How do your programs help children?
JSF’s programs help children on a number of levels by providing basic physical activities, life skills training, and academic enrichment programs. JSF programs provide a fun, safe environment for children to learn these critical skills. Please visit Who We Are and Our Programs for more information.

What does the “Plus” mean in the program names?
The “Plus” in our program names refers to the life skills, academic enrichment, and nutritional awareness training that are components of each of our programs. We use sports to teach children valuable skills for both on and off the field, and complement the physical programs with the “plus” modules to form a truly well-rounded approach. Please visit Our Programs for more information.

I would like to volunteer. How do I get involved?
There are many ways to volunteer for JSF. Whether you may want to work directly with children or use your professional skills to help at an organizational level, we welcome your involvement. Please visit Get Involved for more information.

What about children who aren’t good at sports?
At JSF, we are keenly aware that many children have negative experiences with sports at a young age because they don’t possess the natural ability that comes easily to others. In our programs, we focus on teaching children concentration, cooperation, relaxation, imagination, and self-esteem - while building their basic physical skills. Our focus on having fun and philosophy of “Seeing the Star in Every Child” ensures that all children have a positive experience. Please visit Our Programs for more information.

My community is not near a JSF office, can I still run the programs?
Yes, you may be trained by JSF staff to implement our programs. You may also purchase our instructor’s guides that will help you offer our programs. Please visit Our Training Programs and Our Publications for more information.

Are your programs free for the children who participate?
The majority of our programs are offered in partnership with local after-school programs and all are free to the children who participate. We also provide all needed sports equipment. Since our target audience is at-risk children, it is important to not have any barriers to participation. Please visit Our Programs for more information.

What kind of training do you provide for coaches?
JSF provides in-depth training sessions as well as written manuals to help our coaches succeed. Our seasoned coaching staff helps to train new volunteers and provide a “mentoring” relationship. Please visit Our Training Programs for more information.

Who benefits from my donation?
Your donation goes to work directly for at-risk children and is used in program delivery, development, and support. JSF relies on the generosity of our individual, corporate, and foundation donors for their critical support. Please visit Donate Now for more information on how you can participate.

What age groups do you work with? Do you offer pre-school programs?
JSF is unique in our program reach because we target children from age 3-18. Our pre-school programs utilize our Star Power approach while our programs for older children may be sports or health-specific. Please visit Our Programs for more information.

How many children has JSF served?
Since we were founded in 1989, JSF has reached over 25,000 children. We currently serve 5,000 children a year and our programs are expanding at a rapid rate. Please visit Who We Are for more information.

How do you measure the success of your programs?
Dr. Mitzi White of Harvard University has developed a detailed evaluation and performance tool for our programs. Children are asked questions before and after participation in a JSF program and their progress in key developmental areas is tracked. Please visit Our Programs for more information.

Are your programs available year-round?
Yes, our programs are available year-round as after-school and summer camp offerings. Our core locations include day care centers, schools, recreation centers, Boys & Girls Clubs, and low-income housing developments. Please visit Our Programs for more information.

Does JSF ever partner with other organizations?
Yes, JSF partners extensively with Boys & Girls Clubs, Head Start, local school districts, and other community organizations to offer our programs to as many children as possible. We rely on community support and actively seek out new partners on the local level. Please visit Who We Are and Our Programs for more information.