Animo Inglewood took 30 students to Catalina Island for an enriching summer program, offering them the chance to explore, learn, and create countless memorable first-time experiences with their JKL family. The journey included sightseeing at the island’s historic landmarks, allowing the students to delve into the captivating history of Catalina. For over half of the participants, including two parent chaperones, this adventure marked their first boat ride and kayaking experience. The day was filled with excitement as they cast their lines for fishing, paddled through the crystal-clear waters, and swam in the serene coves. The excursion ended on a sweet note with ice cream while they wandered through picturesque downtown Avalon, soaking in the charm and vibrant atmosphere of the island.
Baby2Baby:
Animo Inglewood students embraced the chance to give back to their community this summer by volunteering with Baby2Baby. They worked diligently to assemble baby essential care kits, which were distributed to homeless shelters, domestic violence programs, foster care facilities, hospitals, and underserved schools. This hands-on experience allowed the students to develop their teamwork and planning skills, as they meticulously organized and packaged the kits to meet the specific needs of each recipient. Their collective effort and commitment ensured that the orders were fulfilled efficiently and on time, making a significant impact on those in need.
“I am grateful to have the opportunity to give back to a worthy cause. It fills my heart with joy when we are asked to support people in need.” -Samantha
The 2024 Teacher Training theme, “We INSPIRE, We MOTIVATE, We MAKE IT HAPPEN” was embraced with high energy, enthusiasm, and gratitude throughout our three-day teacher training event. Over 90 JKL teachers attended the training from across the country representing 11 different states. During the training, teachers participated in “Activation Activities” focusing on our 4 pillars in Nutrition, Wellness, Community Service, and Fitness. They were celebrated, recognized, and received program awards for making an impact in the lives of their students and for their outstanding programming. New teachers were introduced and collaboration was reinforced by the community-based infrastructure created by the teachers.
On day 2, the teachers were surprised with a special visit from our JKL Founder and Co-Founder Matthew and Camila McConaughey. During the surprise visit, both Matthew and Camila thanked the teachers for their hard work and dedication to their students and the foundation. The teachers expressed their gratitude by sharing the impact the programs have made on the lives of their students and themselves. Latonya expressed, “Thank you for giving our youth a safe place to be themselves and make life-changing decisions.” Latasha added, “Thank you for allowing our SPED students to thrive in a community where they feel noticed.” Andrea shared, “Thank you so much for creating opportunities for students to have first-time experiences such as zip lining, canoeing, horseback riding, rope courses, senior service day, and flying to Washington D.C. The students have a bond and a safe place with JKL.”
The 2024 Teacher Training was a HUGE success, and we look forward to continuing to celebrate our JKL teachers for all their hard work and commitment in the upcoming 2024-2025 school year. In the meantime, “Just Keep Livin.”
A huge thank you to Austin Subaru and Riptide Society for supporting our JKL community by gifting a car to our JKL graduate Yami from Juan Navarro. We extend a heartfelt thank you for making such a significant difference in her life and for helping her as she pursues a degree at UT. Your generosity will have a lasting impact on her life as well as for her family. It’s gestures like these that inspire others and contribute to continuing to build a supportive community for our JKL youth!
Our 8th Annual Beach Day in partnership with the Jimmy Miller Foundation @jmmfoundation was a huge success! Thank you to all the volunteers who made the day possible and memorable for our #justkeeplivin students 🙌 Shout out to the surf instructors for being the biggest cheerleaders! Shout out to the yoga instructors for keeping our students grounded! Shout out to @juglifewater for keeping our kids hydrated during the event! We can’t wait for next year!!
Annual Field Days:
Our annual Field Days are vibrant and uplifting events aimed at promoting health and wellness among the jkl kids. Our field days offer a range of outdoor activities and sports, fostering teamwork, physical activity, and positive social interaction. With the support of volunteers and sponsors, our kids engage in fun-filled fitness activations, exercises, and educational workshops, empowering them to lead active and fulfilling lives while emphasizing our core values of resilience and perseverance.
Shout out to our LA, Chicago, Austin, Longview and Washington D.C. programs for making it happen!
We are proud to expand our partnership with CorePower Yoga (CPY) which began with the introduction of in-studio hot yoga classes in Texas and California this past spring. Providing JKL participants with access to transformative yoga practices, CPY continues to be an incredibly partner. As the collaboration evolved, it culminated in a significant milestone—a scholarship offering for three alumni and three teachers from the just keep livin program to receive full scholarships to the CorePower Yoga teacher training course. This initiative represents a commitment to empowering individuals within the JKL community, offering them the opportunity to deepen their practice and share the benefits of yoga with others. The six JKL recipients are set to embark on their training journey this summer, marking a new chapter in their personal and professional growth empowered by yoga. We are so proud of the following scholarship recipients:
Just Keep Livin and the Steele Family Foundation have partnered to create a JKL/WISE Scholarship for three freshman students at Animo Inglewood Charter High School. This scholarship will provide students with a full ride to any university of their choice given they meet the criteria in the “Earn to Learn” model in three categories: Academics, Extra-Curricular School Activities, and Social & Non-Formal Experiences (JKL). Our three winners were selected based on their essay application and teacher letter of recommendations. Winners from left to right: Fabian De La Cruz, Dalila Hernandez, Agustin Estrada.
Students from our jkl programs in Texas, California, Tennessee, DC, and Louisiana attended our second annual student lobbying day on Capitol Hill. This passionate group of students converged, armed not with textbooks, but with a powerful message: the vital importance of after-school programming, increasing mental health funding and the impact of jkl has had on each of them. With voices echoing through the marble halls, they advocated for resources to enrich their journey beyond the classroom. These young advocates embodied the spirit of civic engagement, urging policymakers to invest in opportunities that shape their futures and foster community resilience. With determination in their eyes and dreams in their hearts, they stood as beacons of hope, rallying for a brighter tomorrow for themselves and generations to come.
On March 2nd, our JKL Uvalde program had the chance to explore the University of Texas. The group took a comprehensive tour of the campus, soaking in the vibrant atmosphere, and even got a closer look at the iconic Longhorn Stadium. They were also able to explore the Texas History Museum, adding an enriching cultural touch to their experience. For the students, this opportunity provided a firsthand glimpse into the University of Texas, a place that holds a coveted spot on many of their dream school lists. The visit left a lasting impression on JKL Uvalde, sparking aspirations and inspiration.
After the tragedy in Uvalde at Robb Elementary School, our founders Matthew and Camila went to Washington to advocate for reforms to reduce gun violence and bolster school safety. This culminated into the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act, which included billions in funding for school safety grants to help school districts hire mental health counselors, improve security, and more.
However, it’s been difficult for under-resourced school districts to apply for these grants as the federal grant complex is quite complex and time consuming. They are working to solve this problem.
On Thursday July 20, Matthew launched the Greenlights Grant Initiative aimed at helping school districts across the country, especially high-need, low-capacity school districts, apply for and secure federal school safety grants so their students can study in safe and healthy environments. For more information and how to apply visit www.greenlightsgrantinitiative.org
Alright Alright Alright! Year 11 of Mack, Jack & McConaughey in the books! Mack, Jack & McConaughey (MJ&M) is the annual joint fundraising effort of Academy Award-winning actor Matthew McConaughey, ACM Award-winning recording artist Jack Ingram, and ESPN analyst and Texas coaching legend Mack Brown.
What better way to kick off an epic few days than with a special performance by the legendary Garth Brooks! The LIVE auction was record-setting, raising over $7M! Then onto a fun day of golf, and a stunning fashion show from the fabulous Jonathan Simkhai presented by Neiman Marcus and hosted by supermodel Molly Sims. Simkhai’s designs were breathtaking, as was the setting, with lovely views of downtown Austin from the Long Center for the Performing Arts. We wrapped things up with an array of talented performances at our Jack & Friends Singer/Songwriter night! Artists like Butch Walker, Lee Ann Womack, Jessi Alexander & Jon Randall, William Beckmann, Blu Sanders, Rhett Akins, Hayes Carll and incredible newcomer Kameron Marlowe donated their time and talent to end this year’s event on a high note – so to speak!
Thank you to everyone who came out and supported the event. It’s an honor to be a charitable beneficiary of the event, along with the incredible organizations Cure Duchenne, Dell Children’s, HeartGift Foundation, and The Rise School. Until next year, MJ&M!
A group of our JKL alumni enjoyed a weekend camping trip at Lake Perris Campground in Moreno Valley, CA. Students learned how to pop their own tent, build a fire and the weekend was full of reconnecting, forging new friendships, hiking, gratitude and lots of laughter. We love that the bonds of JKL continue even after our students have graduated from the program!
