MISSION
Cultivating and empowering today’s youth with the tools necessary for a more desirable tomorrow
VISION
To produce educated, responsible, socially, emotionally, financially independent, and culturally sensitive youth who will become tomorrow’s leaders
PURPOSE
Providing educational opportunities for underserved youth who lack the social, emotional, and financial support needed to achieve future success
OUR STORY
The Jarvis Gibson Foundation grew out of one man’s dedication to Cleveland Area and Surrounding Suburbs' Youth
Jarvis Gibson Sr. has been supporting Cleveland’s youth since 1998.
Starting out as an assistant football coach at St. Peter Chanel High School, and later moving on to work as Head Coach at his alma mater, Cleveland South High School, Gibson began to develop relationships with the student athletes he worked with. He found that these young men were facing wide-ranging challenges off the field– home life, education, health, financial, psychological– and had needs in these areas that were going unmet.
Gibson found this reflective of his own experience, growing up in a low-income neighborhood. But, he says, he’d had his mother and brother to insulate him from some of the hardships their family experienced, the two of them acting as an ‘umbrella’ to shield him and allow him to grow into his potential. In this spirit, Gibson sought to be that same ‘umbrella’ for the players in his charge, which prompted him to start exploring ways to support those young athletes– starting with academics. Gibson implemented a mentoring program and study tables for his players, helping them develop time management and study skills. This was the beginning of what would become the Beyond the Field Leadership Academy Mentorship program.
As Beyond the Field continued and started to become more formalized, Gibson began to seek out ways to get support and funding for the program in order to extend its impact. Friends began asking whether he had a nonprofit, and he considered the idea. Establishing a foundation would allow him to give back to the community he came from, and support underserved youth in that community and beyond. In 2016, he created the Jarvis Gibson Foundation– a legacy not only reflective of his life and work, but also an opportunity for his son, Jarvis Gibson Jr., to continue the work he began.
Since its founding, Gibson states his work has extended beyond high school football players. Through Beyond the Field, we support student athletes of all sports, from little league to high school. Our Honorable Men of Tomorrow program reaches young boys in grades 3-8, focusing on character development, global and environmental awareness, and youth leadership. And our community engagement efforts include initiatives like Holiday Angels, COVID kit distribution, Homeless Essentials project, and more. To date, the Jarvis Gibson Foundation has touched the lives of almost 2,500 Cleveland and surrounding suburb residents since 2016–
and our work is just beginning.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
At the Jarvis Gibson Foundation, we are governed by a board of directors as diverse as our community.
Our Officers and Directors are chosen for their extensive knowledge of the community's educational, cultural, civic and charitable needs. Directors serve on a volunteer basis and meet to discuss community concern, set policy, oversee finances and investments and make final decisions.
FOUNDER AND CHAIR
JARVIS GIBSON, SR.
Community Leader, The Jarvis Gibson Foundation
jarvisgibsonfoundation@gmail.com
Being raised in the inner city of Cleveland, Ohio in what was formerly known as the Longwood Estates, a public low-income housing development located close to downtown Cleveland, should be all the motivation needed to dream, persevere, and achieve...
SECRETARY
DR. ARIES COBB
Learning Technology Architect
Aplus Technology Inc.
Dr. Aries N. Cobb is a Learning Technology Architect at Aplus Technology Inc. Dr. Cobb graduated from Nova Southeastern University with a doctorate in Instructional Technology Distance Education. Dr. Aries Cobb was the first Black female to serve as an Assistant Professor of Educational Technology at Baldwin Wallace University...
TREASURER
RANA D. BROWN
Director of Finance, Beaumont School
Rana Brown is the Director of Finance at Beaumont School. She earned a Master of Business Administration from Bowling Green State University and a Bachelor of Science in Accountancy from Miami University. She has over 30 years of accounting experience including the last 16 in nonprofit settings.
Rana is a member of the Greater Cleveland Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, where she serves as Chair of the Budget and Finance Committee and works on the Social Action and Domestic Violence Initiative committees. She is also a member of the NBMBAA (National Black MBA Association), serves on the Board of Directors of Faith Community United Credit Union, and volunteers at Karamu House as an usher.
WHAT WE DO
We provide educational enhancement opportunities for underserved youth in the Cleveland Area and Surrounding Suburbs, and support the local community through charity and outreach efforts
While addressing education as being the foundation of building success, many youth experience barriers of which are out of their control. The Jarvis Gibson Foundation has developed objectives to address these social determinants to assist in removing barriers such as lack of education around mental health, awareness of opportunities to educate on preparation for after high school (college and trade programs), financial literacy, sex education, substance abuse, and economic development just to name a few.
Additionally, The Jarvis Gibson Foundation serves as an advocate for not only the youth but for their parents and/or guardians. Youth need an environment that is emotionally, socially, safe, and financially stable enough to support their needs in their journey to adulthood. A social determinant that continues to impact the success of youth is poverty and homelessness. According to the Center for Community Solutions, 36.2% of the population of Cleveland lives in poverty and 18.2 are in abject poverty (household income less than 50% of the poverty rate). Furthermore, the number of Clevelanders living on income at 200% of the official poverty line is estimated at 61.3%. And Cleveland Child poverty rate is at 53.5%. There were over 11,000 evictions in the Cleveland Housing Court and a percentage of those fall into homelessness every year.
The Jarvis Gibson Foundation has positioned the organization to collaborate with those in housing to offer solutions impacting four families per year by connecting to affordable and safe housing (single family properties built within 2 decades, equipped with all appliances), and connect to programs to sustain housing, provide financial literacy, connect to programs to become viable candidates for future employment opportunities, and eventually resulting in home ownership.
Lastly in the wake of current conditions such as the Covid-19 Pandemic, this has prompted the Jarvis Gibson Foundation to offer short term solutions and offer support efforts for those during crisis. While protecting the safety of the mentees who participate in the programs, a requirement is to participate in community service efforts such as donation drives and fundraising initiatives to support those less fortunate than themselves. Also, it is the obligation of the Foundation to support shelters, healthcare organizations, and public health services by offering donations for the purpose of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and supplies, toiletries, food, and other alternatives to address homeless shelter shortages.
PROFESSIONAL ADVISOR NETWORK
Our Professional advisors network has played a critical role in the Jarvis Gibson Foundation's endowment programs. Our network is comprised of financial and project planners, PMPs and related professionals - all on a volunteer basis - who desire to help make an positive impact within the community.
