August-December 2018
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.
TFMJF
We are pleased to present the second TFMJF Fan Connection of the year. With the first half of 2018 under wraps, The Floyd Mayweather Jr. Foundation (TFMJF) has successfully excelled in implementing new initiatives, creating bigger and more impactful events, and servicing the Las Vegas community. The core of our organization is built on foresight, generosity, and an unyielding desire to help under resourced youth in the Las Vegas community.
Now that we are half way through the year we are excited to announce our initiatives for the second half of 2018 and successes from the start of the year. We welcome readers to use our newsletter to stay informed and use as a resource to learn about healthier living, educational opportunities, and ways to get involved with our events through either supporting, attending, or volunteering!
Share this with friends and family so we can work together as a team in making the Las Vegas community, and beyond, a better place for our children and families. We believe that keeping everyone in the know is a crucial part of the overall well-being of the communities we serve, while adhering to TFMJF’s formula of continued success. Enjoy!
President's Message
Wow! I can’t believe it’s already time to send out our newsletter for the 2nd half of 2018! Time is flying and we aren’t slowing down with our efforts to have greater impact spread across more communities. With every event, we go to great measures to ensure that it’s bigger and better than the prior(s) and we haven’t come up short in reaching this goal. This is primarily due to the belief, commitment, determination, and drive of the team that works year around behind the scenes to hold this organization to a high standard and exceed expectations along the way. Our network of partners, supporters, and volunteers are also responsible for the success of this organization and we appreciate each and everyone one of them for their commitment and contributions.
TFMJF continues to put on events, and create enrichment programs in the areas of education, community outreach, and health & wellness. We have a few new exciting initiatives and partnerships in the works that we look forward to rolling out in the near future. We hope that you find the contents of this newsletter to be inspiring and informative, as you read about our programs, events, spotlights, latest initiatives, and the positive impact our collective efforts have on the Las Vegas community and surrounding areas.
We all know that most success stories aren’t written over night and the best ones are those that are long lived. As we close out the last 6 months of this year, we will be building on what has already been established, and we can’t wait to see what year number 9 has in store for TFMJF!
We look forward to continuing to educate, lead, and inspire in pursuit of reaching our goals, and are excited about the future of FMJF and the lives that will be touched!
Sincerely,
Nicole Craig
President
Events
TFMJF Events
The Floyd Mayweather Jr. Foundation is gearing up to finish 2018 strong with a number of fun-filled events for the Las Vegas community. Join us as we continue our goal in striving to promote our mission of community empowerment and youth leadership. Read below to learn more about ways to get involved, the events we hosted in the first half of the year, and what’s in store for the remainder of 2018.
Event Recaps:
Fight-4-Fitness March 11, 2018
Sunset Park, Las Vegas, NV
As anticipated, The Floyd Mayweather Jr. Foundation’s 4th Annual Fight-4-Fitness 5K Run, 2K Walk, KIDS FUN RUN & Community Day on March 11th at Sunset Park was a success! This year’s event saw a new 80’s & 90’s theme twist, increased cash prizes for Nevada track & field teams and run clubs, great food options courtesy of GoldBox food truck, and family-fun interactive games.
Over 300 participants joined us; from children of all ages, colleagues, friends, family, track teams, and other community supporters. The Floyd Mayweather Jr. Foundation united runners and families with our 5K Run, 2K Walk, and Kids Fun Run to help spread health and fitness awareness in a fun and interactive environment. The Community Day event immediately followed the race day awards ceremony and included great food, music, fun games, raffled prizes, and knowledgeable health and fitness exhibitors who offered their services to enhance individual fitness goals. We were joined by The Mayweather Promotions fighters, trainers, and various talent who amped up the crowd with their fun and entertaining performances. Prodigy Dance Crew returned for a second year to bring families another spectacular performance and we welcomed VZ Dance Studios who debuted a salsa number. Bluma Bodies also joined us after the races to provide a fun Zumba session for participants to refresh. This year, three local Las Vegas track clubs were awarded with a cash prize donation for bringing in the most registrants to Fight-4-Fitness. The Floyd Mayweather Jr. Foundation also donated a percentage of net event proceeds to the YMCA of Southern Nevada Y Kids program, which promotes 4 components: play, fitness, strength, and nutrition to the youth and Forgotten Not Gone, a veteran-run 501(c)(3) Nonprofit Organization that is dedicated to helping save Veterans and their families from the Destruction of Suicide through emotionally and mentally stimulating activities. We are thankful for this year’s supporters and their contributions in making this year’s Fight-4-Fitness a success!
We would like to thank our 2018 Fight-4-Fitness supporters for their contribution to making this a remarkable event. This year’s sponsors included: Mayweather Promotions, The Money Team, Mayweather Sports, Screaming Images, Brooklyn Boxing, AEG Worldwide, Boyd Gaming, IBF, MSK Law, Greenburg & Traurig, KEMP Broadcasting, Lotus Broadcasting, Greenspun Media Group, Box Fan Expo, Real Water, FNOM Worldwide, UFC, and Dunkin Donuts.
Past Fundraising Events:
#SocialSundays Valentine’s Day Edition: Sunday, February 11, 2018
We kicked off 2018 by bringing back our beloved Sip & Paint fundraiser. We moved our event to a new day bringing local Las Vegans, #SocialSundays! Pinot’s Palette Town Square hosted our event and we were joined by friends, family, locals, and visitors who enjoyed the opportunity to unwind while painting the pre-selected portrait “Blooming Hearts”. The event was filled with a great selection of music, wine, and painting in a fun atmosphere. Pinot’s Palette donates a percentage from tickets back to our foundation, which goes toward our yearly events put on for the community of Las Vegas. Leave your cares at the door and dive in to our next paint party!
#SocialSundays: Mother’s Day Edition: Sunday, May 6, 2018
Our first #SocialSundays of the year was such a great turnout that we had to bring it back for Mother’s Day! #SocialSundays returned to Town Square to unite friends, family, locals, and visitors from near and far to enjoy an evening of sip, paint, and socialization. The pre-selected “Floral Reef” themed portrait made the perfect Mother’s Day gift. Look out for the next edition of #SocialSundays because you don’t want to miss out on all of this fun!
Upcoming Fundraising Events:
Barnes & Noble Back-2-School Book Fair Fundraiser: July 8, 2018
The Floyd Mayweather Jr. Foundation has teamed up with Barnes & Noble for the 4th time to help raise funds for the upcoming Back-2-School Giveaway event. Come join us on Sunday, July 8th at Barnes & Noble located at: 8915 W. Charleston Blvd. in Las Vegas to stock up on your favorite books and supplies for the school year. Our mission is to promote literacy and academic enrichment. Our vision is to give children the opportunity to have reliable resources and tools needed for the new school year to excel in their studies. No purchase is too small, a portion of the sales from the book fair will be donated to aid in purchasing school supplies for this year’s Back-2-School event, which is scheduled for August 11th at West Flamingo Park. We will also be accepting donations of school supplies as well as new and gently used books to be contributed to our Back-2-School event.
For more information on our 6th Annual Back-2-School event visit: tfmjf.org/events
Upcoming Events:
Back-2-School Giveaway: August 11, 2018
The Floyd Mayweather Jr. Foundation is hosting its 6th Annual Back-2-School Giveaway! Families will be provided with the necessary school supplies to help their youth excel in their studies. Our mission for this program is to promote literacy and academic enrichment. Our vision is to give children the opportunity to have reliable resources and tools needed to achieve success. This year will be greater than ever, by providing backpacks full of supplies for students grades K-12, PLUS raffles for other prizes such as computers, printers, flash drives, graphing calculators, and much more! The Floyd Mayweather Jr. Foundation will continue to advance and promote its core principle of putting education first through our Fight-4-Your-Education initiative.
Thanksgiving Turkey Giveaway: November 17, 2018
The Floyd Mayweather Jr. Foundation and Mayweather Promotions will soon be gearing up to present families in Las Vegas the return of our highly anticipated Annual Thanksgiving Giveaway on November 17, 2018 for the 5th consecutive year. The mission of our Thanksgiving Giveaway is to provide support to families in need for the Thanksgiving holiday by providing them with Thanksgiving baskets filled with non-perishable dinner items and fresh turkeys.
To volunteer at any of our upcoming events email contact@tfmjf.org. We look forward to having you join us in our efforts of empowering our community.
Other Upcoming Charity Events Around the World:
Nevada Boxing Hall of Fame
Saturday, August 18, 2018
6 PM- 10 PM
Caesars Palace (Augustus Ballroom)
3570 S Las Vegas Blvd.
Las Vegas, NV 89109
The Nevada Boxing Hall of Fame is a non-profit organization that will be returning for their annual induction dinner to honor boxers and those associated with the sport that have contributed to the advancement of boxing in Nevada. The proceeds of this event will contribute to the organizations commitment of helping boxing-related causes and community organizations making a difference in the lives of our youth.
Las Vegas Walk to End Alzheimer’s in Las Vegas
October 27, 2018
Saturday 7 AM-11 AM
Town Square
6605 S Las Vegas Blvd
Las Vegas, NV 89119
The Walk to End Alzheimer’s is held annually in more than 600 communities nationwide and is the world’s largest event with the mission to raise awareness and funds for Alzheimer’s care, support and research. This inspiring event invites participants of all ages and abilities to reclaim the future for millions. Join today to contribute and support this fight.
http://act.alz.org/site/TR?fr_id=11048&pg=entry
Upcoming Events:
7/18-7/21
National Golden Gloves Jr. & Youth Golden Gloves Tournament
Mesquite, NV
Annual competition that is an open-ranking tournament for junior boys and girls and an open non-ranking tournament for youth males and females that is hosted by Barry’s Boxing Center. Young athletes get the opportunity to demonstrate their training and boxing abilities in the ring.
For more information visit: https://casablancaresort.com/golden-gloves/
7/23-7/29/18
USATF National Jr. Olympic Track & Field Championships
Greensboro, North Carolina
Annual track and field competition for athletes between the ages of seven and eighteen that is organized by USA Track & Field. It features six different age categories, each covering two years. Qualification at the national level is dependent upon the performance at the preliminary, state level, then the regional championships. The top five of each regional level will be able to compete at the national competition.
For more information visit: http://www.usatf.org/Events—Calendar/2018/USATF-Hershey-National-Junior-Olympic-Track—Fiel.aspx
7/28 – 8/4/18
Pura Vida Retreat & Spa: Princeton Power Yoga
Costa Rica Central Valley
Pura Vida Retreat & Spa is the ideal destination for rejuvenating yoga and wellness retreat. Pura Vida dedicates themselves to healing the mind, body & spirit. This amazing mountaintop location welcomes individuals and groups to four yoga halls with a breathtaking view, 48 nature-friendly rooms with garden or mountain views, a Wellness Center with a heated pool and Jacuzzi, and much more! Certified Baptiste Power Yoga Teacher and NYU-trained Executive Life Coach will be holding Princetown Power Yoga classes at this retreat to help explore your edge, discover your true self, and allow your personality to shine with Power Vinyasa Yoga, pranayama, Asana practice with daily meditations, coaching, group discussions, and personal empowerment exercises.
To learn more visit: https://puravidaspa.com/
7/29-8/4/18
52nd AAU National Jr. Olympic Games
Des Moines, Iowa
Annual competition known as the largest national multi-sport event for the youth in the United States.
For more information visit: http://ww1.aaujrogames.org/home.aspx
8/11/18 11AM-6 PM
KIDSFITSTRONG
San Diego, CA
The nation’s largest mobile fitness event is arriving in San Diego on August 11th. The KIDSFITSTRONG Fitness Challenge is dedicated to keeping kids active and healthy. This fitness challenge invites kids of all ages to showcase their physical fitness by participating in obstacle courses designed to challenge speed, strength, agility, and overall physical fitness. Did you know that adults can participate as well?!
To learn more information about this upcoming event visit:
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/2018-kidfitstrong-fitness-challenge-san-diego-tickets-19266425397
8/11 & 10/13
Las Vegas Health & Wellness Expo
Santa Fe Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas, NV
The Las Vegas Health & Wellness Expo is the top resource for learning about the newest and trending health options that are available. You will get the opportunity to talk to local experts and find out what you need to make healthy choices. Some of the topics you will get to learn more information on are: healthy eating, nutrition information, diet and supplements, alternative remedies, supplemental therapies, bodywork, family health & wellness, and preventative support. The goal of these expos is to create ground for companies, groups, and individuals who are looking to promoting health and wellness products and services to share information.
To learn more visit: https://www.myhealthandwellnessexpo.com/2018-exhibitor-information.html
10/6-10/18/18
Summer Youth Olympics
Buenos Aires, Argentina
The Youth Olympic Games are held every four years and has two editions, winter and summer. It is the world’s largest multi-sport event for high performance young athletes. This event is promoted by the International Olympic Committee (COI) that gets young athletes together between the ages of 15 and 18.
For more information visit: https://www.buenosaires2018.com/en/
10/7-10/13/18
2018 USA Boxing national tournament: Eastern Elite Qualifier & Regional Open Championships
Chattanooga, Tennessee
An open boxing tournament to males and females in the following divisions: Peewee, Bantam, Intermediate, Junior, Youth, Elite. The west and east coast qualifying tournaments will make a path for the top 2 elite male and female boxers in each category to move on to the national championships.
For more information visit: https://www.teamusa.org/USA-Boxing
10/25 – 10/28/18
MintnHoney’s Balance & Breathe Retreat
Zion Ponderosa Ranch Resort
This retreat will help balance your mind and body with outdoor activities at Zion National Park and the creative outlets will let your inner self relax. You will enjoy intro level yoga classes, healthy and delicious meals, and activities such as creative projects for stress relief, wine yoga, horseback riding, motivational speakers, and plenty of time for self-reflection.
For more information visit: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/balance-breathe-retreat-2018-tickets-44309967305
12/2-12/8/18
2018 USA Boxing national tournament: Elite and Youth National Championships & Junior and Prep Open
Salt Lake City, Utah
The 6-day tournament will feature more than 600 elite, youth and junior/prep boxers. This tournament will determine who will get to compete on the United States national boxing team at the Olympic games, or regional qualifying tournament.
For more information visit: https://www.teamusa.org/usa-boxing
Community Outreach
One of the core initiatives of The Floyd Mayweather Jr. Foundation is our contribution to our community through events and outreach. 2018 has been a remarkable year, thus far, as we continued our efforts in building and empowering our community alliances by providing the necessary resources and programs that will continue to leave a positive impact on our community. We supported #Lunchbag earlier this year for the 2nd time where we helped to assemble lunchbags and distribute around Las Vegas’ most under-resourced areas, these are just a few of our outreach initiatives from 2018, thus far. Read below to learn more about how we’re making a difference for families, students, and those in need, all over our community and beyond.
#HashtagLunchbag
On January 20, 2018, #HashtagLunchbag, a non-profit organization dedicated to providing lunches to under-resourced individuals around the community, held the second installment of their lunch bag distribution initiative in Las Vegas. The Floyd Mayweather Jr. Foundation and Mayweather Promotions raised funds that were donated to Hashtag, which went toward the purchase of supplies for food assembly and lunch bags, called #lovebags to feed just over 200 individuals. Each lunch bag included a signature love note with inspiring words of encouragement because we know that every single person deserves to feel love and acknowledgment. This heartwarming experience shows the power of love and teamwork to make a difference.
#HashtagLunchbag began in 2012 when a small group of friends that were trying to find a meaningful way to give back around the winter holidays. It has now grown to over 100 cities in the U.S. and continues to expand nationwide, and the giving has expanded to monthly, and in some cities, bi-weekly meet-ups around the world. #HashtagLunchbag is the perfect example of how a small group of people in our community can make a larger impact for the nation.
To find out how you can be involved visit: http://www.hashtaglunchbag.org/ you can also follow Hashtag Lunchbag on social media at: @hashtaglunchbag
15th Annual Choose & Move Wellness Festival: February 24, 2018
Community Partners for Better Health invited The Floyd Mayweather Jr. Foundation to participate at their 15th Annual Choose & Move Festival at Cambridge Recreation Center, in Las Vegas. The Choose & Move festival encourages the community to adopt healthier lifestyles, especially when it comes to the daily physical activity and selecting nutritious foods. The festival featured a variety of free and low-cost health screenings, healthy food demonstrations, free physical activity dance classes, and various exhibitors who provided outreach to the community.
The Floyd Mayweather Jr. Foundation enjoyed aligning the mission of creating a healthier community and empowering community alliances by joining this event. We provided information regarding the mission of our foundation and our involvement in the community as well as our upcoming events, such as our annual Fight-4-Fitness event held at Sunset Park that took place in March of this year.
To learn more about Community Partners for Better Health and their upcoming events visit: https://www.communitypartnersforbetterhealth.com/
Nevada Partnership for Homeless Youth (NPHY) Clothing & Hygiene Care Kits Donation: June 2018
The Floyd Mayweather Jr. Foundation reunited with the Nevada Partnership for Homeless Youth (NPHY) to provide their program members with basic necessities to live a healthy and happier life. Our staff members united to collect gently worn clothing, as well as prepared hygiene care kits with essential items such as: water, shampoo/conditioner, body wash, tooth brushes, toothpaste, deodorant, socks, and other necessities.
The mission of NPHY’s programs are to stabilize the lives of homeless teens, meet their immediate needs and provide them with a safe, supportive environment, and a path to self-sufficiency. To learn more about their mission visit: http://www.nphy.org/about-us/
Opportunity Village Donations: May-June 2018
Another community partner The Floyd Mayweather Jr. Foundation often collaborates with is, Opportunity Village of Southern Nevada, a non-profit who holds the mission of serving people throughout our community with developmental disabilities, to enhance their lives and the lives of the families who love them.
This goal of this giving initiative was to provide Opportunity Village with donations of gently used items for them to sell at their Opportunity Village Thrift Store locations. We contribute by offering the highest quality of gently used items. Our donations also benefitted the individuals with disabilities that work in the Opportunity Villages in our community and put many of them to work in jobs they acquired great skills for and love. We look forward to continuing our efforts to assist our community in need and make a difference!
The Las Vegas Opportunity Village locations are the following:
Opportunity Village Thrift Store- 390 S. Decatur Blvd. Las Vegas, NV 89107
Main Campus- 6300 West Oakey Blvd. Las Vegas, NV 89146
Ralph & Betty Engelstad Campus- 6050 S. Buffalo Dr. Las Vegas, NV 89113
Walters Family Campus- 451 E Lake Mead Pkwy. Henderson, NV 89015
North Campus- 4180 W. Craig Road North Las Vegas, NV 89031
If you know of a non-profit cause, event, or opportunity you would like The Floyd Mayweather Jr. Foundation to be a part of, please contact us at: contact@tfmjf.org and provide us with details and as much information as you can in order for our committee to decide if your initiative falls in align with our missions and vision to providing better resources and more opportunities for individuals in our community and surrounding areas.
Fight-4-Your Education
The Floyd Mayweather Jr. Foundation believes education is a top priority and is dedicated to the “fight”. Our goal is to increase the chances of student success and reverse the current trends in our by implementing an impact plan that encourages students to keep striving to be the best students that they can be. We host an annualBack-2-School Supply Giveaway, award 4 Advancement of Women in Sports & Entertainment Scholarships each year, recognize top achievers through our Honor Roll Spotlight in each newsletter, and partner with organizations that have programs compliment our mission when opportunities come available. This is our way to equip students with essential tools required for success, motivate our students through encouraging learning, build their self-esteem and confidence, and help future generations excel in their studies and extracurricular activities so they too can succeed. We are honored and thankful to be able to give back and these are just a few ways that we come together to connect with our students and impact them positively. As we embark on the second half of the year it is our duty to continue the “fight” for education, seek different ways to combat school attrition, and encourage our community to get involved. Read on to learn about our upcoming events, newest scholarship recipients, and students selected for the Honor Roll spotlight.
2018 Back-2-School Supply Giveaway
As summer reaches a midway point, we have begun shifting our focus to the upcoming 2018-2019 school year. The Floyd Mayweather Jr. Foundations Annual Back-2-School Supply Giveaway will return for the 6th consecutive year, and we look forward to a larger turnout and more resources to provide backpacks full of supplies than our previous events. Since launching our first Back-2-School Supply Giveaway in 2013, each event has been bigger and better than the last, surpassing our expectations year after year! This year will be no different. We believe it is important to support the youth by providing them tools to excel. The Floyd Mayweather Jr. Foundation will continue to advance academic enrichment and promote literacy as its core principle of putting education first which is why we continue to present these giveaways year after year.
For more information on this year’s Back-2-School event, to donate or volunteer, visit: tfmjf.org
Fall 2018 Scholarship Recipients
According to the Women’s Media Center report from 2017, only 11% of women report on sports in comparison to a whopping 89% of men. Statistics like this foster the support of The Floyd Mayweather Jr. Foundation in honoring women who desire to work in the sports & entertainment industry. The Advancement of Women in Sports & Entertainment Scholarship is granted to two women every fall and spring semester with a goal in mind: aiding women in furthering their education and encourage their participation in a profession in which women are underrepresented. Alyssa Holcomb and Melody Shahsavarani were selected as the recipients for the TFMJF Fall 2018 Advancement of Women in Sports & Entertainment Scholarship. Read more about their journeys to help bridge the gender gap in the sports & entertainment industry. To apply for the Spring 2019 scholarship before the November 17, 2018 deadline, go to: www.tfmjf.org/scholarships.
Name: Alyssa Holcomb
College: Northwestern University (Evanston, IL)
Year in College: First Year Graduate Student
Passion Statement: “Stay true to you.”
Alyssa Holcomb is a lover of the arts. Her family members still tell stories of her being entranced by the sights and sounds of movies, all while their reciting lines at the age of 2. Even she remembers sitting in the basement with her father as a child listening to music and could never forget her first theater production: Grease. As Alyssa grew older, she looked to different drama teams and choirs to continue her love of entertainment; she also established her own “Art Beat” section as editor of the school newspaper. Alyssa’s passion for the arts and quest for knowledge led her to the University of Florida, and now on to Illinois.
Most couldn’t imagine leaving the sunshine in Sarasota, FL behind for the unappealing weather in Evanston, IL but it was for a good reason: Alyssa’s pursuit of higher-level education. Alyssa Holcomb is preparing to enter her first year of graduate school at Northwestern University, where she plans on earning a Master’s in Leadership for Creative Enterprises. Alyssa will return to school after taking a few years to decide exactly what she wants out of life. During her time away, Alyssa put her array of experience with various media outlets in undergrad to the test. She used the experience she gained at school working in print and online journalism, radio, and television as a preface to her professional experience in arts marketing. Now that she’s gotten her feet wet and knows exactly what she’s passionate about, Alyssa has a plan. Alyssa’s short-term goals include obtaining her degree from Northwestern University and working to establish herself in the arts and entertainment community in nearby Chicago. Alyssa is convinced that Northwestern is the perfect place for her after falling in love with the school’s program and the sense of community she feels on campus. Alyssa knows that the Chicago area will allow her to expand her knowledge in new ways and she craves the adventure.
Alyssa Holcomb has set a future goal of leading a performing arts organization, but whether it will house a solo art form or various artistic outlets such as theater, music, dance, comedy, or circus is to be determined. Alyssa would also love to live a happy and healthy life while and one day start a family of her own. We know that she will accomplish every goal set forth by following her own advice “Trust your gut. Find your focus. Do what works best for you, because you are the priority above everything else.”
Name: Melody Shahsavarani
College: University of Southern California
Year in College: Rising Junior
Passion Statement: When you set out to accomplish a goal, remove any doubt from the equation that tells you that you can’t or won’t accomplish it.
In elementary school, Melody Shahsavarni knew she wanted to attend USC. During this time, her perspective on education was changed by an ‘amazing’ teacher. The impact the teacher had on Melody’s life was long-lasting, and influenced her decision to attend USC, the same college that the inspiring teacher graduated from. Fast forward to the present and Melody is a rising Junior at the University of Southern California studying Public Relations and the Music Industry.
Melody’s commute from Glendale, California every day is worth the unforgettable family-oriented atmosphere and well-rounded community that she experiences on USC’s campus. But this happy ending isn’t exactly how Melody’s college experience began. Melody wasn’t accepted to the school of her dreams on the first try. Disappointed but not broken, Melody continued her quest for education by enrolling into Glendale Community College to complete her general coursework. Two years later, she applied to USC for the second time with positive results. Not only was Melody accepted into the Annenberg School of Communication and Journalism, but she is now a school ambassador that helps potential and incoming Freshman tour the school and get acquainted with the 4-year University.
Along her journey in college, Melody realized that she wanted to work behind the scenes and hands on with potential clients. Naturally, PR was a better fit than Journalism (her initial major), which she combined with her love for music. Long-term, Melody would like to become the executive at a record label where she can help artists grow in their niche and expand the reach of their brands. Until then Melody plans to stay on top of her coursework, duties as an ambassador on campus, and two jobs to help support her family. Melody may have a lot on her plate, but she is truly making her family proud. She’s learned that you must believe in yourself first to succeed at anything you are passionate about.
TFMJF “Honor Roll Spotlight”
We’ve selected a few students for our “Honor Roll Spotlight” to build a student’s confidence and keep them motivated and eager to learn. For this bi-annual newsletter, we have chosen 4 students from across the U.S. and have highlighted their achievements during the school year.
Meet Christina Winston of North Carolina. She’s a 12-year-old middle school student that has just completed the 5th grade. Being new to Henderson Collegiate Charter School did not stop Christina from making the Honor Roll. Kudos to Christina!
Q: Is this your first time making Honor Roll, if not, how many times have you made Honor Roll?
A: Yes, this is my first time making the Honor Roll at Henderson Collegiate.
Q: What is your favorite subject and why?
A: My favorite subject is Science. It’s fun to learn how and why living and non-living things exist.
Q: What is your favorite book/series?
A: Diary of a Wimpy Kid is my ultimate favorite series.
Q: What helps you stay focused & motivated in school?
A: It’s easy to stay focused and motivated in school because my teachers are very enthusiastic when they teach subjects.
Q: Who do you look up to as a role model, and why?
A: My mom is my role model. She works hard, she’s smart, and spends most of her days caring for and about others. She used to be in the Army and now she cares for patients with dialysis.
Q: Are you involved in any after-school programs or sports, if so, what?
A: I’m not involved in any after school activities yet. Next year, I will be able to play school sports. You must be in the sixth grade to try out. Before moving to North Carolina, I did play soccer for 5 years.
Q: Do you have any other achievements or accomplishments that you would like to share with everyone?
A: I set a goal to make the Honor Roll last quarter. Not only did I accomplish my goal, but I also made the Principal’s List, which is a better accomplishment than Honor Roll.
Q: What do you like to do when you’re not in school or studying?
A: When I’m not in school, I enjoy hanging out with my family and friends, and singing in the choir at church.
Q: Tell us something about you that we haven’t already asked you would like us to share with everyone
A: My favorite color is blue and I love to cook.
CJ Russell completed his 4th grade school year at John Patterson School in Newington, CT with a perfect 4.0 GPA. CJ has learned to manage his school workload and stay active in sports like football. Read further to see exactly how CJ does it.
Q: Is this your first time making Honor Roll, if not, how many times have you made Honor Roll?
A: I’ve made it on the Honor Roll every year since 2nd grade.
Q: What is your favorite subject and why?
A: Math is my favorite subject because it’s easy for me, but Reading is a close second. In fact, I won an award in my school district for being a great reader at 198 words per minute.
Q: What is your favorite book/series?
A: My favorite book is Catcher in the Rye and my favorite series is The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe (The Chronicles of Narnia).
Q: What helps you stay focused & motivated in school?
A: My family and my dreams of playing in the NFL keep me motivated. I really want to be in the NFL but also know one of the key steps to getting there is getting an education so I can also play in college.
Q: Who do you look up to as a role model, and why?
A: I look up to my mom because she has my best interest at heart and will always give me an honest opinion. Another role model of mine is Barack Obama. He has proven that African Americans are destined for excellence, and he always shows professionalism and respect.
Q: Are you involved in any after-school programs or sports, if so, what?
A: I am the starting Running Back for the NB Jr. Canes Football Team. I also play basketball and I box year-round.
Q: How do you juggle school and your after-school commitments?
A: Being a student athlete requires you to keep a timely schedule and prioritize. I work hard every day with rarely any rest but it’s a choice I made to me my future goals.
Q: Do you have any other achievements or accomplishments that you would like to share with everyone?
A: I received the “Future Football Legend” Award as part of the 2018 football season.
Q: What do you like to do when you’re not in school or studying?
A: When I’m not studying, I like to watch football games and boxing footage, or go swimming.
Q: Tell us something about you that we haven’t already asked you would like us to share with everyone
A: I enjoy going to Florida every year for vacation, I love my family, and my dogs. Lastly, I want everyone to remember my name because it won’t be the last time you see it; I will be on your television screens after I graduate from college.
10-year old Gracie Carroll who will be entering the 6th grade wants to be known for her intelligence and skills in the boxing ring. To make this happen, Gracie has already learned the importance of putting her education first and learning how to balance schoolwork and after school activities.
Q: Is this your first time making Honor Roll, if not, how many times have you made Honor Roll?
A: No, this is not the first time I’ve made Honor roll. For the past three years I have made Principal’s Honor Roll, which means I have completed the school year with straight A’s.
Q: What is your favorite subject and why?
A: My favorite subject is writing. It is my favorite because I like to make up my own poems and stories.
Q: What is your favorite book/series?
A: My favorite series of books is called the Dork Diaries. I have finished the entire series and enjoyed all the books.
Q: What helps you stay focused & motivated in school?
A: My motivation for school is to get good grades. I stay focused because I love school and I listen to my teacher so that I can learn something new every day.
Q: Who do you look up to as a role model, and why?
A: My role model is my mom. She raised all 5 of us by herself for the past 9 years. My dad was a police Captain but he passed away when I was young. She works long hours and never complains.
Q: Are you involved in any after-school programs or sports, if so, what?
A: I am involved in softball, soccer, and boxing.
Q: How do you juggle school and your after-school commitments?
A: I juggle my after-school commitments by making sure that school always comes first. I come home and tackle my homework before going to practice.
Q: Do you have any other achievements or accomplishments that you would like to share with everyone?
A: I was picked to be a safety at school for the past two years. It is a big responsibility and only a few kids are chosen. I was also chosen for the art enrichment class; we won first place at the Philadelphia Zoo for our project.
Q: What do you like to do when you’re not in school or studying?
A: When I am off from school I like to hang out with my friends and practice my boxing skills. I also go to a batting cage often to strengthen my skills at bat.
Q: Tell us something about you that we haven’t already asked you would like us to share with everyone
A: I would like to let everyone know that I had the opportunity to train with boxing Champion Heather Hardy at few times at Gleason’s gym in Brooklyn. I have also met a few other famous female boxers who have encouraged me to do my best. It doesn’t matter whether you are a girl or a boy you can be a boxer if you train hard and believe in yourself.
Aadeja K. Wilson may be one of the wisest 9-year-olds we’ve met. There aren’t too many 3rd graders that know how important time management is or that getting good grades are important for future school success, like getting into college. Read more about Aaedja’s wisdom below.
Q: Is this your first time making Honor Roll, if not, how many times have you made Honor Roll?
A: Yes, it’s my first time making the Honor Roll.
Q: What is your favorite subject and why?
A: My favorite subject is math because it is a subject you use in everyday life.
Q: What is your favorite book/series?
A: My favorite series is Justice League, the comic books.
Q: What helps you stay focused & motivated in school?
A: My future is my motivation. I focus on my grades because I know good grades will help me get into a good college.
Q: Who do you look up to as a role model, and why?
A: My nanny (grandmother) is my role model, she supports me in everything I do.
Q: Are you involved in any after-school programs or sports, if so, what?
A: I was involved in the Boys and Girls after school program during the school year, and I also enjoy singing in the junior choir at Bible Class.
Q: How do you juggle school and your after-school commitments?
A: I use my time management skills to complete my school work first so that I can relax when I am done and have time for other activities.
Q: Do you have any other achievements or accomplishments that you would like to share with everyone?
A: I received an award for writing the best scary stories at school.
Q: What do you like to do when you’re not in school or studying?
A: When I am not in school, I enjoy hiking with my mom and sisters, reading books, baking cakes, and playing basketball.
Q: Tell us something about you that we haven’t already asked you would like us to share with everyone
A: I am the oldest of four siblings. I have three sisters and I do my best to help them and be there for them.
Health & Wellness
Maintaining a healthy lifestyle requires more than just dieting. Various factors such as: healthy eating, proper exercising, mindfulness activities, and selfcare should be considered as well. We’ve compiled some great information to get you started to a healthier and happier lifestyle that you can incorporate into your daily regime.
Staying Healthy While Traveling
While traveling can be adventurous and fun, it also comes with stress that can be unhealthy for your wellbeing. Whether you’re the type of person who loves to enjoy their vacation by indulging or wanting to maintain your scheduled routines and good habits, it is important to find the balance. When traveling you might find it difficult to stick to your health and fitness routine, but we’ve provided you with wellness tips to help you stay healthy and fit while on the go.
Sleep- Find time for rest. The hustle and bustle of traveling, carrying luggage, walking all day, and sight-seeing can be exhausting and hard on your body, but with good sleep you can restore your body’s health, so you can enjoy the rest of your vacation.
Pace Yourself- Plan a realistic schedule. Don’t exhaust yourself by trying to see the entire city in one day. Plan ahead of your trip so that you can spread out all activities that you want to enjoy without causing any unwanted stress for you and your family.
Stretch It Out!- Take about 5-10 minutes of your morning to stretch your arms, legs, neck, shoulders, and back before you head out on your first adventure of the day. It will help you feel refreshed and rejuvenated for the new day ahead.
Breathe- Breathing exercises are essential for keeping your mind aligned and relaxed as well as help you destress and can be done at any time of day, anywhere. Just take a moment out of the day to take a deep breath in, hold it, and exhale.
Walk Everywhere– Ditch the elevator, train, bus, car and get your daily exercise by walking to your destination.
Hydrate- ALWAYS carry a water bottle with you to keep hydrated throughout your trip.
To learn more wellness tips on how you can stay healthy and fit while traveling visit: https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/16-tips-to-stay-healthy-while-traveling_us_57f083a9e4b07f20daa10cc8
How to practice Mindfulness in the workplace
The great thing about mindfulness practices is that they can be done anywhere at any time. Whether you’re at home or busy at work. We’ve compiled mindfulness practices that can be done in the workplace to help you relax, make better decisions, enhance creativity and productivity, and help you regain focus and attention.
Pick a mantra- Start your morning off at work by choosing a positive message and repeat it to yourself throughout the day.
Focus on your breathing- Slowing down your breathing puts you in a calming state of relaxation. Breathe in deeply through your nose to the count of three, hold for three, and release through your mouth to the count of three.
Take a relaxing lunch break– Step away from your desk for a bit and go outside for a walk, find a quiet place to sit for 15 minutes. This detachment from work is a great mindful way to improve your concentration.
Write a gratitude note- Before your day comes to an end, write down at least one positive event that happened during your work day and why it made you happy. Expressing gratitude has been proven to increase mental strength and will help you get through your next work day.
Must-visit Fitness Studios
Step-away from your regular workout routine and take a moment to visit a new fitness studio near you to incorporate new fitness classes into your workout routine. There are always endless opportunities to find a new, interactive way of being active. The following are some fitness studios and workout classes that you should definitely try this summer.
TruFusion– Oregon, Nevada, Florida, Pennsylvania, California, Arizona, New York, Texas, Alabama and Missouri.
TruFusion studios have transformed the fitness industry by offering a variety of ways to fulfill your workout needs. From yoga, barre, pilates, boot camp, boxing, cycle, aerial, kettlebell, or battle ropes, find the style that fits you best all in one location. TruFusion offers over 65 different styles of classes and provides innovative styles of classes from non-heated to heated fusion of heat up to 103 degrees and humidity up to 40%. Members are guaranteed to burn up to 800 calories per class.
Visit web link for a location nearest to you.
At this studio you will be using mostly machines and fitness tools to receive your workout. This studio offers different classes every single day to make sure that you never do the same workout twice. The workout structure begins with participants moving through up to 20 stations, having two people at each station at a time. From each station you will then rotate through two exercises for 30-second intervals.
AIR Aerial Fitness in Illinois, California, North Carolina, Colorado, and Alaska
Dive into your core muscles with the classes offered by AIR Aerial studios. Classes will include intense aerial fitness trainings of the core and yoga focused classes that use aerial hammocks for elemental conditioning, Pilates, ballet and HIIT (high intensity interval training). The class levels began at foundation, then move to core, flow, and air.
BoxUnion in Santa Monica, CA
Boxing is currently one of the best full body workout activities. At BoxUnion you will not only learn the boxing basics and combos but bring mindfulness into those workouts. You can start your first class by learning the form and footwork and then go into the 45-minute signature class where you will shadowbox, use the punching bag, and then mix it up with plyometrics for total enjoyment of your full-body workout.
Get Involved
Every year, The Floyd Mayweather Jr. Foundation puts on various events within the community in its continued pursuit to promote good health and wellness, strengthen family foundations, encourage entrepreneurialism, and to support education. We are privileged to have the help of others in support of our vision and look forward to keeping the momentum going for the second half of 2018. Our efforts to provide for a better community doesn’t stop with our own events; we volunteer across the Las Vegas area, and keep everyone informed about events happening worldwide. FMJF is always looking for new ways to give back.
With only a few months left this year, TFMJF turns its attention toward planning some of our largest and well-attended community outreach events, including the 6th Annual Back-2-School Supply Giveaway and our Annual Thanksgiving Turkey Drive. Large-scale events require support from of our community in every aspect. Volunteer duties vary with every task and play a critical role in the overall success of our events and programs.
We welcome anyone who wants to make a difference to join us in uplifting the community!
Benefits you can gain by volunteering:
- Positive outlook on life
- A sense of accomplishment
- A support system
- Leadership opportunities
- Effective communication skills
- Develop skills for the workplace
What we look for:
- Flexibility
- Reliability & commitment
- Creativity
- Passion
- Selflessness
- Team Player
Please join us as a volunteer for our upcoming initiatives, or if you or someone you know might be interested in being a part of our events as a volunteer or sponsor, please contact us at: contact@tfmjf.org.
If you would like to contribute to any of our initiatives in the form of donations or corporate sponsorships, visit our webpage at: http://tfmjf.org/connect/make-a-difference/. Whether it’s a community member volunteering, a loyal supporter or corporate sponsor, we are thankful for all those community members that are dedicated to helping us make a positive impact in Las Vegas.
Philanthropy Spotlight
Giving back and shaping yourself to become a pillar within your community takes time, effort, humanity, and the rewards come back bountiful. The importance of advancing education and shaping the next generation into leaders is a core component within The Floyd Mayweather Jr. Foundation. We love to shine a light on other individuals and organizations that are doing their part to help impact the world and make change. We would like to shine a spotlight on impactful philanthropic efforts from teens to athletes in each newsletter that we produce. Read on to learn more.
“Philanthropy is not about the money. It’s about using whatever resources you have at your fingertips and applying them to improving the world.” – Melinda Gates
Kevin Durant Surprises Bay Area Students By Paying For Their First Year Of College
In the midst of competing to achieve the highest honor in the NBA, 2x Champion and MVP Kevin Durant, put his efforts toward changing the lives of a few students he mentored at The Boys & Girls Club in The Bay Area. By paying for their first year college tuition through the Kevin Durant Charity.
Four students who attended The Boys & Girls Club in Redwood California were selected by Kevin Durant. This is the same organization Durant once called home while enduring an unstable home and tough upbringing. For some of these students, they are first generation college students. Durant, having experienced a similar situation growing up felt the need to support these HS senior students ambitions.
For one student Joselin Quinteros, who watched her mother clean the largest homes of wealthy families, never thought that the lifestyles that she witnessed through her mothers work were attainable for someone like her. Quinteros will attend the University of California Riverside, and is a first generation college student. At only 17, Joselin knows the road ahead won’t be an easy one, but she admits that her job will not be complete until she gives her mother the keys to her new home and her young brother attends college.
Dezmond Frazier will commit to Menlo College. A former athlete who only saw sports as a means and way to get to college, now has ambitions to study public service & policy and one day run for president in 2036.
Alysia Demery recalls almost being homeless many times. Her state of living and environment is what gave her the strength and courage she needed to keep her younger siblings going and keep her hope and dreams alive. Demery was accepted to Loyola, and has inspirations of becoming a singer.
Congratulations to the class of 2018 and good luck to the incoming freshman class!
Video courtesy of SI: https://www.si.com/nba/2018/06/05/kevin-durant-surprises-students-1st-year-college-tuition
Project CS Girls: Creating a path to success for girls through Computer Science
Founded during the summer of 2013, ProjectCSGIRLS is a 501(c)(3) international nonprofit organization dedicated to closing the gender gap in computing and technology.
The organization has grown since its inception when H.S. sophomore student and founder Pooja Chandrashekar, wanted to provide an opportunity for growth in the tech field, to 2,500 girls across 50 states. Project CS Girl developed three core programs.
- National competition which is designed to challenge middle school girls to actively use computer science and technology to develop a solution to an imminent social problem.
- Workshops held around the country to help introduce middle school girls to different computer science topics and help participants prepare for the competition.
- National and International Chapters which are run by high school and college students on their campuses, in local libraries, and in community centers. Chapters host a wide range of events for their local communities to inform other girls about their initiative and mission.
Computer Science is the study of computers and computational systems. Dealing mostly with software and software systems. It’s important to us more, now than ever due to the increased technology we use. Computer Science helps to solve and improve solutions, protect us (think data protect and securities), improve communication (think Instagram & Facebook), and create an overall impact on our society (think volunteermatch.org or gofundme). Computer science courses in K-12 education are fading from the national landscape at the very moment they are needed most, according to CS Education Statistics. Introductory secondary school computer science courses have decreased in number by 17% from 2005.
Project CS Girl has already made large leaps in the 4 years since Pooja had the idea, by bringing on major corporations and sponsors such as Yahoo!, Society for Science & The Public, and Northrop Grupman. Through these sponsors, Pooja and her team are able to contribute their resources to reach a wide group of girls and provide them with the necessary training and educational experiences that they will soon need after graduating.
If you would like to learn more about Project CS Girl and how you can donate or find a class near you, visit: https://www.projectcsgirls.com/