July-December 2021
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 NEWSLETTER INTRODUCTION
Release your post-pandemic worries and we gear up to take on the second half of 2021. As we move into a new and more open phase in the world, we recognize that each reader may be faced with different challenges. Our goal is to provide each and every one of you with the tools you may need or simply want to finish off the year strong. Shed the weight of the pandemic and look forward to the bright future ahead as we provide to you the top health and wellness tips, shine a light on this quarter’s top philanthropists, events and much more.
In reading this newsletter, we hope you find encouragement to keep pushing forward in your endeavors! There are no limits on what you can accomplish except the limits you put on your own thinking- Brian Tracy.
PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE
One of the greatest things about being active in the Las Vegas community is embracing new people and strengthening old relationships which is why I am truly glad that the Floyd Mayweather Jr. Foundation will be able to engage in community outreach the second half of the year.
As we strive to serve the public’s interest, we are looking forward to meeting the needs of the community through events, charitable donations, and our biannual FMJF Connection newsletter. When the pandemic will end is uncertain, but in looking ahead, our goal is to work toward solving economic challenges presented by the pandemic and beyond.
Sincerely,
Nicole Craig
President
EVENTS
The Floyd Mayweather Jr. Foundation supports community empowerment, education, health and wellness, and youth leadership. In doing so, we feature some of the upcoming events that you might be interested in attending.
Since events were generally virtual and online during the pandemic, it’s refreshing that this summer many in-person events are coming back. Still, we learned by necessity that virtual events can be a great way to remain connected and build community from home. Therefore, we will continue to feature virtual events along with in-person events, and point out when there is a hybrid opportunity to participate remotely.
Past Events:
The Floyd Mayweather Jr. Foundation’s 8th Annual Back-2-School Giveaway
August 13, 2021
The Floyd Mayweather Jr. Foundation continued its mission to serve Clark County students of Las Vegas with backpacks filled with grade-appropriate supplies, laptops, printers and more at its 8th Back-2-School Giveaway hosted at Skate Rock City. The event featured giveaways hosted by various sponsors and joined by Mayweather Promotions fighters: Luis Arias, Andrew Tabiti, Angelo Leo, Kevin Johnson, and Dorian Khan Jr.
The event also featured booths by onsite vendors and sponsors Discovery Children’s Museum who hosted science experiments for students onsite, WSS Cares, Magic Wand face painting, Whitney Library, The Floyd Mayweather Jr. Foundation hosted an arts & crafts area, Mayweather Boxing + Fitness Spring Valley offered pre-opening offers and giveaways, iHeart Radio 103.9 street team hosted various giveaways with local Vegas DJ Franzen, and kids captured memories at the 4EVR Foto booth. Lunch was provided by Pizza Hut of Las Vegas and families kept cool throughout the day with ice cones from Kona Ice.
Six lucky students grade 3rd-12th graders walked away with brand new laptops & printers, several other students who participated in event day raffles won swag bags courtesy of Mayweather Boxing + Fitness filled with Target gift cards, WSS gift cards, memory cards, BIG 5 gift cards, and more!
To read more click HERE.
Learning and Self-Improvement:
Ongoing:
TED is a nonprofit devoted to spreading ideas, usually in the form of short, powerful talks (18 minutes or less). They have amazing speakers and you can watch videos on numerous topics.
Check out the library of free TED talks here, or browse their site and find other ways to get involved:
Or you can attend a local event in your community. In the spirit of TED’s mission, “ideas worth spreading,” the TEDx program helps communities, organizations and individuals produce TED-style events at the local level.
Find your local TEDx event here:
https://www.ted.com/tedx/events?year=2021&available=on
Masterclass let’s you learn from the greats about the pursuit of excellence in a multiplicity of categories.
Whether it’s songwriting with Alicia Keys, performance with Usher, or Beatmaking with Timbaland, there’s something for everyone: https://www.masterclass.com/categories#music-entertainment
And a Food category with cooking taught by famous chefs: https://www.masterclass.com/categories#culinary-arts
They also have a Wellness category: https://www.masterclass.com/categories#wellness
And a Sports category, featuring Steph Curry and Serena Williams, among others: https://www.masterclass.com/categories#sports-games
Health & Wellness Business Events
If you’re interested in making a career in the wellness, fitness or beauty industries, check out these upcoming career events!
From July 27 to 28, 2021, the National Wellness Conference takes place in Indianapolis, but also virtually! The conference brings together professionals from all aspects of the wellness universe to learn, connect and grow. This includes worksites, local communities, public health organizations, faith communities, and more.
https://nationalwellness.org/nwc/
On August 31st to September 2nd, 2021, the BOLD Conference takes place in San Diego. You can also attend virtually! It’s a three-day event where wellness, fitness, and beauty industry professionals can mix and mingle, share the latest trends, and learn about new innovations in the fitness industry.
Upcoming Virtual Entrepreneurship Events
On an ongoing basis, Google offers free training and other programs and resources to help you develop digital job skills and grow your business and your future. This includes resources for small businesses, students and job seekers, free training and certificates to earn for job-ready skills. What’s not to like?
Facebook also has free resources at Facebook Blueprint to learn how to grow your business or your job skills on social media. This could help you launch and grow your business online, and it could also help you develop skills where you could provide this expertise to other people as a consultant. You can even get certified as a Facebook Certified Professional, which can only make you more valuable in the job market.
https://www.facebook.com/business/learn
Upcoming Local Las Vegas Events — For a Good Cause
On September 18th, 2021, Relay for Life Southern Nevada is holding its annual fundraising event at the Rio All Suite Hotel and Casino. Relay For Life is a community-based fundraising event for the American Cancer Society
https://secure.acsevents.org/site/STR?pg=entry&fr_id=100461
On September 18-19th, 2021, the Big Horn Rodeo takes place at Horseman’s Park. It’s a FREE family-friendly, outdoor event with vendors, non-profit booths, food, bar, games, fun and of course, plenty of rodeo contests. This event is an IGRA sanctioned rodeo where contestants will earn points to compete in the World Gay Rodeo Finals.
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/bighorn-rodeo-2021-tickets-145402106615
On September 25th, 2021, the St. Jude Walk/Run is taking place in Las Vegas. It’s an opportunity to get out and get moving to support this worthy cause and help support this amazing children’s hospital. Or just donate with a click! At St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, “Because of our supporters, families never receive a bill.”
https://fundraising.stjude.org/site/TR/Walk/Walk?pg=entry&fr_id=132499
FIGHT FOR YOUR EDUCATION
The Floyd Mayweather Jr. Foundation honors four women every fall and spring semester to receive The Advancement of Women in Sports & Entertainment Scholarship. The scholarship fund was created with a goal in mind: aid women in furthering their education and encourage their participation in a profession in which women are underrepresented. Angel Frank, Cierra Gladden, Imanni Wright and Jodi Felder have been selected as the recipients for the TFMJF Fall 2021 Advancement of Women in Sports & Entertainment Scholarship. Learn more about the road they traveled to find the perfect school to further their education, why education is essential to their career path, and what goals they have set for themselves.
Angel Frank
Angel Frank is a rising junior at the University of South Carolina who expects to graduate in 2023 with a degree of Arts in Journalism and Mass Communication. While attending USC, she has excelled in the classroom and on the track. Listen in as Angel tells her perspective of what it was like trying to remain focused on her studies and continue growing as a student athlete during the COVID-19 pandemic, plus more! Be sure to follow Angel on YouTube where she loves to share stories about her personal experiences on her journey through collegiate sports.
Cierra Gladden
Meet Cierra Gladden, a sophomore at the Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, Maryland, who’s studying Film and Media with a minor in Entrepreneurship and Management. Cierra, originally from Maryland, discovered her love for media and entertainment while attending Annapolis High School’s “Performing and Visual Arts” magnet. She has a passion for exploring her creative freedom and making sure that communities have the power to tell their own stories. Get inspired by her interview and follow her on Instagram @solarcierra to view her future work.
Imanni Wright
Continued education after high school was the benchmark for Imanni Wright. Born and raised in Michigan to first generation college students, Imanni was taught that excellence is the standard. While attending Chapman University in Irvine, California, Imanni has managed to excel in education and sports. When she’s not playing basketball or catching up on her studies, you can find her involved in many activities and organizations on campus. Watch as Imanni shares with us the perks of attending Chapman University and provides advice to anyone wishing to follow her route to college. Stay in the know with Imanni through Twitter: @ImanniWright.
Jodi Felder
“There’s always something to learn and there’s always room for growth” is the passion statement that first year graduate student Jodi Felder lives by. A woman of many goals, Jodi is on a quest for knowledge and is determined to accomplish her goals, including successfully completing her graduate degree at California State University, San Bernadino. The road hasn’t always been easy, but Jodi knows that life is all about overcoming obstacles to become her best self and find purpose. Watch Jodi’s interview below to learn what motivates her to strive toward achieving her goals.
Help us in congratulating our recent honorees and wish them well as they embark on a new school year. To apply for the Spring 2022 scholarship before the November 17, 2021 deadline, go to: www.tfmjf.org/scholarships.
HEALTH AND WELLNESS
We sincerely hope that you and your loved ones have gotten through the pandemic safe and well.
It’s time to set some new goals, and if you can do so safely, get out of the house and enjoy the outdoors and some human company too.
Here are some tips to kick-off this rest for a healthier you this summer!
Fitness Reset:
Get a check-up. The first thing to do is to assess where you are physically if you’ve been cooped up and less active than you would have liked to have been for the last year.
There’s a reason they call it the “pandemic 20” pounds — you’re not the only one who wants to get moving again! But before you do, go ahead and get a physical, now that health care resources have normalized pretty much, and it’s possible also to do video visits.
UCLA Medical has a nice article on how to get back on track with your medical care post-pandemic, including physicals and catching up on missed appointments. Check it out here: https://connect.uclahealth.org/2021/05/05/getting-back-to-the-medical-care-you-missed-during-the-covid-19-pandemic/
Check out this guide to getting back on track for people with limitations: https://www.aarp.org/health/healthy-living/info-2021/fitness-routine.html
Smart Watch:
Know what your health data is and where you want it to be for your age. This will keep you safe on your road to better health, and it will also give you benchmarks for your total fitness in addition to keeping track of your weight and measurements.
One way to do this is to get a Fitbit or Apple Watch to help you monitor your vitals and keep track of your progress.
You could get one to track your walks around the neighborhood, or take your work outs to the next level. And they look pretty cool.
Check out what The New York Times has to say about the best smart watches here: https://www.nytimes.com/wirecutter/reviews/best-smartwatches/
Walking and Running:
Speaking of walking, power walks are a great place to start if you feel out of shape. Overdo it and you end up with injuries, soreness and layoffs rather than progress. Walking doesn’t put the stress on your joints that running does.
Check out what the Mayo Clinic has to say about the benefits of a walking program: https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/fitness/in-depth/walking/art-20046261
If walking doesn’t move the needle for you, set reasonable goals for yourself with your running routine. Unless you’re training for a competition, it’s all about consistent, regular exercise for health and longevity. Here’s a guide to starting a good running routine: https://www.nytimes.com/guides/well/how-to-start-running
Total Wellness:
As we all try to get back to whatever the “new normal” is going to be, it’s important to practice self-care along the way. Change is known as a time of stress, even if it’s a good change.
Think about the stress you’ve been under this past year due to the pandemic and otherwise. First was the stress about staying healthy, or recovering from getting ill, and spread across all of your loved ones, family and friends. Second was the stress of how the pandemic affected our jobs, our housing, our schooling, to name a few.
You know you’ve endured and been resilient, but practicing self-care is more than just moving on from a traumatic experience. It’s important to unpack it, validate it, and take measures to address what you’ve been through and where you’re now going through the lens of self-care.
Try taking a stress inventory here: https://www.stress.org/holmes-rahe-stress-inventory
From there, you can assess what has worked for you so far in coping with these stressors, and determine where you could use more help. It never hurts to reach out to your support network, or make an appointment with a mental health provider, a 12 step or other support group, a life coach, a meditation or yoga program, or some other resource to help you move forward in your life in a positive direction.
Focus on Nutrition:
In addition to a fitness reset, we can also do a nutrition reset. During the pandemic, many of us stocked up on items that may or not be healthy for us. Our suggestion is that if you stocked up on sugary cereal, it would be better to cut your losses and get rid of it.
On the other hand, if you stocked up on staples like beans and rice, this represents a great opportunity to double down on healthy eating. Resolve to deplete your stockpiles by cooking with these staples more often, before you go out and buy a lot of new food.
Remember the “pandemic pantry”? Stick with those humble, healthy ingredients: https://www.treehugger.com/pandemic-pantry-basics-how-eat-well-humble-ingredients-4847407
Even if you don’t have diabetes, a diet that focuses on minimizing sugar spikes can only help you eat more healthy! Check out the “diabetes plate” concept here: https://www.goodrx.com/blog/how-to-make-meals-to-best-manage-your-blood-sugar-levels/
Have you heard of holistic nutrition? Badou Jack raved about his holistic nutrition chef who helped him train for his recent fight. Holistic nutrition is the practice of nutritious eating in a manner that takes into account the whole person, mind, body and spirit. It integrates healthy eating with who you are, rather than try to force you into being someone else.
Learn more about holistic nutrition here: https://nanp.org/what-is-holistic-nutrition/
Now for the best news, which we’ve saved for last! Remember that container of cocoa powder in your cupboard that sits there waiting for you to do some baking from scratch? Well it turns out that your cocoa powder is super nutritious and low in calories!
The problem comes in when it’s turned into sugary candies and desserts. Cocoa powder on its own is a superfood. It’s rich in iron and other minerals that boost your immune system, and naturally low in calories.
Hershey’s cocoa powder has just 10 calories per tablespoon. That means if you add it to your healthy milk beverage with a low glycemic sweetener, you can enjoy a healthy, guiltless treat as part of your daily routine.
Check out the benefits here: https://www.webmd.com/diet/health-benefits-cocoa-powder#1
GET INVOLVED
The Floyd Mayweather Jr. Foundation is primed to return to organizing volunteer activities that were suspended during the pandemic. While the pandemic resulted in an abrupt halt to our initiatives, the time passed has provided us all with an opportunity to reflect and examine our priorities. An active presence in the community through community alliances, facilitating youth leadership opportunities, promoting health and wellness, and strengthening family foundations remains our priority. Soon, we look forward to hosting our Back-2-School SupplyGiveaway, Thanksgiving Turkey Giveaway, and Fight-4-Fitness events that have become staples in the Las Vegas community. Moving forward, the future of volunteerism may look a bit different, but we will work diligently to ensure the health and safety of all staff, volunteers, and participants involved. We’ve all had a task before us in making adjustments to our new norms, and we’re ready to meet any challenge head on with a new and improved outlook on life and the impact we intend to have on the community!
Are you interested in getting involved to strengthen our community? Please join us as a volunteer for our upcoming 8th Annual Back-2-School Supply Giveaway that will be held on Friday, August 13th at Craig Ranch Park in Las Vegas, NV. The success of our events is dependent upon your involvement! When you are ready to take the first step to volunteer for one or more of our initiatives, contact us via email at: contact@tfmjf.org.
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
Many times we get consumed in our own worlds as we deal from day to day, especially in the uncertain times we’re currently facing. While it’s always great to take a step back and focus on self, we’d also like to highlight a few philanthropic trailblazers who took the time to also focus on others as well. Read below as we highlight 2 key players who took that extra step to uplift our future generations.
Sean Lee, Retired Dallas Cowboys linebacker
SOURCE: USA TODAY/ MATTHEW EMMONS
Many have stepped up to go beyond their call of duty during these challenging times. Here, we’re honored to shine a light on newly retired Dallas Cowboys linebacker, Sean Lee, who along with his wife committed to donating $150,000 through their Dreambuilders Foundation to the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Dallas and the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Tarrant County to help them provide meals to kids and families during the COVID-19 Pandemic. The donation helped the two organizations provide 50,000 meals over the course of six weeks while schools were not in session.
In addition to their personal donation, Sean and Megan set up a website where Cowboys fans could also contribute to this effort. The site, https://pledgeit.org/keepingkidsfed, is offered chances to win signed memorabilia and tickets to the Cowboys home opener for those who donated. Every $3 donated funds a meal for a child in need.
Vince Carter, Retired Toronto Raptors star
Source: https://raptorsrapture.com/
Former Toronto Raptors star and retired 22-year NBA veteran Vince Carter recently launched the Vince Carter Scholarship and Mentorship Program, which will provide $25,000 to select high school students for specialized academic courses, internships, and opportunities to shadow corporate executives. The program will focus on serving students with a passion for STEM subjects, in addition to sports, media, and creative arts such as music and film.
The program is currently open to high school students 16-18 years old and entering 11th or 12 grade in September. While the program welcomes students from all demographic groups, Carter strongly encourages applications from Black, Indigenous, and other students of color, as well as young women, since these groups are most underrepresented in STEM careers.
Programming will kick off in Toronto, where Carter began his NBA career in 1998, but his ultimate goal is to replicate the program in all seven other regions where he played: New Jersey (Nets), Orlando (Magic), Dallas (Mavericks), Memphis (Grizzlies), Phoenix (Suns), Sacramento (Kings), and Atlanta (Hawks). The program will also provide auxiliary youth development opportunities for Toronto-area students 12-15 years old, such as summer camps.
Eligible students can submit an application through program administrator Paris Media Group’s online portal or by emailing info@parismedia.org.