Giving back. It is a simple concept, but one not grasped often enough. One person who fully understands what it means to give back, however is Jason Taylor, All-Pro defensive end for the Miami Dolphins and 2007 NFL Man of the Year. From his humble beginnings as a Pittsburgh youth serving as a missionary, to his endless hours of community involvement as a member of the Dolphins, Jason Taylor has always given something of himself to those less fortunate. In July 2004, Jason’s philanthropy inspired him and his wife, Katina, to establish the Jason Taylor Foundation, a 501 (c)(3) organization. The Foundation’s mission is to support and create programs that facilitate the personal growth and empowerment of South Florida’s children in need by focusing on improved health care, education and quality of life. The Jason Taylor Foundation has made long strides in a short period of time, contributing nearly $750,000 to more than 40 different organizations dedicated to helping children since opening its doors. The Holtz Children’s Hospital has officially renamed its recreational and educational facility “The Jason Taylor Children’s Learning Center,” 11 middle school students have been awarded college scholarships as a result of the Foundation’s work with Take Stock in Children, hundreds of student-athletes have been treated to inspirational films as part of the “Big Screens-Big Dreams” program and each September, 50-60 deserving children are each given a $300 back-to-school shopping opportunity at Old Navy as part of the “Cool Gear for the School Year” program. In 2007, the Jason Taylor Foundation expanded its impact with the introduction of three new important programs. This past June, more than 100 youth athletes received “scholarships” to participate in the inaugural Jason Taylor Football Camp, receiving nine hours of expert instruction on the fundamentals of football. In early August, Katina Taylor hosted “Camp Katina – Cartwheels to Character,” a three-day gymnastics, cheerleading and life skills program for 50 underserved girls. Two weeks later, in conjunction with the upcoming school year, the Foundation unveiled the Jason Taylor Reading Room, a multi-faceted, after-school program designed to address the problem of illiteracy among inner-city youth. With Jason and Katina’s undying commitment and the continued support of community members and civic leaders alike, the Jason Taylor Foundation will work tirelessly to achieve its goal of building a better future for the youth of South Florida.

The Jason Taylor Foundation supports and creates programs that facilitate the personal growth and improvement of South Florida’s children in need by focusing on improved health care, education and quality of life.

1. Jason Taylor Reading Room
Located at the Miramar Youth Enrichment Center, just a stone’s throw from Dolphin Stadium, the Jason Tayor Reading Room is a multi-faceted, after-school program designed to offer a holistic approach to addressing the problem of illiteracy among inner-city youth. Middle school and high school students participate in the program four days per week for two hours per day, assisted by certified teachers and focusing on phonics instruction, oral reading, vocabulary building, reading comprehension strategies, writing skills, etc.

In addition, the program implements a mentorship element, bringing in guest speakers to discuss positive life skills including drug awareness, career choices, etiquette, goal setting and others.

2. Jason Taylor Children's Learning Center
The Jason Taylor Children’s Learning Center is an integral component of the Holtz Children’s Hospital, one of the largest and most respected children’s hospitals in the United States. Each year, over 44,000 children come to Holtz for routine medical care or for specialty treatments unavailable anywhere else in South Florida. The Learning Center is critical for kids enduring extended hospital stays, providing them the resources to keep up with their school work and maintain contact with family and friends. Consisting of four rooms and twenty-two computer stations located in key areas of the hospital, the Jason Taylor Children’s Learning Center now also features a wireless internet system for pediatric patients too sick to leave their beds.

3. Jason Taylor Scholars
The Jason Taylor Foundation has partnered with Take Stock in Children to sponsor the “ Jason Taylor Scholars” program. This school-based, comprehensive mentoring and scholarship program is designed to break the cycle of poverty and academic faliure for low-income, at-risk children in Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach counties.

Deserving 6 th and 7 th grade students enter the program by signing a contract along with their parents in support of the program, to commit to meet with a mentor weekly, stay drug/alcohol free, produce grades which are average or above, remain crime free, attend school, and display a strong responsibility to their neighborhoods and schools. In return, mentors are recruited to motivate the student to achieve academic success and model social, coping and life skills.

The child, mentor and the family are supported by student advocates, school personnel, community leaders and local corporations throughout the six or seven years of his/her academic career. Upon graduation from high school, the student is awarded a Florida PrePaid College Program four-year tuition scholarship.

4.Jason Taylor Football Camp
The Jason Taylor Football camp will be held June 12-14, 2008. Each day, the campers will experience various stations, specializing in non-contact fundamental skills and the team concept of football. Groups will be small to assure that each camper gets maximum personalized instruction from the top coaches in the Miami - Fort Lauderdale Area.

5. Big Screens - Big Dreams
The “Big Screens – Big Dreams” program was created by Jason Taylor to inspire and motivate young people in South Florida through feature films. Jason recognizes the tremendous impact movies have on today’s youth and uses positive, uplifting stories to teach and inspire.

6. All-Community Team
In 2007, Jason was part of a select group of Miami Dolphins players who each hosted a group of twenty guests from charitable organizations for each of the Dolphins regular season home games as part of the 2007 Miami Dolphins “All-Community Team” (A.C.T.) Program.

7.Cool Gear for the School Year
“Cool Gear for the School Year” provides disadvantaged children the opportunity to participate in a “Back to School” shopping experience at an Old Navy clothing store.

8. Camp Katina- Cartwheels to Character
From August 10-12, 2007, Katina Taylor, Vice President and co-founder of the Jason Taylor Foundation, hosted “Camp Katina – Cartwheels to Character,” a gymnastics, cheerleading and life skills program for girls ages 7-12. Camp Katina is part of the Jason Taylor Foundation’s ongoing initiatives benefiting area youth.

1.Jason Taylor Celebrity Golf Classic
-May 31st-June 2nd.

Jason Taylor
Founder

Seth Levit
Executive Director

Shaun Richard
Operations Manager

Maegan Hawley
Operations Manager

-Jason Taylor

-Katina Taylor

-Seth Levitt

-Bill Fauerbach
Publix Super Markets

-Jim Kramer
Kramer & Associates, P.A.

-Michael F. Marino
Hunton & Williams LLP

-Jeff Peck
Gold Coast Shipping

-Jorge Perez
All-State

-Joe Rose
NBC-6/560 WQAM

-Ralph Stringer
Neostar Sports & Entertainment

-Gary Wichard
Pro Tect Management

-Seminole Tribe of Florida
-Hooters
-Neostar
-JM Family Enterprises, Inc.
-McArthur Dairy
-Interactive
-Office Depot Foundation
-Goodsearch.com