TAMPA, FLORIDA (December 1, 2008) – NFL all-pro linebacker Cato June (#59), Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and the June Family Foundation, Inc. (JFF) recently launched 59 Academy®, a community laboratory, designed to expose at-risk youth to lucrative career opportunities in the multi-billion dollar sports-business industry. The Academy has a goal of cultivating next generation sports industry entrepreneurs and executives.
According to Sport Kid Magazine, less than one (1) percent of high school seniors get drafted to professional sports teams and less than 0.2 percent makes the final roster. The sports business is one of the largest industries in the United States, currently fueled by explosive growth. This mega industry is more than twice the size of the U.S. auto industry and seven times the size of the movie industry. More than 50 million young boys and girls are involved in football and other organized sports programs in the U.S. Many kids, particularly at-risk youth, dream of playing professional sports but their chances of actually making it are quite dismal. Cato encourages youth to never give up on their dreams but to always have alternative career paths.
“On the field, I was able to achieve all-pro status tackling NFL’s toughest athletes,” said Cato June, JFF Founder and Chairman. “Off the field, I am equally determined to be an all-pro tackling illiteracy, poverty and to inspire more at-risk youth to consider business and entrepreneur opportunities in a robust sports industry. Some of these opportunities include sports agents, scouting, team ownership, team operations, sports apparel design and manufacturing, and coaching, just to name a few."
JFF’s strategic mission is to maintain programs that command collaborative community and corporate partnerships fostering lasting change in the lives of at-risk Tampa and Washington, DC youth. JFF is currently offering membership opportunities to fans and local community leaders to foster community team building and partnerships. Membership benefits include discounts to JFF’s special Superbowl XLIII (Tampa) charity events, corporate gala dinners, youth summits, random ticket giveaways for home games, eligibility to serve on advisory committees, and unlimited professional networking opportunities.
“We look forward to building unconventional partnerships with you and our local communities,”
JFF will be hosting the Business of Sports Summit (BOSS), in conjunction with local Tampa youth organizations, Saturday, January 31, 2009, to educate at-risk youth on how to be their own BOSS in the fascinating sports-business industry and in being future sports-business professionals and executives. The BOSS will be one of many activities surrounding Superbowl XLIII in Tampa. The event will be produced by June Family Foundation and Highsmith Branding Group, Inc. More details on the event will be forthcoming at www.junefamilyfoundation.org.
Become a member of JFF today, together we can make a world of difference. For JFF membership and 59 Academy® Program information, visit www.junefamilyfoundation.org. Media inquiries and request for press credentials can be directed to info@junefamilyfoundation.org.
June Family Foundation is an independent 501c3 non-profit organization dedicated to collaborative community and corporate partnerships fostering lasting change in the lives of at-risk youth. For more information, visit www.junefamilyfoundation.org
