When he’s not busy making defensive plays on the football field, Malcolm Jenkins spends his time influencing youth in undeserved communities. Jenkins, a 5-year NFL veteran, created the Malcolm Jenkins Foundation to inspire youth by providing resources and opportunities to help them succeed. The foundation embraces values such as, integrity, service, community and fiscal accountability, according to its website.
Jenkins’ foundation seeks to enrich youth by providing them with mentorship, character development, leadership, education, life skills health and recreation programs.
“We started a foundation and really wanted to focus it on kids, particularly underprivileged kids in underserved communities,” Jenkins told the Philadelphia Eagles website in May. “We started in New Orleans and had the vision to eventually branch out to Ohio, where I played, and then Jersey, where I’m from obviously.
“I’ve always had a soft spot for kids, knowing the opportunities and the impact that people have made on my life, he went on to tell the website. To see kids who lack just that one person to pour into them, that gets to me. I’ve always had that passion to try to bridge that gap or let them know that there are some resources, there are some people out here who care about you.”
Jenkins has taken after his father, who was a helping hand to youth as well.
“I think it really stems from my father, just seeing him give back to the kids in our neighborhood – signing kids to play Pop Warner, taking us all to practice,” Jenkins told PhiladelphiaEagles.com. “He was the one dad in the neighborhood who taught us all to play football, catch and all of that other stuff,” Jenkins added. “Naturally, now that I’ve become a man and have a family of my own, giving back is just something that’s kind of been ingrained in me and I just do it naturally. I feel like being blessed so much I have a responsibility to give back and lift those who are coming behind me. It feels good.”
It is through his foundation that Jenkins hopes to impact the lives of youth. “Malcolm’s commitment to giving back is indicative of his desire to positively impact youth, future generations and the communities in which they live,” the foundation’s website states.
Other humanitarian efforts by Jenkins include, the summer football camp he sponsors annually; the Cease Fire Campaign he spearheaded to reduce gun violence; his generous donation to the Urban League College Track Program to fund scholarships for first generation, college bound students; and his contribution and support to the Hope for the Holidays program, in which he helps deserving families rebuild their homes after being destroyed by Hurricane Katrina.
Jenkins has earned various accolades for his involvement in the community. He was awarded the John Wooten Leadership Award in 2013, given each year to a leader “for exemplary leadership and service to the community.” That same year, Jenkins was also given the NFL Players Association Pulse Award.
In 2012, he earned Ohio State University’s Jesse Owens Influential Athlete Alumni Award, awarded to a former Ohio State student-athlete and humanitarian who exemplifies great character and talent. Jenkins has also earned the Man of The Year award in 2011, when he was part of the New Orleans Saints organization, and NCAA’s Jim Thorpe Award in 2009.
Each year, The Malcolm Jenkins Foundation hosts free youth football camps designed to deliver a solid foundation in football fundamentals to youth ages 7-17. During the learning experience, campers participate in competitions, learn lessons of teamwork, consideration of others, self-discipline, and how to attain their potential in sports and in life. The annual camps provide a fun and inspirational opportunity for youth in the communities of Louisiana and New Jersey to meet and learn from NFL Players in an environment created to “educate, inspire and motivate.,” according to the foundation’s website.
“We also have sessions for the parents, on how to recognize and prevent injuries, concussions, how to recognize symptoms and effects, the importance of nutrition and hydration,” Jenkins told The Philadelphia Inquirer. “One thing we’ve got this year that’s been donated by one of our sponsors – each kid who attends the camp gets a free voucher for a baseline concussion test, the same test NFL players get. If they ever get a concussion, they have that baseline test done” to compare the results against. The camp, June 20-21, can accommodate up to 400 kids.”
The camp will give campers a voucher for free concussion testing, through its sponsor, Somerset Medical Center Sports Performance and Rehabilitation Center. According to a press release from last month, the Foundation will expand its youth sports safety initiatives year round through a partnership with SafeKids-NJ, a program founded and sponsored by Johnson & Johnson.
