Racing Towards Diversity Winter 2010 : Page 12proFilE: “i Am not A hEro” FounDAtion Supporting thE mEn AnD womEn oF thE militAry By gEnE StowE The i am not a hero Foundation became flesh and blood for supporter Reggie howard when he flew to Washington to visit Walter Reed hospital and the Pentagon with founda- tion officials. “These guys are setting up in the bed, legs amputated,arm gone, different injuries,” how- ard recalls. “all of them with no hesitation said they would do it again for their country. “ “They treated me like i was a hero. They asked questions. They were excited about talking about football and playing in the nFl. They’re the real heroes. They’re just not pub- licized and put up on a pedestal like the nFl guys.” That’s what foundation founder C.J. Jordan, with four nephews at West Point, thought when she started the group in 2007. she noticed that few entertainers and athletes of color were involved in supporting the troops, who had mostly country music groups for entertainment. “i didn’t see a modern-day sammy Davis Jr.,” Jordan explains. “They weren’t seeing a lot of people of color – african americans and others. i know there is a great diverse population in our ranks. i wanted that to be reflected. our community has to be engaged, to be there for these men and women. “ “The minority community has embraced it. it’s about getting the entire sports community behind supporting our men and women in uniform.” Jordan organized a multicultural board with more than 20 sports and entertainment figures, bringing together musicians and actors and nFl, soccer and collegiate leaders. she also has a military advisory board and a small business advisory board. The foundation recruits a broad range of entertainers and athletes for its work, not just a-listers. nFl executive harold henderson, a war veteran, met Jordan while his son was in the Marine Corps. 12 Racing Toward Diversity Magazine oFilE: “i Am not A hEro” FounDAtion Supporting thE mEn AnD womEn oF thE militAry By gEnE StowE The i am not a hero Foundation became flesh and blood for supporter Reggie howard when he flew to Washington to visit Walter Reed hospital and the Pentagon with founda- tion officials. “These guys are setting up in the bed, legs amputated,arm gone, different injuries,” how- ard recalls. “all of them with no hesitation said they would do it again for their country. “ “They treated me like i was a hero. They asked questions. They were excited about talking about football and playing in the nFl. They’re the real heroes. They’re just not pub- licized and put up on a pedestal like the nFl guys.” That’s what foundation founder C.J. Jordan, with four nephews at West Point, thought when she started the group in 2007. she noticed that few entertainers and athletes of color were involved in supporting the troops, who had mostly country music groups for entertainment. “i didn’t see a modern-day sammy Davis Jr.,” Jordan explains. “They weren’t seeing a lot of people of color – african americans and others. i know there is a great diverse population in our ranks. i wanted that to be reflected. our community has to be engaged, to be there for these men and women. “ “The minority community has embraced it. it’s about getting the entire sports community behind supporting our men and women in uniform.” Jordan organized a multicultural board with more than 20 sports and entertainment figures, bringing together musicians and actors and nFl, soccer and collegiate leaders. she also has a military advisory board and a small business advisory board. The foundation recruits a broad range of entertainers and athletes for its work, not just a-listers. nFl executive harold henderson, a war veteran, met Jordan while his son was in the Marine Corps. 12 Racing Toward Diversity Magazine “i “i have been involved with a number of dif- ferent efforts related to the military and vet- erans and disabled veterans in particular,” he says. “i met C.J. and learned about her founda- tion. she was not the first but one of the few that was trying to use athletes in a leadership role to get public attention and support and activities mostly in the area i call ‘Thank You.’ “i was able to introduce her to some people. she had some of the ideas and experi- ences i had already experienced. it’s been for me a fulfilling adventure working with this proFilE: proFilE: proFilE: proFilE: proFilE: E: “i Am not A hEro” FounDAtion Supporting thE mEn AnD womEn oF thE militAry By gEnE StowE The i am not a hero Foundati : “i Am not A hEro” FounDAtion Supporting thE mEn AnD womEn oF thE militAry By gEnE StowE The i am not a hero Foundation became flesh and blood for supporter Reggie howard when he flew to Washington to visit Walter Reed hospital and the Pentagon with founda- tion officials. “These guys are setting up in the bed, legs amputated,arm gone, different injuries,” how- ard recalls. “all of them with no hesitation said they would do it again for their country. “ “They treated me like i was a hero. They asked questions. They were excited about talking about football and playing in the nFl. They’re the real heroes. They’re just not pub- licized and put up on a pedestal like the nFl guys.” That’s what foundation founder C.J. Jordan, with four nephews at West Point, thought when she started the group in 2007. she noticed that few entertainers and athletes of color were involved in supporting the troops, who had mostly country music groups for entertainment. “i didn’t see a modern-day sammy Davis Jr.,” Jordan explains. “They weren’t seeing a lot of people of color – african americans and others. i know there is a great diverse population in our ranks. i wanted that to be reflected. our community has to be engaged, to be there for these men and women. “ “The minority community has embraced it. it’s about getting the entire sports community behind supporting our men and women in uniform.” Jordan organized a multicultural board with more than 20 sports and entertainment figures, bringing together musicians and actors and nFl, soccer and collegiate leaders. she also has a military advisory board and a small business advisory board. The foundation recruits a broad range of entertainers and athletes for its work, not just a-listers. nFl executive harold henderson, a war veteran, met Jordan while his son was in the Marine Corps. 12 Racing Toward Diversity Magazine “i have been involved with a number of dif- ferent efforts related to the military and vet- erans and disabled veterans in particular,” he says. “i met C.J. and learned about her founda- tion. she was not the first but one of the few that was trying to use athletes in a leadership role to get public attention and support and activities mostly in the area i call ‘Thank You.’ “i was able to introduce her to some people. she had some of the ideas and experi- ences i had already experienced. it’s been for me a fulfilling adventure working with this knowing knowing and understanding their selfless sac- rifice,” says Jody Tallal, Ceo of Very important Relationships, inc, the parent company of explodium.com. “our military and veterans defend our freedoms and sometimes give the ultimate sacrifice. our hope is that by provid- ing the foundation their own explodium portal at http://explodium.com/hero, they can reas- sure their supporters’ and fans’ appreciation by fully sustaining their ambitions for support- ing the military and veteran communities. it is a win/win game for all!” proFilE: proFilE: proFilE: proFilE: proFilE: Profile: “ I am not a hero” founda tion supporting the men and Women of the militaryGene StoweThe I Am Not a Hero Foundation became flesh and blood for supporter Reggie Howard when he flew to Washington to visit Walter Reed Hospital and the Pentagon with foundation officials. 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