DARE TO DREAM
Many world-class athletes bask in fame and fortune, only to fade into obscurity when the spotlight turns to shadow. Fortunately, for the city of East St. Louis, Jackie Joyner-Kersee was cut from a different cloth. Regarded by many as the greatest female athlete of all-time, this Olympic track and field champion chose a path from worldwide stardom to return home with an even greater purpose.
Through tireless work and a commitment to ensuring every youth is given the opportunity to achieve greatness, the Jackie Joyner-Kersee Foundation has grown to become a safe haven and learning-rich environment for area youth. Where the challenges and limitations of one of America’s most notoriously deadly and impoverished cities will never define where a child can go, or who they can become.
OUR MISSION
Carry out Jackie’s dream to provide youth in East St. Louis the opportunity to Win In Life.
OUR VISION
To see the Jackie Joyner Kersee Foundation transform a community that inspires the world.
CHAMPIONING THE CAUSE
Jackie Joyner-Kersee, Founder & Olympian
Jackie Joyner-Kersee, winner of six Olympic Medals, is considered by ESPN to be one of the 50 Great Athletes of All Time, and was voted Female Athlete of the 20th Century by Sports Illustrated for Women. She is the first woman to win back-to-back gold medals in the heptathlon, the first African American woman to win an Olympic Medal in the long jump, and the first woman to score 7,000 points in the heptathlon.
Born and raised in East St. Louis, Jackie is committed to ensuring that all children have access to high quality after school programs, safe recreational places within their communities, and caring adults to help them achieve their dreams. Jackie is the heart and soul of this organization, and serves as living proof that kids in East St. Louis can dare to dream big and if they have the drive and determination, they can accomplish anything they desire.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
JACKIE JOYNER-KERSEE
MICHELLE K. SHEROD
ALEX FENNOY
LORRI A. RIPPELMEYER
CHUCK GULLEDGE
- Stephen Barr Founder Osborn + Barr Communications
- Norma Bellcoff CNB Bank & Trust and Wealth Management
- Robert Chambers Huntleigh Securities
- Brian Leonard Ameren Illinois
- Joseph Mark Eco-Constructors
- Jay Martin
- James McEvilly East Side River Transportation, Inc.
- Mark Mestemacher Ceres Consulting, LLC
- Jerina Phillips Lewis Rice
- Jeffrey Reed Veritext Legal Solutions
- Troy Rutherford Boeing
- Tracy Session Associated Bank
- Tim Slater
- Ernest Smiley Kingdom Capital
- Drexel Stith DPS Enterprises, LLC
- Keith Ward Leading Systems Technologies
