The Auburn Sustenance Project, run by Auburn University students, explored the impacts of food insecurity on academic success, physical development, social development, and cognitive development, as well as the family stress caused by the lack of food consistency, the desire to reduce food insecurity within the local community emerged. The primary goal is to provide K-5 students with breakfast, lunch, and snacks during their breaks from school.
With a shared interest in sustainably reducing food insecurities, Jonathan Jones' Next Step Foundation partnered with Auburn Sustenance Project in 2022, understanding that alone we can do so much, but together we can do so much more.
Jonathan Jones, Auburn Alumni, and the foundation staff has been hands-on in raising funds, packing, and distributing thousands of meals since forming the partnership and hopes to help more families in need.
Since joining forces, the project has provided well over 50,000 meals to Auburn students.
Click the link below to learn more about the project and how you can donate.
The Auburn Chamber is excited to welcome the Jonathan Jones Next Step Foundation as its newest member, highlighting a valuable collaboration between two organizations dedicated to community development and social impact.
As a committed foundation focused on education, mentorship, and social initiatives, the Jonathan Jones Next Step Foundation brings valuable experience and a strong dedication to empowering individuals and families. Through their partnership with the Auburn Chamber, they will work together to create opportunities and provide valuable support to residents in Auburn, ultimately fostering a stronger and more vibrant community.
This partnership showcases the Chamber's mission to facilitate meaningful connections and advocate for the betterment of Auburn. By embarking on this shared journey, the Auburn Chamber and the Jonathan Jones Next Step Foundation are poised to make a lasting and positive impact on the community and its residents.
The Food Bank of East Alabama is proud to announce the addition of the Jonathan Jones Next Step Foundation as a Member Agency in their ongoing fight against hunger. This partnership brings renewed energy and resources to the table, bolstering their collective mission to end food insecurity in the region.
By joining forces, the foundation can significantly reduce costs associated with the Auburn Sustenance project, allowing for the provision of healthier food options and expanding their reach to more families in need. This collaboration exemplifies a powerful alliance dedicated to creating a lasting impact and ensuring that no individual in East Alabama goes hungry.
The inclusion of the Jonathan Jones Next Step Foundation as a Member Agency of the Food Bank of East Alabama holds great promise in the battle against hunger. With their shared vision and commitment, they can make a profound difference in the lives of those struggling with food insecurity.
By harnessing the Food Bank's vast network and resources, the foundation can provide nutritious meals to a larger number of individuals and families. Together, they stand as a beacon of hope, inspiring others to take action and work towards a hunger-free East Alabama
Picking up our first order from FOOD BANK Of east alabama
8,000 Lbs of food
Ron Anders, Jr., Mayor of the City of Auburn, Alabama, declares April 21st Jonathan Jones Next Step Foundation Day in the City of Auburn, Alabama, as we celebrate the impact the foundation has had and will have on youth in the Auburn community.
Ambassadors will enable Play Like a Girl to reach a broader audience of future women leaders in its effort to level the playing field in sport and STEM.
The Jonathan Jones Next Step Foundation and EcoSneakers.Org partnered to bring awareness around sustainability during America Recycles Week. The organizations teamed up to collect gently used-not abused shoes from members of the Carrollton community, while also encouraging community members to get out and walk to the drop boxes. Jones and his foundation also partnered with Walmart to provide over 100 pairs of shoes to children in need. The shoes that were collected (recycle), will be cleaned and distributed to communities in need (reuse) in hopes to keep shoes out of the landfills (reduce). Jones and his team are looking forward to partnering with EcoSneakers.Org to continue to spread awareness and distribute shoes to families in need.
The Jonathan Jones Next Step Foundation, in partnership with Walmart, hosted the Holiday Extravaganza at the Arthur M. Blank YMCA. Each child present received a brand new pair of shoes as well as a holiday gift. This event had giveaways, games and creative stations.
In December, students are pushing their desks out of the way for the Get Active Coding Challenge during Hour of Code and Computer Science Education Week. Unruly Studios is partnering with Patriots football star and two-time Superbowl champion Jonathan Jones to make computer science in K-8 education more approachable, fun, and physically active.
Patriots Cornerback Jonathan Jones is in the Zone and Joins Black History Speaker Series Lineup to Inspire Phalen Scholars
(Indianapolis, Indiana) - New England Patriots Cornerback Jonathan Jones is on a mission to inspire the youth as the newest participant in Phalen Leadership Academies’ 2022 Black Speaker Series.
As a junior in high school, Jonathan was one of the top high school hurdlers in the country. He placed third in the New Balance Nationals and won the USA Track and Field Junior Olympics National Championship in the 110-meter hurdles. He went on to become a four-year starter at cornerback at Auburn University and signed with the Patriots in 2016.
“Black History Month is a time to celebrate and recognize the contributions of so many Black Americans who strengthen the moral, cultural, intellectual, spiritual, and economic fabric of our society. We are beyond excited that Jonathan has joined our lineup of speakers to inspire scholars to dream beyond present-day and into the future," said PLA Founder & CEO, Earl Martin Phalen.
This year, PLA's Black History Month theme is “Be the Light.” With this in mind, PLA launched a speaker series to show scholars that no dream is out of their reach. During the series, some of the most inspirational speakers and leaders of color will show scholars what is possible and encourage them to build, dream and lead. Other featured speakers include:
Kamilah Forbes, Apollo Theatre
Louis Fouche, Saxophonist, Stephen Colbert Late Night Show
Valerie Mitchell-Johnston, Sesame Street
Carl Davis, Current New England Patriots Player
Davon Godchaux, Current New England Patriots Player
Deatrich Wise, Jr., Current New England Patriots Player
Ketsia Vedrine, Nickelodeon Studios
The series will take place every Friday in the month of February, with two conversations happening simultaneously per session. The conversations are targeted towards K-6 scholars and then 7-12 scholars.
Professional Football Player Jonathan Jones Partners with Grace House Ministries, Donates $15,000
Professional football player and two-time Super Bowl Champion Jonathan Jones of Carrollton, GA has partnered with Grace House Ministries of Birmingham, AL. for a $15,000 donation.
“I am excited to be in a position to give back to these young women during a critical part of their lives,” said Jones, who is a 2015 graduate of Auburn University and current cornerback for the New England Patriots. “Giving back is a passion of mine, and if there is something I can do to help and pour into the lives of those who are in need, I will position myself and my foundation to do so.”
Jones’ foundation, the Jonathan Jones Next Step Foundation, Inc., established in 2019, has a mission to educate the youth on practical life application, encourage professional development and empower the youth through education and leadership.
“We are so grateful to receive this support from the Jonathan Jones Next Step Foundation” shared Pamela Reed Phipps, Executive Director of Grace House Ministries. “The girls we serve are in foster care through no fault of their own, but with the help of our partners like Jonathan Jones, we can equip them with the tools they need to overcome generational cycles of poverty and abuse.”
Jones’ organization will contribute $15,000 to fund a full year of car insurance for 5 girls in Grace House’s Transitional Living Program (TLP). Grace House's two on-campus TLP homes provide no-cost housing, intensive skill building, and 24/7 care 10 girls ages 16-19.5. TLP serves an additional 10 girls - former residents who are enrolled in college and/or working - through age 21.
As of 2017, youth ages 16 to 20 made up 15% of the total foster care population and approximately 20,000 youth are emancipated from care every year. The goal of Grace House’s Transitional Living Program is to provide a bridge of services to girls aging out of foster care, giving them a greater chance of permanent independence and long-term success.
For more information on the Foundations, visit us on social media at @NextStepFoundation.Inc and @Gracehouseorg. To make a monetary donation, visit paypal.com using donate@justjjones.com/ [will we also include information about donating directly to GH] (donate: www.grace-house.org)
Jonathan Jones honors aunt who is battling breast cancer for the NFL’s My Cause My Cleats.
This event is a follow up to the My Cause My Cleats.
When Jonathan was younger he would go fishing with his grandparents and parents. They went fishing at different lakes around Carroll County/Carrollton. Fishing taught Jonathan the importance of patience and how to provide. He had to be up at 4am or we would get left. A lot of the lessons he learned growing up stemmed from those days at the lake with my family. Jonathan is excited to share one of his favorite hobbies with the youth in his community through his practical skills initiatives with the Jonathan Jones Next Step Foundation
Each year, the JJNSF Inc. hosts its annual football camp in Carrollton, GA. This camp, for boys and girls, is located at Carrollton High School’s facility. Over a 2.5 hour timeframe, campers will check-in, receive a camp shirt, warm up/agility work, fastest man challenge and get an opportunity to meet and greet / pictures with Jonathan Jones and NFL teammates.
The JJNSF has partnered with local non-profits in Boston for its annual holiday giveback. In the past, The Foundation partnered with Mission SAFE, an organization that focuses on the at-risk youth of Boston, where each of the 75 students were given the opportunity to deign custom Vans just in time for the holidays.
The Foundation fed more than 800 families in need during the COVID-19 pandemic. The purpose of the meal giveback was to help families who had been directly effected by both COVID and unemployment.
