VINCENT JACKSON’S STORY  

As the son of two military parents, Vincent Jackson was raised with structure and discipline.  His dad, Terence, served in the Army for 21 years.  He met Sherry, Vincent’s mom, while in Germany.  Vincent attributes his modesty to the loving guidance of his parents and, as a result, he feels a responsibility to help other youngsters have that same advantage.  Known currently for his prowess on the football field, Vincent excelled as a straight A student at Widefield High School in Colorado Springs, CO, graduating with a 4.1 GPA.

His excellent academic performance earned his acceptance to Columbia University, but Vincent chose to attend the University of Northern Colorado on scholarship.  He played both football and basketball during his four years on campus.  While earning All-American Honors at UNC and becoming the school’s All-Time Leading Receiver, Vincent majored in Business in an effort to prepare for his post-football career.

Vincent has done more than just stay in shape during his off seasons playing with the San Diego Chargers and Tampa Bay Buccaneers.  He has invested in a variety of businesses in the hospitality, apparel, real estate, and fitness realms.  Viewing Magic Johnson and Roger Staubach as models of athletes who are successful entrepreneurs, Vincent has diversified his business portfolio.  In 2013, he attended an elite business program for a select group of NFL players at the Wharton School of Business.

Feeling a strong commitment to serve the community in which he lives, Vincent launched the Jackson in Action 83 Foundation in November 2012.  The foundation’s mission is to provide support to military families, focusing on the educational, emotional, and physical health of the children.  This mission is especially close to Vincent’s heart because he knows what it’s like growing up in a military family.  As a child, his father was deployed to Germany and Panama, leaving Vincent and his mom at home.  He feels that one of the real threats to a close bond between military parents and their children is their deployment away from home.  Vincent’s desire is to parlay his success in football into an organization that can help military parents maintain close relationships with their kids, no matter the physical distance that may separate them.

The mission of the Jackson in Action 83 Foundation is to provide support to military families, focusing on the educational, emotional, and physical health of the children.

Our job is to provide support and tools to help military parents continue to raise their children and maintain close bonds, even when separated by thousands of miles.

In putting together our programs, we solicit information and ideas from a wide range of resources, from academic experts to military personnel.  The consensus of the research shows that there are three areas of concern for the children of deployed families:

But let’s face it, any parent could have told you that.  We all want our kids to be healthy (physical), happy (emotional), and do well in school (educational).  However, it makes sense that the added stress of deployment could create problems in one or all of those areas.  These are the pillars of our foundation.

It’s not surprising that kids can have problems in school when a parent is deployed.  First, there is one less parent at home to supervise homework and help when needed.  Some military parents get orders to move, thus the children have been to numerous schools and can’t build solid relationships or foundations.  Parents with a deployed spouse often face financial strains, which don’t allow them to have the extra funds for after school literacy programs, tutors, or other educational activities.

There is a lot written today about “emotional intelligence” and “happiness.”  We all know that how we feel impacts what we do.  With kids, it’s more difficult because they don’t always have the vocabulary to express how they feel.  They may be sad that Mom is away and can’t come watch them play their championship game.  They may be angry that Dad is overseas and can’t tuck them in at night.  They may “act out” their emotions by kicking their sibling, refusing to obey, and crying at school.  Lots of times, parents aren’t afforded an opportunity to recognize the problem due to the needs of other siblings, added house stresses, work, and so on.

There are a lot of temptations in today’s world to be physically unfit.  From fast food to video games, it’s not a shock that the added stress of deployment can lead to making decisions that are ultimately unhealthy.

Kids start getting less exercise because staying inside and watching TV helps mom or dad get things done around the house.  Often times, junk foods are quicker, easier, and cheaper than eating healthier foods.  It’s hard for a stateside parent to prepare healthy meals when they may be working a full-time job while trying to be both mom and dad at home.  Physical inactivity and poor eating become habits, which are hard to break.

The Jackson in Action 83 Foundation strives to help families in all three areas.  We provide resources and tools to help children express how they feel.  We will help them get more active.  We will instill programs in schools to improve their academic performance and interest.  We want our military kids to be healthy, happy, and smart!

Military Family Resources Online

Below is a list of websites to provide military families with information and resources:

National Military Family Association

The Future of Children – Military Children and Families: The Future of Children is a collaboration between Princeton University (Woodrow Wilson School) and the Brookings Institution. The Future of Children’s Fall 2013 journal was dedicated to military-connected children and their families. The Military Child Education Coalition (MCEC) collaborated on this issue of the journal in order to promote effective policies and programs for military-connected children and their families by providing timely, objective information based on the best available research.  This issue’s co-editors, Dr. Richard Lerner (Tufts University) and Dr. Steven Cozza (Center for the Study of Traumatic Stress at the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences), brought together significant researchers, scholars, and practitioners to address issues and implications for military-connected children. The link provided here is a link to the full journal issue. 

Brief History on Hillsboro Lodge No.242 (PHA)

 Hillsboro Lodge No.242 is a Charity organization whose membership is composed of dedicated individuals who continue to foster community services for which the organization is best known. Prince Hall Freemasonry in the jurisdiction of Florida remains actively involved in financially supporting young people engaged in the pursuit of higher education and consistently donates to major charities. Granting assistance to our widows, orphans and distressed Brothers is our primary objective and focus.

Hillsboro Lodge No.242 was organized on February 2, 1976. The Original membership was Worshipful Master Raymond C. Coles; Senior Warden Dexter C. McCray, Jr; and Junior Warden George Wesson. Our Charter was Granted February 2, 1976. Under Article I -Name and Style: This Lodge shall be known by the name of Hillsboro Lodge No. 242, Free and Accepted Masons of Tampa, Florida, and it shall be subject and subordinate to all laws, usages, customs, edicts, and regulations of the Most Worshipful Union Grand Lodge Free and Accepted Masons, Prince Hall Affiliated (PHA)-Florida, Belize, Central America & Jurisdictions, Inc.

Hillsboro Lodge No.242 does have a Masonic Study Club, known as “The Tyler’s Club”. Every member of Hillsboro Lodge No.242 is automatically a member.

Hillsboro Lodge No. 242 and the Most Worshipful Union Grand Lodge of Florida Foundation is a 501(c)(3) Tax Exempt Organization. We solicit donations, support and sponsorships from various merchants, retailers, businesses, and vendors, to help defray some of the cost and expenses for our organizational Charitable Programs. We are involved in many community- related events and activities to help provide support for residents within the Hillsborough, Pinellas, and Pasco County communities.

It was Beyond an Honor to be able to attend such a Historic day with the Unveiling of the “Poets Bench”, by the City of Tampa Parks and Recreation at Perry Harvey Sr. Park, to honor Hillsboro Lodge #242’s very own Brother James Tokley. 2/24/2022.