January-June 2020
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.
Introduction
Welcome to the official The Floyd Mayweather Jr. Foundation (TFMJF) newsletter! Here, we dive into health & wellness, education, bringing awareness to communities across the globe. Through our resources below, we hope to spark an interest to plant the seed of inspiration for our current generation and those to come. As you read below, use the tools to build your local communities and join our efforts to fight against adversities. Readers can also gather inspiration directly from our volunteers, staff and Mayweather Promotions’ fighters who are all dedicated to a helpful cause to make our world a better place. Continue reading below to dive into health, wellness and education along with us.
President's Message
As I write this section of the newsletter days after being blind-sided by what many feel hit close to home and touched their hearts in one aspect or another, and are still struggling to understand including myself, my message to our readers is a lot different than what I initially intended to write. We live in a day and age where everything moves so fast and we tend to lack patience, which often leads to taking the simple things for granted. It’s important to find time to stop to do a self-check and put things in perspective.
As we make our mark in the first year of a new decade, we should all remember to live our lives in way that brings us fulfillment each and every day! Let’s find our purpose and execute our plans with love and passion. When we look around at our communities, cities, and countries remember not to take anything for granted. Every day that we are blessed with the breath of life is another opportunity to be better, be stronger, work harder, love more than the day before. We must learn to let go of negative feelings and things that are holding us back and stunting our growth. Everyone should appreciate all of life’s lessons and consider it an opportunity to learn and develop. It’s never too early or too late and we’re never too young or too old to have impact and make a difference. Find purpose, make a plan and start with one goal and attain it. Then strive to do more. In life, we can’t settle for an accomplishment and feel as if that’s the best that we can do. Always believe that the best is yet to come and there’s so much more to achieve.
The entire TFMJF team looks forward to joining with our families, friends, colleagues, and supporters near and far in continuing to educate, lead, and inspire!
Sincerely,
Nicole Craig
President
Events
The Floyd Mayweather Jr. Foundation closed out 2019 with BANG and looks forward to continuing the momentum throughout 2020. We are preparing to host another year filled with events, while we strive to promote community empowerment, education, health and wellness, and youth leadership. Read the below to learn more about how you can get involved in our mission, a recap of events we hosted in the second half of 2019, and what the foundation looks to bring in 2020.
Event Recaps:
7th Annual Back-2-School Giveaway: August 10, 2019
The Floyd Mayweather Jr. Foundation held it’s 7th Annual Back-2-School Giveaway at Craig Ranch Regional Park in North Las Vegas. Students were provided with the necessary school supplies to assist them in excelling in their studies for the 2019-2020 school year. Our mission through this initiative is to promote youth education and academic enrichment. We want all of the youth in the community to succeed in their studies and always reach for the stars! Our vision is to give the youth in grades K-12 the opportunity to have reliable resources and tools needed to achieve success and reach their educational goals.
The Floyd Mayweather Jr. Foundation provided over 1,000 students in the Clark County School District with backpacks and school supplies. The event also featured an arts & crafts station, pencil topper creations provided by the Discovery Children’s Museum, and complimentary eye exams courtesy of Eye Care 4 Kids. Horizon Tutoring Services were in attendance and provided information on low cost tutoring services for students. Papa John’s Pizza supplied lunch to the students to energize themselves while they enjoyed themselves in the park’s playground. Students in grades 5-12 were given a chance to enter a raffle to win a brand-new laptop and printer by presenting their library cards. A total of six participants were selected as our raffle winners and had the opportunity to visit the Mayweather Boxing Gym and train like a boxer for the day!
We will continue to advance and promote our core principle of putting education first.
Click HERE to view the 2019 Back-2-School Giveaway recap video
6th Annual Thanksgiving Giveaway: November 23, 2019
The Floyd Mayweather Jr. Foundation and Mayweather Promotions hosted their Annual Thanksgiving Giveaway for hundreds of families in the Las Vegas valley for the 6th consecutive year. The giveaway was held at the Pearson Community Center in North Las Vegas and was presented by The Floyd Jr. Foundation and Mayweather Promotions joined by the Mayweather Promotions stable of fighters.
The families in attendance received canvas bags filled with essential Thanksgiving food items, cooking pans, and turkeys for the holiday season.
The Floyd Mayweather Jr. Foundation Thanksgiving Giveaway was created to help provide families with some essential food items to prepare a Thanksgiving meal. The vision this event holds is to raise awareness and cater to the needs of under privileged families across the family one step at a time. Promoting good health and wellness is one of TFMJF’s primary focuses, therefore it is imperative that we continue to put forth the effort in providing significant contributions in our annual Thanksgiving Giveaway to assist families in the community who living in poverty and unable to provide their families with a Thanksgiving dinner. Over the course of 6 years, our foundation has been able to provide over 2,000 families in the Las Vegas valley with Thanksgiving meals.
To donate 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.
Upcoming Events:
5th Annual Fight-4-Fitness 5K Race, 1K Family Fun Run/Walk, and Community Day: ‘80s and ‘90s twist
Date: March 8, 2020
The Floyd Mayweather Jr. Foundation is preparing for the return of our highly anticipated annual Fight-4-Fitness 5K Race, 1K Family Fun Run/Walk, and Community Day that will be held on March 8, 2020 at Sunset Park in Las Vegas. This family friendly event has an ’80s & ’90s themed twist with prizes at stake for the best dressed and most creative fitness attire. The fitness portion is set to include participants ranging from all ages, friends and family, and members of the community. We will also be joined by our Mayweather Promotions stable of fighters, entertainers, and various talent who will amp up the crowd at the event. The Community Day event that is to follow the race day awards ceremony, will include great food, music, fun games, raffle prizes, scavenger hunt, and knowledgeable health and fitness exhibitors who will provide essential information to enhance individual fitness goals.
The mission of Fight-4-Fitness is much more than promoting a healthy lifestyle, it carries the vision of forming community alliances where awareness and empowerment serve as the nucleus for an improved quality of life. From children to adults, the whole community is welcome to join the “fight” in reversing health trends that are adversely affecting our quality of life. Fight-4-Fitness is one of the many steps you will take to a healthier lifestyle that includes consistent exercise, healthy eating habits, raised awareness of your own health, and a desire to want to inspire others to join in on the “fight!”
Click HERE for a 2018 Fight-4-Fitness Recap video
Other Upcoming Events in Las Vegas and Other Communities:
Generosity Feeds Meal Creation
Sunday, January 26, 2020
10am-12pm
Findlay Volkswagen Henderson
983 Auto Show Drive
Henderson, NV
Be a Hunger Hero by joining Findlay Volkswagen and Generosity Feeds for a Meal Creation event to create 10,000 meals to fight child hunger locally.
Jumpstart 1-Day Bootcamp: Health and Wellness Innovation
Saturday, February 1, 2020
9AM-5PM
Gelman Library, Room 301-302
2130 H Street NW, 3rd Floor
Washington, DC 20052
The GW Office of Innovation & Entrepreneurship in partnership with Center presents the Jumpstart Bootcamp: Health and Wellness Innovation an experiential and interactive bootcamp that focuses on ensuring healthy lives and promoting well-being for all ages across the globe. In the course, students will discover and break down health and wellness problems, innovate new solutions, and design solutions.
Modo Yoga & The Wave Silent Disco
Saturday, February 8, 2020
3pm-5pm
Venice Pier
Los Angeles, CA
Dance, liberate, and celebrate the eclectic tune spun by a live DJ streaming into silent disco headsets, giving you the freedom to dance, connect, and have a space for full self-expression. 30% of the events sales will be going towards charity.
Help the Homeless Valentines Casino Fundraiser Gala
Saturday, February 15, 2020
6pm-11pm
Sheraton Garden Grove- Anaheim South Hotel
12221 Harbor Blvd.
Garden Grove, CA 92840
Join the SBC Community Coalition 1st annual Valentines Casino Fundraiser Gala to raise funds to assist the homeless population with shelter. There will be casino tables for enjoyment, hors d’oeuvres stations, a dessert bar, photo booth, and a drawing for great prizes!
Meals on Wheels West
Friday, January 23, 2020 – February 21, 2020
10:30am-1pm
1823 Michigan Ave.
Santa Monica, CA
Volunteer with Meals on Wheels to deliver meals to people who are homebound including seniors, veterans, recovering hospital & rehabilitation patients and formerly homeless people in Santa Monica, Pacific Palisades, Marina Del Rey, Venice and Malibu. Deliver hot meals and a warm smile to those in need Monday through Friday 10:30 am to 1:00 pm.
Mindfulness and Wellbeing Expo
Friday, March 20, 2020 & Saturday, March 21, 2020
Los Angeles Convention Center
1201 S Figueroa St.
Los Angeles, CA
Your opportunity to experience live talks and demonstrations from leading coaches, authors, and teachers specializing in practice that will improve mental wellbeing, relationship issues, stress management, emotional resilience, confidence levels, anxiety and depression.
OPRF Chamber Presents: Community Health & Wellness Fair 2020
Sunday, April 20, 2020
11AM-3PM
FFC Oak Park
1114 Lake Street
Oak Park, IL 60301
The 6th Annual Community Health & Wellness Fair presented by Rush Oak Park Hospital and organized by the Oak Park – River Forest Chamber of Commerce. Attendees will be able to enjoy complimentary screenings, free family activities, healthy snacks and excellent giveaways from 100+ area health & wellness exhibitors.
Nuna’s Health & Wellness Event
Friday, May 15, 2020 at 9AM
Wyndham Atlanta Galleria
6345 Powers Ferry Rd
Atlanta, GA 30339
Nuna’s health and wellness event will be held to educate and expose you a natural and holistic new way of life. You’ll learn how to do everything you love in a natural way. It’s all about holistic health!
https://atlanta.eventful.com/events/nunas-health-wellness-event-/E0-001-131203548-8
Community Outreach
The Floyd Mayweather Jr. Foundation closed out a successful 2019! With the contributions and support from our sponsors and community members, TFMJF was able to successfully provide resources and impact the lives of underprivileged families in the Las Vegas area. We continue to strive to empower and impact our youth and families positively. Our Mayweather Promotions stable of fighters are also doing their part to make a greater impact in their communities. Read below to learn about our efforts and initiatives we successfully engineered in 2019 that made an everlasting impact for families, students, and those in need in the community and beyond.
6th Annual Thanksgiving Giveaway: November 23, 2019
The Floyd Mayweather Jr. Foundation and Mayweather Promotions presented the return of their Annual Thanksgiving Giveaway on Saturday, November 13th at the Pearson Community Center in North Las Vegas, NV. This marked the 6th annual event that was held to provide local families in the community with some essential food items that include non-perishable thanksgiving items and turkeys to prepare at Thanksgiving meal this holiday season. This year’s giveaway was nothing short of being a knockout success, with giving out 500 bags of food and turkeys to families in need, we are grateful to continue to hold this annual event and see the growth and inspiration that it carries. We thank all of our supporters, sponsors, community partners, and fighters for their help and look forward to next year!
To learn more about this event check out the Events (hyperlink the section) section of our newsletter.
Two-Time world champion, Gervonta Davis, Holds Annual Thanksgiving Giveaway in Hometown of Baltimore, MD: November 24, 2019
Mayweather Promotions rising champion, Gervonta “Tank” Davis, held his annual Thanksgiving giveaway in his hometown of Baltimore, Maryland on November 24th. This young fighter prides himself in providing to the less fortunate of his hometown community year-round and sympathizes with them because of he grew up living with limited resources and is very compassionate in doing all he can to contribute and give back to the city of Baltimore.
“We all go through tough times. It’s important for me that the less fortunate get to enjoy the holidays as well.”- Two-time super featherweight champion, Gervonta Davis
Boxing world champion, Gervonta Davis, teams up with Baltimore native reality star, Tammy Rivera, held a holiday coat giveaway for the Baltimore community: December 18, 2019
Mayweather Promotions own three-time world champion, Gervonta “Tank” Davis, continues his community outreach initiatives by partnering with fellow Baltimore native and reality star, Tammy Rivera, in distributing 2,300 coats to the Baltimore community who are in need this holiday season. Coats were provided by Macy’s, The Brand Architects, Maryland Legal Aid, and C4S.
Take a look at the event here:
Opportunity Village NFL Picks: September 2019-January 2020
Mayweather Promotions and The Floyd Mayweather Jr. Foundation were returning participants to Opportunity Village’s Fall Football Picks for OV contest. This was an exciting way to have some sports fun while supporting the mission of Opportunity Village – to enhance the lives of adults with intellectual disabilities and the lives of their families. Picks for OV offered participants a new way of charitable engagement as well as the opportunity to multiply the impact of our gift to Opportunity Village. The team collectively picked 3 NFL games each week vs. the spread and each week we competed against the other 9 entrants. teams a week to cover the spread.
“12 Days of Giving” & “Thankful Thursday’s” Giveaway: October-November 2019
The Floyd Mayweather Jr. Foundation and Mayweather Promotions returned this holiday season with their annual #ThankfulThursday and #12DaysOfGiving social media giveaway campaign that provided lucky fans with gift cards and exclusive Mayweather Promotions, The Money Team, and Mayweather Sports merch. Fans participated in the #ThankfulThursday campaign from 10/21-11/21 each week by tagging 5 people they were thankful for and winners were chosen at random. We received a vast number of appreciation messages from fans who showed their gratitude from receiving their gift cards ahead of the holiday season. Fans also participated in our #12DaysOfGiving challenge from 12/11-12/23 where we asked our fans trivia questions about Mayweather Promotions and the stable of fighters. The questions ranged in difficulty, but our true fans did not have any trouble with this challenge. Winners for this challenge were chosen by who answered all the questions correctly and were mailed the selected prize for that day as a gift for the holiday season. This giving campaign was designed to extend our appreciation to all of our supporters worldwide.
Fight for Your Education
When the impact plan at The Floyd Mayweather Jr. Foundation was developed, program initiatives that encourage a student’s love of learning, build self-esteem and confidence, and help future generations further their education with our assistance were a priority. As we focus on the decade that lies ahead, the “fight” for education continues to be top of mind. Hosting the annual Back-2-School Supply Giveaway, awarding 8 Advancement of Women in Sports & Entertainment Scholarships annually, and recognizing top achievers in elementary and secondary education through our Honor Roll Spotlight will continue to bridge the gap between education and the wider community. We hope that the passion displayed by our newest scholarship recipients and star student highlighted below will move you to take part in the fight for education at the local, national, or global level.
Spring 2020 Scholarship Recipients
Help us in congratulating Kori Nicole Barnes, Caitlyn Magee, Rapulu Okolo, and Sarah Dudziak, our Spring 2020 Advancement of Women in Sports & Entertainment Scholarship recipients. As the sports and entertainment industry continues to grow, we recognize that these young women are ready to make their own contributions to the industry, and we expect them to flourish amongst the women that have blazed trails before them. To apply for the Fall 2020 scholarship, visit: www.tfmjf.org/scholarships by the June 14, 2020 deadline.
Name: Kori Nicole Barnes
College: University of Nevada, Las Vegas
Year in College: Sophomore
Major/Minor: Journalism & Media Studies/ Business
Passion Statement: What am I doing today to get to where I need to be?
Meet Kori Nicole Barnes, Chicago native that has taken her talents to Las Vegas in search of higher learning and opportunity. Now a second-year student at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, Kori’s priority is her education. She was raised believing that college is a vital piece of success so attending college was not something Kori took for granted. Kori knows that completing her coursework in the field of Journalism & Media Studies with a minor in Business will help prepare her for the journalist positions that she aspires to grasp. With her short and long-term strategies in place, Kori is ready to take on the world. Kori’s short-term goals include graduating with a bachelor’s degree, gaining more work-related experience, and networking. She hopes that the close proximity between Las Vegas and Los Angeles, in addition to previous experience working the Latin Grammy Awards will open the door for her to explore other high-profile event openings as well. While it may take a bit more time, Kori’s long-term goal is to secure a position with a major broadcasting company; one that will allow her to positively impact the youth in the local community is ideal.
By the end of the decade, we hope to see Kori Nicole Barnes fulfill her vision as a leading anchor on Good Morning America, her ultimate career goal. She also wants to be a highly accredited award-winning actress, philanthropist, humanitarian, and positive influence on viewers who aspire to follow the same career path. To top off her list of goals, Kori would love to create awareness about the increasing number of people falling victim to senseless crimes. To make an impact, Kori plans to be a catalyst for conversation about the many controversial issues plaguing the communities of today.
Are you ready to make your mark in the sports and entertainment industry? Kori knows that determination, hard work, and dedication doesn’t go unnoticed. Her advice to all seeking a career in a similar field is to be confident, never doubt your own path, and make your dreams come true while breaking down barriers as you do it.
Name: Caitlyn Magee
College: Kean University
Year in College: Junior
Major: Public Relations
Passion Statement: “You’re more capable than you give yourself credit for; so dream big, and then go for it.”
We know that Caitlyn Magee’s parents are boasting with pride because this time next year will be preparing to become a first-generation college graduate from Kean University. Over the past few years Caitlyn has been pursuing a bachelor’s degree in communications and has had the perfect role models in her parents to help guide her to the finish line. While continued education was not the path that her parents followed, the values instilled in Caitlyn through her upbringing are evident in her personality and career choice. Growing up, Caitlyn carefully watched the actions of both parents and took notice of their principles while also accepting her role as the eldest sibling of three. It is during those early years that Caitlyn developed her independence, compassion, hard work, and kindness towards others. Together these characteristics have molded her into the perfect student seeking to pursue a Public Relations major, with a concentration in Event Management. However, PR wasn’t Caitlyn’s initial career choice, nor was Kean University.
Before attending Kean University, Caitlyn explored Psychology and Criminology studies at Farleigh Dickinson University. While there, she experienced many challenges to include financial constraints and homesickness, which led to her enrollment at Kean. However, Kean University proved to be the best choice. Not only do they offer the “most bang for your buck,” Caitlyn considers the university a diamond in the rough. While most state schools are often overlooked, Caitlyn soon realized that Kean University offered opportunity far beyond her imagination to include a multi-age and diverse student population which brings personality, broader perspectives and meaningful conversation to the classroom. Caitlyn enjoys the classroom setting, loves learning and interacting with her peers, and is always ready for a challenge.
As Caitlyn aims to finish her undergraduate degree and begin searching for employment, she plans to put her great work ethic inherited from her mother and “if you’re going to do something, do it right” advice from her father to the test. Caitlyn is excited to explore the field of event management, corporate planning, and possibly a combination of corporate and travel planning. In the midst of following her goals, Caitlyn will continue taking calculated risks in her respective industry, volunteering in her spare time, and hopes to someday travel to Ireland to experience her Irish culture and family history first-hand.
Name: Rapulu Okolo
College: Maryville University of St. Louis
Year in College: 5th year BS/MBA Dual Program
Major/Minor: Marketing and Corporate Hospitality
Passion Statement: “It’s not the load that breaks you down, it’s the way you carry it.”
Rapulu Okolu is a passionate young woman equipped with a warrior mindset. Her choice of passion statement, a quote by the late multi-talented entertainer and civil rights activist Lena Horne, sheds light on her ability to focus on the abundance of opportunity that lies ahead. Born and raised in Kansas City to Nigerian parents, Rapulu knows sacrifice; she’s watched her parents sacrifice it all to move to the U.S. in search of a better life for their children. Therefore, she believes that each new day is an opportunity to do and be great.
Although Rapulu’s parents instilled in their children the importance of education, it wasn’t until after her time with Olympic weightlifting came to an end that education became the driving force in Rapulu’s life. Since the age of 9, Rapulu’s interest in Olympic weightlifting took precedence. What started out as an activity at the Boys and Girls club in Kansas City turned in a dream of participating in the Olympics and training at the United States Olympic Training Center in Colorado. However, as time went by, Rapulu would soon reflect on what life outside of the Olympics looked like.
In search of more, she reached a turning point where she realized that the business behind sports was more palatable. After injury, Rapulu traded in her Olympic hopes for continued education, and is now focused on school and opportunities to advance her personal and professional development. Maryville University of St. Louis is one of 35 universities that offered Rapulu acceptance. Her reasons for choosing this university include the smaller campus size, its optimal location for making connections, a small faculty, and excellent mentoring program. The smaller pool of faculty means that Rapulu encounters the same professor for multiple courses who have taken the time to get to know her and are willing to go the extra mile to help them excel in the classroom and beyond. Maryville University also has a mentoring program that is second to none, allowing students to focus on their leadership skillset.
Rapulu’s experience through the Rawlings Sport Business Management program has been a pleasant one. At just 19, Rapulu completed her bachelor’s degree and aims to have the final year of graduate coursework completed this summer at age 20. How did she accomplish so much so fast? Rapulu credited her older sister for paving the way. She considers her sister the Venus to her Serena because she blazed the trails by matriculating through an early college program and led Rapulu down the same path. The business management program has provided her with an opportunity to gain first-hand experience in areas of sports and technological integration. However long-term, Rapulu would prefer to focus on corporate social responsibility and philanthropy. Having already accomplished so much in record time, she’s ready to hit the ground running after graduation. Rapulu knows first-hand that when you come from an impoverished background, life’s sacrifices are different. The hours in the day aren’t the same, and twice the amount of work may be required to get ahead. And to her that’s okay; when you’ve sacrificed so much to reach your goals, there’s a higher level of appreciation for the hard work and dedication it took to accomplish your goals.
Name: Sarah Dudziak
College: Ohio University
Year in College: Junior
Major/Minor: Screenwriting and Producing/Business and Marketing
Passion Statement: “Doubt fuels my determination to dream bigger, so if you doubt me, I can work with that.”
Sarah Dudziak knew she wanted to be a screenwriter but had no clue where to begin the journey. With additional encouragement from her mother, a first-generation college student, Sarah realized the sure way to be successful is to attend a college or university to further her education. Sarah Dudziak is now a Junior at ‘The’ Ohio University located a few hours away from her hometown of Homerville.
Throughout her childhood, Sarah expressed a keen interest in romantic comedies, often able to reference a movie in any given situation. Since, Sarah has blossomed into a young adult who exudes a passion for reading and writing, and originally thought a career in journalism or becoming a novelist would be the perfect fit. However, when working to encompass all her passions into one career, she was led to screenwriting. Sarah wasn’t familiar with the journey of a screenwriter but took the time to research the field with her mother. Research proved beneficial; Sarah learned more about the path she would need to take and even though there were some uncertainties (screenwriters aren’t in high demand), she’s confident in her decision. To combat certain areas of uncertainty, Sarah has chosen to broaden her areas of expertise, making her a fit for multiple positions should they come along. In fact, Sarah has chosen two minors in Business and Marketing, two areas that are bursting with employment opportunities. Equipped with previous experience running the family RV rental company, Sarah has consistently put her skills to the test, improving her confidence with customers and quick-thinking.
Sarah chose Ohio University because the Scripps College of Communication is world renowned, they offer the only in-state successful screenwriting program, and the beauty of the campus could not be overlooked. In her quest to reach her dream of becoming a screenwriter, Sarah has set some lofty goals. Ahead of college graduation, she would like to finish her feature film script and study abroad. Sarah’s film script tells the story of her high school soccer standout sibling that becomes a local celeb, gets recruited to the football team, and falls in love. Additionally, Sarah plans to take part in the Screenwriting and Documentary Storytelling Program in Ireland. While abroad, she wants to immerse herself in Irish culture and continue working on her script. One of Sarah’s long-term strategies that will familiarize Sarah with the screenwriting process is to study out west for the fall semester. If accepted into Ohio University’s “Ohio-in-LA” program, Sarah will have the opportunity to study in Los Angeles and connect, network, and share her script with professionals in the field that are willing to provide advice and help with editing. This program will also give Sarah a glimpse into future everyday life; plans for Sarah to move to Los Angeles after graduation are already in the works.
TFMJF “Honor Roll Spotlight”
Educational milestones are worthy of celebration. It is these special moments that continue to motivate children to achieve their goals, and at TFMJF we make it our mission to highlight the accomplishments of children who are striving to be their best. To cap the first year of a new decade, we’ve chosen to shine the spotlight on Jaden Jacobs, an 11-year old native of Akron, Ohio who defies the odds daily and continues to reach new heights in school. Congratulations Jaden!
Jaden Jacobs
Jaden attends Crouse Community Learning Center in Akron, Ohio, dabbles in boxing and basketball in his spare time, and continues to make momentous educational strides. Read below to see what Jaden had to say about reaching a new goal in his education, a 4.0 honor roll.
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 honor roll and I’m very excited! I’m usually on Merit Roll, which means I’ve accomplished a 3.0GPA, but I’ve been working hard to make a 4.0GPA and I’m happy that I reached my goal!
Q: What is your favorite subject and why?
A: My favorite subject is math; it’s easy and fun.
Q: What is your favorite book/series?
A: My favorite book series is Dog Man, a series by the creator of Captain Underpants, that features a part dog, part man that fights crime.
Q: What helps you stay focused & motivated in school?
A: When something is hard, I take a breath, try to concentrate on the question being asked, and take my time to process information before responding. This helps me stay focused.
Q: Who do you look up to as a role model, and why?
A: I look up to Floyd Mayweather as a role model because he is a natural winner and never loses.
Q: Are you involved in any after-school programs or sports, if so, what?
A: Yes, I have basketball practice on Mondays and attend Boy Scouts of America weekly. In the summer, I usually attend the basketball program at St. Vincent-St. Mary hosted by LeBron James’ high school teammates.
Q: How do you juggle school and your after-school commitments?
A: My mother is teaching me to be responsible. She reminds me daily to turn in my work assignments and plan my time accordingly.
Q: Do you have any other achievements or accomplishments that you would like to share with everyone?
A: Yes, I have a lot of other achievements. I was student of the month twice, leader of the month once, and I have been also received Musical Maestro and Math Magician awards for my performance in my music and math classes. I have also received awards for perfect attendance.
Q: What do you like to do when you’re not in school or studying?
A: Boxing is in my blood. My grandfather was a boxer and Army champion who founded Good Shepherds boxing gym in Akron. I like to work out and train, but I love basketball the most!
Q: Tell us something about you that we haven’t already asked you would like us to share with everyone.
A: What’s cool about me is that I stand up for people in my class that are being bullied.
Health and Wellness
Jump-start the new year with a new health and wellness goal whether you want to achieve a healthier lifestyle, set a new fitness goal, practice healthy eating habits, or even self-care tips and fitness trends that can be incorporated into your daily regime. It’s never too late or early to get a start, so we’ve provided you below with some tips to give you a head-start on setting new goals.
5th Annual Fight-4-Fitness 5K Race, 1K Family Fun Run/Walk, and Community Day: ‘80’s & ‘90’s twist
Date: March 8, 2020
The Floyd Mayweather Jr. Foundation will return with the highly anticipated annual Fight-4-Fitness 5K Race, 1K Family Fun Run/Walk, and Community Day that will be held on March 8, 2020 at Sunset Park in Las Vegas. This family friendly event has an ’80s & ’90s themed twist with prizes at stake for the best dressed and most creative fitness attire.
Further details regarding this event can be found in the Events section of our newsletter.
Relive our last Fight-4-Fitness event here:
Travel Destinations for Wellness-Minded Travelers
We all need a go-to travel destination for a little fun and relaxation. Puerto Vallarta and the neighboring Riviera Nayarit in Mexico have become some of the top Mexican destinations in pursuit of those two factors of fun in the sun and personal wellness. As the wellness trend in travel continues to grow, it has started to not only encompass physical fitness, but practices including mental health, emotional, and spiritual conditions.
This destination offers everything from fitness and spa facilities, to outdoor activities, healthy dining options, and overall access to natures elements.
Paddle boarding in the ocean
Yoga on the beach
Cycling
Waterfall Hikes
Spa
From November 29-December 1, Puerto Vallarta hosted the first ever Free Soul Festival that brought together world-renowned yoga and meditation instructions as well as leaders in the health and wellness segment and musicians. The festival’s core revolves around the natural elements of water, fire, wind, and earth, with one of the main elements of the festival being yoga. Participants will connect with their inner selves through guided meditation and to complete the wellness weekend the festival will include concerts and exhibitions with holistic music.
Take a look at the Free Soul Festival below:
Health & Wellness Books to Read In 2020
New year, new goals! If you’re looking for the inspiration to live a healthier you this 2020, we’ve got the books that’ll guide you to eat healthier, cook more, or optimize your brain health.
Body Love Every Day: Choose Your Life-Changing 21-Day
By: Kelly Leveque
Kelly Leveque is a celebrity nutritionist that is known to help celebs
eat healthier and have a balanced diet. She’s known for her signature
nutrition method “Fab Four” which includes
protein, fat, fiber, and greens in every meal.
The Defined Dish: Whole30-endorsed Healthy and
By: Alex Snodgrass
This cookbook from healthy southern food blogger, Alex
Snodgrass, include paleo, gluten-free and dairy-free recipes.
The Blue Zones Kitchen: 100 Recipes to Live to 100
By: Dan Buettner
The Blue Zones are known as areas in the world where people who live
significantly longer than average. What are the people living in
these areas doing differently than the rest of us to live longer? Many factors, including how
they eat. This book offers over 100 recipes inspired by the cultures and
traditions of places like Japan, Greece, and Costa Rica.
Source:https://www.cnet.com/news/the-best-new-health-and-wellness-books-you-should-read-in-2020/
Best Therapy Apps for Mental Health
Anyone can benefit from therapy whether you’re stressing out from work, school, being a parent, your relationship, or are suffering through any mental health issues like anxiety and depression. Sometimes going to see a therapist might not be the best option for you, but a therapy app can be the perfect solution to resolve all of your issues. Mental health apps provide you with various therapy methods and we’ve shared a couple of therapist-recommended apps to help you along your mental health, self-care, or mindfulness journey.
Paced Breathing
This is an app only available for Android phones, that helps you pace your breathing when you’re feeling a sense of anxiety, stress, or panicked. A similar app, but for iPhone users, is Breathe+. This app helps you practice deep inhales and exhales to calm you down when feeling anxious.
Calm
The calm app provides you with guided meditation, relaxing music, sounds for sleep, videos on mindful movement and stretching, mindfulness classes, and images of nature to help you “sleep more, stress less, and live better!”
Headspace
Mediation is recommended by many therapists for stress relief and the Headspace app can help you learn how to do so by using cartoons to guide each meditation.
For more therapy and mental health apps visit: https://www.womenshealthmag.com/health/g29793180/best-therapy-apps/
2020 Fitness Trends
Whether you’re into at-home workouts, gym sessions, or intense training, here are new workouts and fitness trends that will keep you sweating and smiling all year long!
Micro-HIIT
HIIT is taking a new approach with micro-HIIT. While a HIIT session is usually a recommended 20-minutes, three times a week, micro-HIIT includes fitting in two or three minutes of HIIT throughout your busy day. The benefit of this is that the healthy stress your body undergoes will trigger autophagy which in turn gets rid of your bodies cellular debris and stimulates the production of stem cells.
Peloton
The cycling sensation, Peloton, is taking the indoor cycling business to the top with at-home spinning bikes. Each bike has a 22-inch HD sweat-proof touchscreen that lets you experience 48 daily and a library of thousands of on-demand classes in the comfort of your own home.
Smart Boxing
In 2020 we will witness workouts beginning to incorporate more use of technology. At boutique boxing studio, TwelveThree, they’re going one step further by introducing punch tracker into their classes. They will be worn on your wrist and will track the velocity and intensity of your punches.
For more fitness trends coming in 2020 visit:
https://www.elle.com/uk/life-and-culture/culture/longform/a41063/fitness-trends-gym-classes-workout/
Get Involved
New year, near goals!
After taking the opportunity to reflect on last year’s goals, community service, and outreach, The Floyd Mayweather Jr. Foundation is ready to hit the ground running in 2020. The work of a non-profit organization’s volunteers and staff is never done. Together, we must stay committed to achieving our mission 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.
We would like to acknowledge the Las Vegas community, our sponsors, and volunteers that offer their continued support to our vision and help us to serve our community graciously, making each event a success. Our annual Thanksgiving Turkey Giveaway, Back-2-School Giveaway, and Fight-4-Fitness events positively impact the community, and together we accumulated over 500 community service hours last year. Thank you for changing lives.
If you’d like to get involved in your community and meet likeminded people while doing it, contact us via email at: contact@tfmjf.org. The Floyd Mayweather Jr. Foundation plans to continue bringing events to the community that support the less fortunate and provide health and healthier lifestyle awareness. Our only hope is that our growth in the community as we build upon our roster of events will encourage future volunteers to help us reach our goals so we can continue providing service to others.
Other ways to contribute to making our initiatives more impactful include donations and corporate sponsorships. We welcome any contribution to The Floyd Mayweather Jr. Foundation, simply visit our website for details: http://tfmjf.org/connect/make-a-difference/.
Philanthropy Spotlight
The purpose of The Floyd Mayweather Jr. Foundation is to help our community grow. Through hard work filled with a passion to help others succeed, we find our own success in assisting the youth in the community we live in. With the help of numerous volunteers, we’ve been able to reach a countless number of kids and we commend each and every Foundation who strives to do the same. In this section we shine our light on those who shine their light on others in a continuous effort to make the world a better place. Continue reading see how they reach their communities and ways you can reach yours.
“The most useful and influential people in America are those who take the deepest interest in institutions that exist for the purpose of making the world better.” –Booker T. Washington
MORE THAN AN ATHLETE
When someone mentions the NBA your mind travels to a court, basketball, favorite teams and beyond. But the sport has branded itself to serve a greater cause through NBA Cares. It is the league’s global social responsibility program that builds on the NBA’s mission of addressing important social issues in the U.S. and around the world.
NBA Cares works with internationally recognized youth-serving programs that support education, youth, and family development, and health-related causes. They’ve built a foundation of strong partnerships with internationally-recognized community organizations, which continue to positively impact lives around the world. Their programs and participants have provided more than 5 million hours of hands-on service, created more than 1,300 places where kids and families can live, learn or play and engaged more than 51 million youth in basketball programs in communities around the world. Internationally, NBA Cares has created more than 323 places where kids and families can live, learn, or play in 40 countries. Their programs have assisted the development and nurturing of relationships while giving back to their local communities. The NBA promotes monthly league-wide community initiatives with volunteer opportunities open to all employees and helps to identify local opportunities. Additionally, the NBA Cares Mentor Program provides NBA employees the opportunity to establish meaningful mentoring relationships through monthly recreational and educational activities with local students in partnership with a local New York City middle school.
WHY SPORTS PHILANTHROPY DESERVES OUR ATTENTION
Athletes have long been involved in various ways with philanthropy and charitable works, both as givers and as recipients. Babe Ruth famously spent time as a child in an orphanage, and Michael Oher, a professional football player, lived in various foster homes until he was adopted by an affluent family when he was in high school—a story documented in the Oscar winning film The Blind Side (2009). But beginning in the 21st century, a new trend has emerged, deepening the relationship of athletes to philanthropy.
More and more college and high school athletes have been encouraged to volunteer in their communities. Most college athletes are required either by their coach or their athletic department to participate in community service events. As a result, by the time they turn pro, many top-level athletes see the value of philanthropy.
Philanthropy has long been a part of U.S. celebrity culture, and athletes, many of whom have benefited directly from the charitable donations of others, have joined in these efforts. Their work, however, has received little scholarly attention. Studying the history of athletes’ philanthropy tells a more complete story of the athletes’ lives; it also allows scholars of both sport history and philanthropy to find common ground in the stories they tell.
LEARNING TO GIVE
“As I grow older, I pay less attention to what men say. I just watch what they do.”― Andrew Carnegie