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Yonkers Giants Growing Under Jackson's Guidance

YONKERS, N.Y. – The Yonkers Giants Youth Football program, born in 2011 and nurtured through its first season by founder and former Gorton High School star football player Kenneth Jackson, enters the 2012 practice season later this month with renewed purpose and some financial challenges.

"Due to a main sponsor pulling out, the kids were not able to participate in spring football because they don’t have the equipment they need," Jackson said. "We have 20 sets of equipment with 125 boys and girls signed up for football or cheer program. Even without equipment, they came to practice beginning in February. But we keep practicing and praying (for funding)."

The program, Jackson said, is sorely needed to provide opportunities to Yonkers youngsters who otherwise would have none.

"The Yonkers Giants was started to give the inner-city youth of Yonkers the opportunity to play organized football and cheerleading at low to no cost," said Jackson, who was born, raised and educated in Yonkers when there were greater opportunities for youngsters to play football. "We also provide a place for overweight children to play without being penalized for their size. The young people come from very low, one-parent households, so it is very hard for parents to afford to put their children in athletic programs."

Known as the "Misguided Missile" during his turbulent on-field high school football career, Jackson, who began as a player at Lincoln High School in 1989, had his early career literally cut short when he was slashed in an assault on his way to school. He moved over to the west side of Yonkers and rebuilt his career at Gorton, where he became a team leader on both sides of the ball from 1991-1993 while playing for then coach Don DeMatteo.

"Yes, football did keep me straight as a kid," Jackson said. "It gave me something to look forward to every day because my mother was sick when I was in high school and in and out the hospital a lot. And It gave me a dream."

Jackson's dream took him on to play college football at Western Connecticut State University in 1993, where he won numerous awards. He was also invited to several professional football tryouts for the NFL New York Giants and the New Jersey Red Dogs (Arena Football), among others, and played four years of semi-pro football for the Westchester Steelers and the Rockland Bruins.

Since his football days, Jackson has become a leader in his community as a child advocate and community activist, a member of the James H. Farrell Prince Hall Masonic Lodge No. 34 in Yonkers and a leader withe Yonkers Safe Streets Youth.

"I coach my 12-year-old son and his friends and hope to be able to continue to give these young men some guidance and keep them out of trouble," Jackson said. "My three girls are also involved as participants. My two youngest are cheerleaders and my 18-year-old is a cheer coach."

The Giants are currently on summer break and focused on the organization's fundraiser, "Giants on the Move," which will be held July 28 at Memorial Field (The Glen). The event will include a kick, toss and speed competition for ages 5-17 and is open to the public. It will feature a flag football game between Jackson and his staff and a team of city of Yonkers workers and friends. Food will be available for purchase and every child that participates will receive a free lunch and a certificate of participation. Medals will be awarded to the top winners in each event.

The Giants begin summer practice on July 30 with an eye on Aug. 25 opening day, and Jackson will be focused on developing his players both on and off the field. His players have already taken part in an the Yonkers Anti-Violence March and building a community garden.

"We volunteer in the community and teach the kids to be involved in positive ways," Jackson said. "Most of the teams in youth football have weight and age guidelines, which match a big 9-year-old against a very athletic 12-year-old (of the same weight). A lot of the bigger children would end up not playing a lot or just not making weight. I saw that it was a great discouragement to the children involved. On the Yonkers Giants, you play with your age group, no handicaps."

For more information on the fundraiser, the team or how to contribute to the Yonkers Giants, go the Facebook/Yonkers Giants or call Jackson at (914) 226-9892.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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