On 5 Minute Salute – sponsored by MAVD, our host Chris Budihas talks to veterans making a difference in their communities. Today, Chris has the honor to speak with Peter Racine of the Jacksonville Jaguars Foundation.
Short description of you or your company: The Jacksonville Jaguars Foundation is the philanthropic arm of Jaguars team owners, the Khan family, and Jacksonville Jaguars NFL football team in northeast Florida. Program and grant support for our military and veteran community is a priority of the Foundation, highlighted by the upcoming Salute to Service season we are currently embarking on.
What Is Your Why (Why Do You Do What You Do)?: Helping to make our community better on behalf of the Jaguars has been my mission for the past 25 seasons and is truly a passion of mine. Our main pillars are youth development and neighborhood revitalization, but we also support many other areas in our community. As a son of a WW II veteran and son-in-law of a career retired Army veteran, and a mentor of a number of active members of the military, I have a great respect for our military and veteran community and help the Jaguars provide needed support in this area.
How did you get started in your field or work?: I have worked in the nonprofit field my entire career.
What’s one thing we should know that makes you or your company unique?:
The Jaguars Foundation is able to utilize and leverage the assets of an NFL team. Beyond cash donations, this includes community visits by our players, alumni, cheerleaders, mascot and staff; enhancing the visibility of nonprofits and their mission; volunteerism by our staff throughout the community; access to the NFL Foundation, which has included grants for the development of 17 new or refurbished community football fields in northeast Florida; and much more.
Regarding myself, I also run another foundation, which my wife Kelly and I started, the Center for Central American Empowerment, whose mission is to support, protect and empower women and girls, strengthen families and promote male responsibility, working the nations of Honduras, Guatemala and Nicaragua. I also serve as the lay minister of the Unitarian Universalist Church of Jacksonville.
What are your biggest goals in the next 6 to 12 Months?: We look forward to many activities in the next month as part of our Salute to Service campaign, including the Jaguars Military-Veterans Appreciation game on November 10th. Our goals over the next year are to continue to strengthen our programs, including youth development, neighborhood revitalization, youth football, support for cancer prevention and treatment, sports safety, support for our military and veterans, and other team and NFL initiatives.
