The Jacksonville Jaguars Foundation is the proud team sponsor of City Year AmeriCorps Members serving at Matthew Gilbert Middle School. The team of nine City Year AmeriCorps members serves full time to keep the students in school and on track to graduate by serving as near-peer mentors and academic tutors in mathematics and English.
In addition to the team sponsorship, the Jaguars Foundation was excited to partner with City Year Jacksonville to expand the Honor Rows program to all eight of City Year's schools this past season. Following three months of student pledges, City Year chaperoned a total of 247 students to the Jacksonville Jaguars game against the Miami Dolphins on Sunday, October 28. Honor Rows provided a way for these students to earn their seat at the game by achieving academic and behavioral goals.
"City Year inspires children to set high expectations and work hard to achieve their full potential," said Dan Foley, Vice President & Executive Director of City Year Jacksonville. "Through our partnership with the Jaguars Foundation and their Honor Rows Program, we were able to demonstrate that hard work and determination pays off. We are extremely grateful of our partnership and look forward to expanding this partnership year after year."
City Year Jacksonville partners with Duval County Public Schools and teachers to place trained young adults in schools where they're needed most to provide individual support to students who need extra care and attention. Working side-by-side with teachers, City Year AmeriCorps members use research-based early warning indicator and intervention systems to help students who are struggling—so more kids stay in school and on track to succeed.
According to City Year, across the country nearly 50 percent of the nation's dropouts come from only 10 percent of the schools. Here in Jacksonville the average graduation rate in some of our highest-need schools is less than 50 percent. Over the next decade, City Year has bold plans for expansion, with a goal of reaching the cities that account for two-thirds of the nation's dropouts and supporting nearly 800,000 students annually.
