay organized by prioritizing what needs to be done.

Q: Do you have any other achievements or accomplishments that you would like to share with everyone?

A:  I have been named the VSA player of the week for soccer twice during the fall season. Also, my team and I won the Capital Fall Soccer Classic in Richmond, Va.

Q: When you’re not in school or studying, what do you like to do in your spare time?

A: In my spare time I like to play video games and go outside with my friends.

Q: What challenges did you face or are currently facing while studying and completing your schoolwork during the COVID-19 pandemic?

A:  The biggest challenge I’ve had to face is not being about to see my school friends in almost a year.

Q: Tell us something about yourself that we haven’t already asked that you wouldn’t mind sharing with our readers (ideas: a cool place you’ve traveled to, an interest in animals, etc).

A:  I really like to travel. My favorite vacation was when my family and I went to the Dominican Republic and we stayed at the NOW resort. I also want to become a professional soccer player.

Cordelia Zuniga-Rodriguez

Meet Cordelia Zuniga-Rodriguez, a star student at Old River Elementary School in Discovery Bay, California, who loves ballet and gymnastics. Cordelia has dreams of one day attending UC Berkeley and becoming an Olympic gymnast. Read on to learn what motivates the aspiring gymnast, who she looks up to as her role model, and how she juggles her rigorous schedule while also maintaining a 3.92 GPA.

Q:  Is this your first-time making Honor Roll, if not, how many times have you made Honor Roll?

A: Yes, it is my first-time making Honor Roll. At school you can’t make Honor Roll until 4^th grade.

Q:  What is your favorite subject and why?

A: My favorite subject is math. I love math because it always makes sense and it is very fun.

Q: What is your favorite book/series and why?

A: My favorite book series is Wings of Fire because the fairytale is so realistic and very detailed.

Q: What helps you stay focused & motivated in school?

A: My parents help me stay focused and motivated. They both were straight A students and went   to good colleges. I want to follow in their footsteps.

Q: Who do you look up to as a role model and why?

A: I look up to my aunt. She is a wonderful and strong professional ballerina in Mexico, which is so cool to me!

Q:  Are you involved in any after-school programs or sports, if so, what?

A: Yes, I am involved in gymnastics and ballet after school. I am on a level 3 competitive team in gymnastics. My aunt teaches my ballet class online.

Q: How do you juggle school and after-school commitments?

A: On Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday I am committed to ballet. On Tuesday and Thursday after Science class I get ready for gymnastics. My schedule is a lot to juggle but I manage.

Q: Do you have any other achievements or accomplishments that you would like to share with everyone?

A: I won first place in the Read-A-Thon at my school by reading the most minutes. I also won first place in the talent show at my school when I danced with my best friend.

Q: When you’re not in school or studying, what do you like to do in your spare time?

A: In my spare time I like to talk to my friends, read, and write stories about my family and holidays. I also love to cook and bake.

Q: What challenges did you face or are currently facing while studying and completing your schoolwork during the COVID-19 pandemic?

A: The biggest challenge for me was not being able to go to school or see my best friend; she has asthma so going to school during COVID-19 could be very dangerous. Also, I was not able to go to gymnastics for a couple months which affected my strength and skills.

Q: Tell us something about yourself that we haven’t already asked that you wouldn’t mind sharing with our readers (ideas: a cool place you’ve traveled to, an interest in animals, etc).

A: My favorite animals are tigers and giraffes. I like tigers because I was born in the year of the tiger. I like giraffes because the first stuffed animal I ever owned is a giraffe and I still have it today. I also love to draw.  In the future I would like to be an Olympic gymnast, go to UC Berkeley, and open a bakery.

PHILANTHROPY SPOTLIGHT

BADOU JACK DONATES FIGHT PURSE TO HELP REFUGEE KIDS & ORPHANS IN JORDAN

Two-division world champion, Badou Jack, has always been vocal about giving back, and for his last fight on the Tyson vs. Jones undercard, he put his money where his mouth is by donating his entire purse to his non-profit, The Badou Jack Foundation. The sole mission of his non-profit organization, which was founded in 2018, works with refugees and orphans in Syra, Palestina and Jack’s hometown, Gambia.

“This fight isn’t about titles or championships” says Jack.  “I’m dedicating this fight to all of the children in need around the world and am donating all of the proceeds to my organization, the Badou Jack Foundation.”

Last year, the foundation teamed up with the SPOT Project in Gambia to help with the building of orphanages, freshwater wells and education centers. “I have a responsibility to help as many people as I can.  More than boxing, I want to be known as someone that helped others in need.” Jack continued.

Jack is a great ambassador to the sport, and his efforts continue to shine on beyond the boxing. For more information on The Badou Jack Foundation, visit: https://badoujackfoundation.org/

BUFFALO BILLS FANS BAND TOGETHER TO DONATE OVER $360K TO LAMAR JACKSON’S CHARITY AFTER PLAYOFF GAME

It was a memorable season for the Baltimore Ravens for many reasons. Their rookie QB, Lamar Jackson, put crazy numbers up and RB, J.K. Dobbins set a franchise record for touchdowns by a rookie, but the biggest return this season was from the Buffalo Bills. After defeating Jackson and the Ravens in the AFC divisional round 17-3, the #BillsMafia (referred to on Twitter) decided to pay it forward donating over $360k to Lamar Jackson’s charity after the QB suffered a concussion in the third quarter.

A class act that should definitely be spotlighted, Rick Ritter from Wall Street Journal, chronicled the #BillsMafia’s generosity via Twitter which quickly caught the attention of Jackson. It has become a tradition for the Buffalo fans to donate in support of various players, including notably Andy Dalton after he helped the Bills reach the playoffs in 2018.

Blessing in a Backpack was founded by the Baltimore QB and his mother and works to provide meals to kids who are often reliant on food from school. The organization gives food to them on the weekends, with $130 providing meals for one student throughout a 38-week school year. Jackson had worked with the Louisville chapter of the organization since he was in college, donating $25,000 made from autographs in 2018.

BEYONCE CONTINUES HER CHARITABLE EFFORTS TO HELP REBUILD COMMUNITIES IMPACTED BY THE CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC

The Queen B, Beyonce Knowles, has consistently been an advocate for giving back. Beyonce recently announced her latest effort of $5,000 grants to help people facing foreclosure or evictions due to the housing crisis caused by the coronavirus pandemic. The grant will go to help 100 people starting in 2021.

This latest initiative is an ongoing effort put forth by the entertainer to help communities in her hometown of Houston, and across the globe. In May, she setup up mobile COVID-19 testing sites with her mother, Tina Knowles-Lawson, in their hometown of Houston, and she also partnered with Jack Dorsey’s Start Small fund, $6M to coronavirus relief in April 2020.

An estimated 9.2 million renters who have lost income during the pandemic are behind on rent, according to an analysis of Census data by the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities. Once the moratoriums are lifted, many of these renters will be expected to pay their entire back rent or come up with some sort of payment plan with their landlord — or they could face losing their homes.

For more information please visit: https://www.beyonce.com/article/beygood-housing-assistance/