Rachel Robinson International Fellows Selected for Summer 2012 Study
Five Jackie Robinson scholars have been chosen as Rachel Robinson International Fellows for 2012. The prestigious fellowship award will take scholars to Africa, Asia, Europe, the Caribbean and Middle East to study language, child literacy, technology and health.
(Pictured from L-R: Christopher Russell, Daril Brown, Victoria Okuneye, Abrham Desta and Darrell Byrd)
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JRF Alumnus Charlie Fyffe Turns Brownies Into Rewards
Charlie Fyffe has always loved eating brownies, but the UC Berkeley graduate ('11) and Jackie Robinson Foundation alumnus (2006-2010) discovered that baking and selling brownies can also be profitable. "For my high school varsity basketball potluck, I made a pan of box mix brownies," he said. "After seeing them get devoured almost instantaneously, I decided to start making my own brownies to sell at school along with the Gatorade and candy that I was already selling." Fyffe's love for the sweet delicacy has turned into a real business that recently earned him the title of Black Enterprise's Entrepreneur of the Week for his company, Charlie's Brownies.
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JRF Pays Tribute to Three Distinguished Americans
In star-studded fashion, The Jackie Robinson Foundation (JRF) once again held its Annual Awards Dinner at New York's Waldorf=Astoria Hotel on Monday, March 5th. Hosted by entertainer Bill Cosby, the iconic event paid tribute to three individuals who embody the humanitarian ideals of Jackie Robinson. The ROBIE Achievement in Industry Award went to John D. Finnegan, Chairman, President and CEO of The Chubb Corporation. The ROBIE Humanitarian Award was presented to former NFL Commissioner and Chairman of the Board of Directors of Georgetown University, Paul Tagliabue. The Lifetime Achievement Award was presented to legendary Performing Artist Rita Moreno. Martin L. Edelman, Esq., founding board member of JRF and Of Counsel to Paul Hastings LLP served as event chair. The evening also included a musical performance by the multi-platinum female R&B vocal group En Vogue accompanied by the Ray Chew Band featuring Onreé Gill. Among those in attendance-- the cast of the upcoming Jackie Robinson biopic "42" featuring actor Harrison Ford, who will play Branch Rickey and newcomers Chadwick Boseman and Nicole Beharie who will portray Jackie and Rachel Robinson. Almost 1.7 million dollars was raised for the Foundation which provides generous, four-year college scholarships, graduate school grants, and extensive mentoring to academically-distinguished minority students with leadership capacity and financial need.
Click here to watch highlights of the Awards Dinner
JRF Founder Rachel Robinson Receives BE Legacy Award
JRF Founder Rachel Robinson received the prestigious Legacy Award during the opening gala of Black Enterprise's 7th Annual Women of Power Summit. The gala, held February 15th in Orlando, Florida, also paid tribute to designer Amsale Aberra, Brandeis Law School Professor and women's rights' advocate Anita Hill, journalist Carole Simpson and singer and activist Dionne Warwick. Mrs. Robinson was honored for her work as a researcher, clinician and in her efforts establishing a lasting legacy in her husband's name, the Jackie Robinson Foundation.
After receiving a standing ovation from the capacity crowd of women corporate leaders, Mrs. Robinson asked for their help in making the Jackie Robinson Museum a reality. "The museum will serve as a venue for vibrant dialogue on critical social issues and as a destination for innovative educational programming. I certainly hope that you will support us", she told the crowd.
The theme for this year's Women of Power Summit was "Your Truth, Your Power, Your Time". In her closing remarks, Mrs. Robinson noted that she would be celebrating her 90th birthday this summer. She vowed to continue her brand of activism and challenged the crowd to join her noting, "It's a fight for economic justice as well as social and racial equality. It's a fight to keep our young people in school and to focus them towards higher education. It's a battle we've waged far too long but I wouldn't be here today if I thought it was a battle that we couldn't win ... together."
Two Jackie Robinson Foundation Scholars Selected for 2011 Rachel Robinson International Fellows Program
July 19, 2011 (New York, NY) - The Jackie Robinson Foundation (JRF) recently announced the recipients of the Rachel Robinson International Fellowship (RRIF) program. This year's recipients are JRF Scholars Carol Guerrero from Boston University and Vina Vo from the University of Southern California. RRIF was established in 2007 to promote and support international study abroad opportunities for JRF Scholars. These scholars have demonstrated leadership potential, academic excellence and a strong interest in international advocacy and global service.
The RRIF Fellows are participating in an internship with CARE. JRF has partnered with CARE, an international humanitarian organization that addresses root causes of poverty to improve basic education, prevent the spread of HIV, increase access to clean water and sanitation, expand economic opportunity and protect natural resources. CARE also delivers emergency aid to survivors of war and natural disasters.
The 2011 JRF/CARE internship is taking place in the Republic of Ecuador in South America. Past sites for summer internships took place in Ghana, Mozambique and Tanzania in Africa. The entire experience, from training to internship, lasts approximately 8-weeks.
Akeem Bailey
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Hometown: St. Albans (Queens), NY
School: University Pennsylvania
Major: International Relations
Class: Junior
Sponsor: MLB/Mets
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Ashley Burch
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Hometown: Glendale, AZ
School: Occidental College
Major: Film
Class: Junior
Sponsor: MLB/Arizona Diamondbacks
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Symone Everett-Day
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Hometown: Milwaukee, WI
School: Florida A&M
Major: Nursing
Class: Junior
Sponsor: MLB/Milwaukee Brewers
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Ma-Eyongerie Frambo
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Hometown: New Hope, MN
School: University of Minnesota
Major: Human Resources Development
Class: Junior
Sponsor: MLB/Minnesota Twins
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Taylor Moore
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Hometown: Chicago, IL
School: Yale University
Major: Music Performance (Drums) and Production
Class: Senior
Sponsor: Sheila C. Johnson Foundation
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Raymond Nelson
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Hometown: Cleveland, OH
School: Carleton College
Major: Sociology/Anthropology
Class: Junior
Sponsor: MLB/ Cleveland Indians
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Raymond Nelson
CloseHometown: Cleveland, OH
School: Carleton College
Major: Sociology/Anthropology
Class: Junior
Sponsor: MLB/ Cleveland Indians
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Charles Nwaogu
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Hometown: Houston, TX
School: University of Texas at Austin
Major: Government
Class: Sophomore
Sponsor: New Era Cap
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Vanessa Obas
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Hometown: Pembroke, FL
School: Yale University
Major: Biology & Political Science
Class: Senior
Sponsor: Unilever
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Hometown: Worchester, MA
Hometown: Little Saigon in Garden Grove, CA
School: USCJRF Mourns Death of Chairman Award Recipient Jerry McMorris
Jerry McMorris, who was credited for bringing the Colorado Rockies’ to Denver, died on May 8 following a lengthy illness. Along with his wife Mary, Jerry was the first recipient of JRF’s Chairman’s Award, an award that recognizes outstanding leaders on the business side of the sports industry who has promoted the values embodied in the life and legacy of Jackie Robinson.
Sharon Robinson Celebrates Breaking Barrier Essay Winners
Sharon Robinson, Jackie Robinson Foundation Board Vice-Chair and daughter of baseball and civil rights great Jackie Robinson, brought gifts and awards to the top winners of the national essay contest, "Breaking Barriers: In Sports, In Life." Sponsored by Scholastic Magazine and Major League Baseball,the essay contest recognizes students in grades four through nine for their efforts to overcome personal barriers, using the values exemplified by Jackie Robinson.
JRF Alumnus Imo Nse Imeh releases new book on African women's beauty culture
Artist, author and JRF Alumnus Imo Nse Imeh has released an exciting new book about African women's beauty culture and aesthetic philosophy, titled: Daughters of Seclusion: The Revelation of the Ibibio "Fattened Bride" as the Icon of Beauty and Power . This unique project maps the historical trajectory of a traditional sorority and institution of womanhood in southeast Nigeria known as "mbopo."
MLB and Scholastic Announce Grand Prize Winners of Breaking Barriers Essay Contest
Major League Baseball and Scholastic announced that Raeya Ponugoti, a fifth grader from Indianapolis, Indiana, and Peter Hanhan, a ninth grade student from Valrico, Florida, were selected as Grand Prize winners of the 2012 Breaking Barriers: In Sports, In Life Essay Contest. Both students were selected from thousands of essays submitted for this year's contest. Hanhan is the inaugural Grand Prize winner of the new high school component to the Breaking Barriers essay contest for ninth grade students.
Verizon Gives Back
Now when you sign up for Verizon Fios, high speed internet, television or phone service, you can support the Jackie Robinson Foundation!
