Turn 2 Foundation

Founded 1996
Founder Derek Jeter
Location
  • Tampa Bay, Florida
Area served
West Michigan, Tampa, Fla., and New York City
Key people
 Derek Jeter, Dr. S. Charles Jeter, Dorothy C. Jeter, Sharlee Jeter
Mission Turn 2's mission is to create and support signature programs and activities that motivate young people to turn away from drugs and alcohol and "Turn 2" healthy lifestyles.
Website http://mlb.mlb.com/players/jeter_derek/turn2/index.jsp

The Turn 2 Foundation is a charitable organization founded by New York Yankees shortstop Derek Jeter in 1996. The Foundation was established to help children and teenagers avoid drug and alcohol addiction, and to reward those who show high academic achievement and adopt healthier lifestyles.[1] Members of Jeter's family make up a large portion of the foundation's board of directors, including his father, Dr. S. Charles Jeter, who has served as President of the foundation in the past.[2][3] Currently Sharlee Jeter is President of the foundation and responsible in running the day-to-day operations.[4]

Mission and scope

Turn 2 Foundation's logo

The mission statement of the Turn 2 Foundation is "to create and support signature programs and activities that motivate young people to turn away from drugs and alcohol and 'TURN 2' healthy lifestyles."[1]

History

Growing up in Kalamazoo, Michigan, Jeter witnessed firsthand the value of community service. His favorite ballplayer, former Yankee Dave Winfield, had his own foundation which promoted health, education and self-esteem among thousands of young people. "When I make it," said Jeter, "that's what I'm going to do."[5]

Jeter proposed the idea of starting his own foundation to his father in 1996. The Jeter family began forming the foundation over pizza in a Detroit, Michigan hotel room.[6] The organization's name was chosen, besides the baseball reference to a double play (and Jeter's uniform number), to demonstrate the goal of giving youths a place to "turn to", besides drugs and alcohol.[6][7]

Over the past eighteen years, the Turn 2 foundation has raised over $19 million in grants to programs located in New York City, the Western Michigan area, and Tampa, Florida.[8]

References

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