Staff Reports | Free Press Philanthropy
Larry Fitzgerald, Jr. recently joined Bell Bank representatives to take 50 children from Future Stars — a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization focused on connecting inner-city youth to higher education opportunities — on a $100 shopping spree at Going, Going, Gone.
Founded in 2008 by Shereka Jackson, Future Stars works to connect inner city youth to achieve their goals in higher education with a focus on technology.
Each child from Future Stars who participated received a $100 shopping spree and a backpack stuffed with school supplies, courtesy of Bell Bank.
The organization also received a $5,000 donation from Dick’s Sporting Goods and Going, Going, Gone.
Mr. Fitzgerald says he remembers how he felt going back to school and how important it was to feel prepared.
“The building blocks of success come through education and we have to stress importance of that in our communities,” he said in a press release. “Getting these kids back to school and giving them a backpack full of supplies gives them something they can be excited about and gets them excited to go back to school.”
Mr. Fitzgerald says Bell Bank has inspired him to do more through his Larry Fitzgerald Foundation.
“If you look at what Bell Bank stands for, empowering their employees to find people in their own communities that they can help and very similar to what I try to do,” he explained. “Bell is a great example of an organization at the top and they don’t forget their core values and something that is very commendable and I hope more companies will see this and try to emulate that.”
Future Stars provides STEM education, trainings, and mentorship by partnering with the community centers in the communities where participants live.
“Future Stars has a core belief that without exception, every child is a star and they believe in making sure that our youth have an opportunity to be the best version of themselves. It is a powerful organization that is doing so much good in the community and we were truly blessed to be part of this heartwarming afternoon,” said Reine Hamilton, Bell Bank commercial banking manager.
“Having Larry Fitzgerald our Bell Bank Champion on hand to shop with the kids and give them a pep talk made the afternoon even more special.”
