Please join Delores and Wayne Weaver wave to the youth seated in the HONOR ROWS north end zone at the end of the first quarter, to congratulate them for their accomplishments in earning their seat to today's game.

Honor Rows was instituted in 1995 during the Jacksonville Jaguars inaugural season, "The Season of Firsts." It is an innovative program that uses seats at Jaguars home games as incentives for young people to set and achieve ambitious but realistic goals. Goals are set typically in the areas of academics, behavior, nutrition and physical health, and community service. Agency staff, parents, and mentors assist youth in achieving their individual goals in order to earn their seat to a Jaguars home game. All youth make and keep a pledge to abstain from tobacco, alcohol and drugs.

This year, more than 4,500 seats have been awarded to 39 nonprofit agencies. Almost 4,500 youth alone will have participated in the program by the end of the 2008 season. In the past eleven seasons, the Foundation has awarded nearly 40,000 Honor Rows seats to youth, parents, mentors and agency staff. This is in addition to the donation of other charitable seats with an in-kind value of more than $420,000.

The United Way of NE Florida mobilizes game-day volunteers who ensure the safety and enjoyment of Honor Rows participants.

The following agencies are participating in the Jaguars Foundation's 2008 season Honor Rows program:

Bethel Baptist B.E.S.T. Academy * Big Brothers Big Sisters of North Florida *

Boys & Girls Clubs of Northeast Florida * Bridge of Northeast Florida *

Central Metropolitan CME Church * Child Guidance Center *

Children's Home Society * Communities In Schools of Jacksonville, & St. Johns *

Community Connections of Jacksonville * daniel, Inc. *

Duval County 4-H Foundation * Empowerment Resources *

EPIC Community Services * Families First *

Family Support Services of NE FL * Gateway Community Services *

Girls Inc. of Jacksonville * Guardian of Dreams (St. Pius and Holy Rosary Schools) *

Habitat for Humanity of Jacksonville Beaches * Jacksonville Children's Chorus *

Jacksonville Marine Institute * Jacksonville Public Library Foundation *

Jewish Family & Community Services * Lutheran Social Services of NE FL *

Mali Vai Washington Kids Foundation * Metro Kids Konnection *

Northeast Florida Community Action Agency * Northside Community Involvement *

PACE Center For Girls * Police Athletic League of Jacksonville *

Potter's House Christian Academy * River Region Human Services *

Sanctuary on 8th Street * Shands Jacksonville - Sickle Cell Program *

State Attorney's Office * The Children's Program *

United Congregations For Communities & Youth * YMCA - Baker County *

For more information about the Foundation's programs, please contact Peter Racine at 633-KIDS.