Cal Ripken, Sr. Foundation, Group 1001, and the Jacksonville Jaguars Celebrate Opening of Youth Development Park with Boys & Girls Clubs of Northeast Florida
Partnership Brings Community-Driven Youth Development Park to Jacksonville
Jacksonville, FL – The Cal Ripken, Sr. Foundation (CRSF), Group 1001 and the Jacksonville Jaguars unveiled a state-of-the-art Youth Development Park in Jacksonville in collaboration with Boys & Girls Clubs of Northeast Florida this morning.
Funding for the park was provided by Group 1001, Jacksonville Jaguars through the National Football League Foundation, City of Jacksonville, Jumbo Shrimp and Boys & Girls Clubs of Northeast Florida. This momentous occasion was marked by a ribbon-cutting ceremony, followed by a sports clinic for local young people.
The newly constructed synthetic turf facility is designed to provide Jacksonville's kids and teens with accessible outdoor recreational spaces to learn, play and grow. The Youth Development Park (YDP) will serve as a hub for fostering social development and empowering young individuals in the community.
The ribbon-cutting ceremony took place at Clanzel T. Brown Boys & Girls Club on Wednesday, June 21. Speakers representing CRSF, Group 1001, Boys & Girls Clubs of Northeast Florida and the City of Jacksonville were in attendance, including notable community figures such as Harold Craw, General Manager of the Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp, and Whitney Meyer, Chief Community Impact Officer of the Jacksonville Jaguars.
The highlight of the event was the youth sports clinic where children had their first chance to experience and play on the new state-of-the-art field.
“Boys & Girls Clubs of Northeast Florida is dedicated to providing these types of safe spaces where young people can reach their full potential through academics, sports, the arts and more. This new Youth Development Park completes our long-term redevelopment of this city park and community center into the state-of-the-art Clanzel T. Brown Boys & Girls Club serving local kids and teens who need us most,” said Paul Martinez, President & CEO, Boys & Girls Clubs of Northeast Florida.
"The Cal Ripken, Sr. Foundation is proud to join forces with Group 1001 and Boys & Girls Clubs of Northeast Florida to bring this exceptional Youth Development Park to Jacksonville," said Steve Salem, President & CEO, Cal Ripken, Sr. Foundation. "We believe in the power of sports and recreational activities to transform lives and provide opportunities for growth and personal development. This partnership will have a lasting impact on the youth of this community."
Mike Nichols, Chief of Sponsorship Strategy & Activation at Group 1001, added, "Group 1001 is committed to making a positive difference in the lives of individuals and communities across the nation. We are honored to partner with the Cal Ripken, Sr. Foundation to provide the youth of Jacksonville with a first-class Youth Development Park that will promote health, well-being, and educational opportunities."
Whitney Meyer, Chief Community Impact Officer of the Jacksonville Jaguars, highlighted, “Youth sports and development are a key component of the Jaguars and the NFL’s community impact efforts. We’re grateful for the opportunity to partner with the Cal Ripken, Sr. Foundation, Group 1001 and the NFL Foundation through the NFL Club Matching Youth Football Grant Program to establish a place that encourages play and promotes teamwork, discipline and personal growth. We hope the new park serves as a valuable resource for the neighborhood, providing youth a safe and inclusive environment to develop their skills and achieve their full potential.”
To learn more about CRSF’s Youth Development Park initiatives, visit here.
About Boys & Girls Clubs of Northeast Florida
For 60 years, Boys & Girls Clubs of Northeast Florida has enabled young people to achieve great futures as productive, caring, responsible citizens. Our 48 Clubs serve more than 4,800 young people each day in Alachua, Clay, Duval and St. Johns counties.
Our Boys & Girls Clubs provide a safe place, caring adult mentors, fun and friendship, and high-impact youth development programs during critical non-school hours and during the summer.
Club programs promote five core areas: character and leadership, education and workforce readiness, the arts, health and wellness, and sports and recreation. In a Harris Survey of Boys & Girls Clubs alumni, 57 percent said the Club saved their lives.
About the Cal Ripken, Sr. Foundation
The Cal Ripken, Sr. Foundation is dedicated to strengthening America's most underserved and distressed communities by advocating for children and supporting their needs. Through the foundation's various initiatives, including building Youth Development Parks and STEM Centers, fostering partnerships with law enforcement and youth-service agencies, and addressing community needs, the Cal Ripken, Sr. Foundation strives to empower children and promote their well-being.
Group 1001 Insurance Holdings, LLC (“Group 1001”) is a technology-driven financial services company with a mission to empower customers, employees, and communities by making innovative products accessible to everyone. Group 1001 strives to demystify how insurance and annuity products are purchased today by leveraging technology to provide intuitive financial solutions for all Americans. As part of its mission, Group 1001 invests in strategic partnerships to connect with and transform communities through education and sports. As of March 31, 2023, Group 1001 had combined assets under management of approximately $60.1 billion and comprises the following brands: Delaware Life, Gainbridge®, Gainbridge Life, Clear Spring Health, Clear Spring Insurance, and Clear Spring Life.
About the Jacksonville Jaguars
The Jacksonville Jaguars are a professional football team and a member of the National Football League's AFC South Division. The Jaguars are one of the NFL's youngest franchises, playing their first regular season home game on September 3, 1995, in Jacksonville, Fla., and have since won four division titles. The Jaguars are owned by Shahid Khan, a visionary leader whose businesses include Flex-N-Gate, Fulham Football Club, All Elite Wrestling, Bold Events and Iguana Investments. Since 2012, Mr. Khan's impact on the Northeast Florida community has exceeded $500 million, including charitable giving through the Jaguars Foundation, capital improvements to TIAA Bank Field and the creation of Daily's Place, which hosts upwards of 40 concerts a year. Over the next several years, the Jaguars and Iguana Investments will build the new Miller Electric Center to house all football operations and launch Phase 1 of the Shipyards, a complete reimagination of the riverfront which will include a five-star hotel, office building and modernized marina.
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