Risk taking, accepting dares and a propensity for rebellion have been a part of the adolescent experience for generations.  Children daring each other to do negative inappropriate behavior have been one of the results of peer pressure.  The Jonathan Bender Foundation takes a different stance, and encourages youth to challenge one another in a more positive manner.

The Jonathan Bender Foundation Program is a challenge – a massive positive request – Youth to Youth, child to child, and program to businesses – challenging them to get involved and be a catalyst for positive change in the lives of children in the community.

Local public schools systems and their professional staff have been expected to help resolve youth educational, health and social problems at the community level.  Recent research from the U.S. Census Bureau, National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH), and U. S. Bureau of Justice regarding adolescents indicates minimal success in this approach to solving the problems of poverty, literacy and at risk behaviors. The following table compares data between the U.S. and the two states targeted by the Foundation, Louisiana and Mississippi.

These staggering figures indicate that it has become impossible for the problems of our community to be controlled by school systems alone.  The problems can only be addressed with programs that have professionally formatted guidelines, adequate funding, proper training, effective means of determining the success of techniques employed, and ongoing evaluation.

The problem-solving objective of The Jonathan Bender Foundation focuses on a model which will allow children to analyze events and happenings in their lives.  It will enable them to identify causes, evaluate possible effects, and to handle adverse situations in a positive manner.  We realize that the overall success of our program is directly related to the degree by which we are able to instill in youth a desire to set productive goals and a determination to work towards their achievement.  This goal-oriented behavior will assist us in fostering a sense of self-worth in our community’s children. Positive accomplishments serve to encourage greater goals and a heightened awareness of one’s ability to be the best they can be, without the false encouragement of drugs and other at risk behaviors.

Objectives

Education

Conduct on-going training and educational programs designed to improve children’s academic skills.

Health

Promote and encourage a healthy lifestyle by offering health related screening, athletic and supporting activities, and educational programs on diet and nutrition as they relate to good health.

Social

1) Empower children by teaching and promoting good decision-making and problem solving skills. 

2) Teach children the importance of teamwork, sportsmanship and other life-lessons through participation in a variety of sports related activities.

The Foundation Will

• Design comprehensive quality programs that enhance wellness through the promotion of healthy lifestyles.
• Provide a range of programs to meet the diverse needs and interest of specific youth populations, such as appreciation of cultural diversity, the importance of the arts and humanities, and education and literacy programs for persons living in poverty.
• Provide opportunity for children to be exposed to different occupations through lectures by role models in the community such as health care providers, sports figures, community leaders, music industry professionals, financial and real estate investors, etc.
• Provide opportunity for children to learn skills in conflict resolution and problem solving skills through Non-Violence Conflict Resolution Training and Instruction.
• Provide children and youth an opportunity to enroll in after school and summer programs that offer mental, social and physical development.
• Utilize the high profile status of sports to introduce young people to the various aspects of how education and health will affect their quality of life.  Activities include camps, tournaments, and various athletic competitions.