Chiefs charity spotlight: Justin Reid's JReid InDeed foundation
The Kansas City Chiefs' defense was a staple of their past two Super Bowl victories and their lockdown secondary has been one of the keys to their success and their two new rings. One of the reasons why their secondary has been so dominant was the addition of free safety Justin Reid three years ago.
Over the last two seasons in Kansas City, you may have recognized Reid's special footwear during the annual "My Cause, My Cleats" week, something that allows players to highlight their charity organization or special foundations that they would like to feature. Reid is no different, sporting bright green cleats on the field in honor of his very own J. Reid Indeed Foundation.
Since coming over from Houston Reid has helped the Chiefs to back-to-back championships with his strong tackling and great vision, but he's done even more off the field with JReid InDeed.
What JReid InDeed strives for...
Before signing with Kansas City, while Reid was playing in Houston and Louisiana, he saw how many underprivileged youth were living day to day with subpar technology and nutrition available to them. So he decided to do something about it. He started JReid InDeed which "focuses on supporting disadvantaged youth and communities through interactive programs, community engagement, and technology access" across Kansas City, Houston, and Baton Rouge areas.
Reid and his charity focus on three primary initiatives to help children in underfunded communities become "fully charged": Technology, Nutrition, and Athletics. All three facets of the charity have their own specific purpose with their own specific benefits, bringing major and positive impacts on children of all ages across three major cities and their communities.
Technology
New and improving tech in the hands of our youngest generations will make a difference in the future and Reid's charity is making sure that all children can get their hands on tablets, computers, and technology of all kinds. Reid has even partnered with Microsoft as part of their digital all-star program which helped put new technology in the hands of underprivileged Houston students.
Nutrition
The mental and physical challenges that children hurdle every day require plenty of nourishment and healthy eating habits, all of which Reid's foundation helps procure for kids of all ages. All three years that Reid has been in KC, he has hosted multiple events, but the most well-known are his Thanksgiving giveaways, where Reid and other Chiefs players hand out turkeys before the national holidays. He's also worked with hurricane relief for his two original homes in Texas and Louisiana.
Athletics
Reid and his foundation have made sure that schools around the different communities are able to give their students the best possible physical fitness centers that they can, including $25,000 renovations that allow kids the best weight rooms and gymnasiums that they could imagine. He also hosts multiple summer camps to keep kids in shape and interested in sports across the board, hopefully sparking their desire to stay fit and healthy through athletics.
Tackling Tech Camps
Over the years, JReid InDeed has grown in some impressive ways. One of those ways was the Tackling Tech Camp, something Reid has hosted in both Houston and Kansas City. In fact, just this past week Reid put on an 11-day long camp at the University of Missouri where he and others put together a "comprehensive science camp" that hopefully inspired hundreds of children to use technology to their advantage.
The camp, which is the newest adaptation that the J. Reid Indeed Foundation has put together, is meant to help high school students explore computer programming, coding and so much more. Reid and his Tackling Tech Camp introduce students to the diverse realm of computer science, from artificial intelligence (A.I.) to coding to Microsoft Fundamentals.
It is there at the University of Missouri where Reid and the experts from Microsoft help students that will soon be picking a major in college, as well as a career field that will consume their adult life, create lifelong connections with mentors and peers in multiple studies. This includes helping students through workshops and seminars with guest speakers and groupwork with their peers, all in the effort of making children learn and grow through technological advancements like computers and tablets--things they will likely use in all sorts of jobs throughout their lives.
"I am thrilled about this camp to return, as it fulfills a dream I've long held. Growing up, I didn't have access to programs like this. My introduction to coding happened during my time at Stanford, so I'm eager to introduce these young minds to the world of computer science. Regardless of one's chosen career path, proficiency in technology is invaluable," Reid said about the Tackling Tech camp.
Joining with JReid InDeed
While there are plenty of ways to help donate to the JReid InDeed Foundation, including the easiest way (a.k.a. the website), there are also so many fun ways to donate to such a great cause. One of those ways is the annual golf competition which just finished up in mid-June at the Oakwood Country Club.
By joining the golf tournament, as many former and current Chiefs players have, you'll be singlehandedly sponsoring a child through the entire two-week Tackling Tech Camp course, something that could lead to children rising from a lower-class life into a world that was only in their dreams beforehand.
So far Reid's goal of $10,000 has been shattered, surpassing $37,000 just this past holiday weekend, but that doesn't mean the JReid InDeed Foundation couldn't use more. All the money goes to help address the disparity in accessing technological resources in schools and underserved communities, something that everybody can agree is a major boost to kids of all ages and backgrounds.
You can also help by following Reid's incredible foundation on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter and YouTube, all of which can keep you up to date on events and things happening around you in multiple areas across the country.
As always, if this story has sparked an interest in you then be sure to check out the rest of the Chiefs Charity Spotlight stories on Arrowhead Addict and be sure to reach out to the different organizations to try and get involved. Whether it's donations or volunteering or just attending an event and applauding the kids and families that are participating, anything and everything helps those involved.
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