Derrick James Family Foundation 2024 Year In Review

This year has been an incredible year of impact, growth, and community connection. Thanks to your support, we’ve accomplished so much together. As we close out this chapter, we’re filled with gratitude and excitement for what’s to come in 2025. Here’s to another year of transforming lives and making a difference together! 

Adopt-a-Family Program at Children’s Health

The Derrick James Family Foundation is honored to be able to make a difference in the Adopt-a-family program at Children’s Health again this year. The dedicated social workers identified a current inpatient family from Oak Cliff who was in need of support this holiday season. It was our privilege to work alongside them for the second year and provide assistance.

We were honored to personally make this generous donation right before the holiday season. We are grateful to partner with Children’s Health to be able to provide support to families in need this holiday season. We are committed to making a positive impact on the lives of children and families at Children’s Health Medical Center. Together, we are spreading hope and making a difference in the community!

Christmas Food Giveaway Drive-Through Celebration at Paul Quinn College

We were honored to partner with the Dallas Police Department to provide turkeys for local families during their 5th Annual Christmas Food Giveaway Drive-Through Celebration at Paul Quinn College. It was a heartfelt day of service, bringing together our community, fellow nonprofits and supporters to make a meaningful impact.

A special thank you to Breakfast Brothers for helping us secure, store, and deliver the turkeys for the event. We are also deeply grateful to our incredible volunteers who dedicated their time to serve alongside us.

We look forward to continuing this tradition next year! Thank you to our stakeholders and everyone who supports our mission, helping us provide vital resources and serve our community in meaningful ways.

2024 MY CAUSE MY CLEATS CHAMPION BROCK HOFFMAN

Brock Hoffman, offensive lineman for the Dallas Cowboys, is the 2024 My Cause My Cleats Champion for the Derrick James Family Foundation! We are honored that Brock is showcasing our mission through the NFL’s My Cause, My Cleats campaign! This incredible initiative gives players a platform to represent causes close to their hearts on custom-designed cleats. This year, Brock is proudly partnering with DJFF to support our efforts in empowering and uplifting our community. Brock will be wearing his DJFF custom cleats Monday, December 9th when the Cowboys take on the Bengals. Stay tuned for more on this inspiring collaboration!

DJFF Mental Health Matters Series

The Derrick James Family Foundation was honored to welcome back Dr. Jay Barnett, a renowned mental health expert, to speak with the young men at the John Lewis Social Justice Academy at O.W. Holmes on Monday. This event was part of our Mental Health Matters Series, a program dedicated to equipping 7th and 8th grade boys with the tools and knowledge they need to strengthen their mental health and build resilience.

Dr. Barnett delivered an impactful presentation, emphasizing the importance of managing emotions, practicing self-respect, and pausing to reflect before making decisions. The students were actively engaged, participating throughout the session, making the experience both transformative and inspiring.

We extend our heartfelt thanks to our community partners who joined us in supporting this meaningful event:

• Amy Heath – Children’s Health

• Officer Devalon Lee – DPD Office of Community Affairs

Special thanks to Principal Edwin DuBois for allowing us the opportunity to pour into his students, and to our surprise guest Yella Beezy for your words of encouragement to the young men. Finally, a huge “thank you” to Trevor and Ivey Johns for sponsoring this Mental Health Matters event.

Together, we’re fostering a future where mental health and resilience are a foundation for our youth’s success.

Derrick James Family Foundation Inaugural Golf Tournament

Brought To You By Our Sponsors

 DJFF Inaugural Topgolf Event: The Derrick James Family Foundation held our inaugural Topgolf fundraising event on Sunday, October 27th. We are truly grateful to everyone who came out to support our foundation by either participating as a golfer or as a spectator. We also want to say “thank you” to everyone who contributed items to our silent auction. Our event was a success because of your generosity. All donations will go towards our foundation initiatives and will allow us to continue to make a transformative impact in our community. We are grateful to our sponsors for helping make our event successful.
 
 1. Robert Lynn Commercial Real Estate Company – Represented by Chase Miller
 
 2. Texas Regional Bank- Represented by Gene and Carolina Trembley 
 
 3. World Class Boxing Gym – Derrick James 
Lastly, we would like to thank Windy Hudson and the team at Topgolf for the phenomenal job they did at our event from start to finish! 
 
 Decorations/Vendors – @simoleaevents 
 Emcee – Chris Arnold – @mrchrisarnold 
 DJ- DJ Freeze 
Foundation Polos – @anthonymichaelsbrand 
 @starvisionmg
We would to acknowledge the President of the Oak Cliff Chamber – @kiyundrajones and Leadership Oak Cliff ambassador @xavier_mcgilberry for their continued support of our work in the community. In addition, we would like to thank our friends/supporters from out of town who came to Dallas to support our event. 
 
 We would like to say “thank you” to our community partners…
 1. John Lewis Social Justice Academy at Oliver Wendell Holmes (DISD) – Represented by Principal Edwin DuBois 
 
 2. Children’s Health – Amy Heath 
 
 3. DPD Office of Community Affairs – Represented by Officer Lee 
 
 Thank you to our team of advisors Chimeka Foster and Krystal Hopton for continuing to lend your expertise to help us propel our vision forward. Thank you to our volunteers @mzbjp.75 , Adrian James and Jackson State University. Special “thank you” to Sam Gannon and the Fox 4 crew for highlighting our event on the 10pm broadcast last night.
 
 

Summer 2024 Highlight – The Derrick James Family Foundation was honored to be featured in Children’s Health annual report. We are excited to partner with them through our endowment for pediatric mental health.

“The Derrick James Family Foundation has made a monumental impact on our community through the Derrick James Family Foundation Endowment for Pediatric Mental Health. This visionary initiative addresses a critical need for comprehensive, high-quality, and accessible mental health services for children in all areas of Dallas, but especially in underserved communities like Oak Cliff.

The endowment not only fills a significant gap in pediatric mental health care, but also stands as a testament to the power of philanthropy in effecting meaningful change and creating a brighter, healthier future for all. By prioritizing the mental well-being of our youngest citizens, the Derrick James Family Foundation demonstrates extraordinary leadership and compassion. Children’s Health is immensely proud to be a partner in this transformative endeavor. Together, we are working to enhance the health and lives of children growing up in DFW, ensuring that every child has the opportunity to thrive with the support they need.”  

Aimee Heath – Development Officer Children’s Medical Center Foundation 

Founder Derrick James Participates In Principal For A Day

Event Recap – Our founder Derrick James participated in Principal For A Day at John Lewis Social Academy At Oliver Wendell Holmes in DISD.  It was wonderful to engage with the students and staff throughout the day. Everyone showed a great sense of pride about their school community. The Derrick James Family Foundation is honored to partner with John Lewis Social Academy At Oliver Wendell Holmes and make a transformative impact in the lives of their students.

 Starting September 1st through September 18th you can make your donation gifts online. Click the link below

Over the past year, we have been able to do amazing things in the community thanks to support from our generous donors. Here are some of the things we have been able to accomplish…

  1. Provide over 500 clear backpacks to students in the Dallas area.
  2. Provide 6 local high school seniors $5000 college scholarships each for the next four years ($120,000 total scholarship award).
  3. Established a $50,000 pediatric mental hospital endowment with Children’s Health Dallas.
  4. Provide mental health speaker to approximately 200 male students at O.W. Holmes Middle School in DISD to discuss the importance of mental health.   

Thank you all for your continued support! 

 DJFF HBCU Scholarships Recipients class of 2024!

MEET OUR HBCU SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENTS 2024!

Top Row

1. Southern University – Dalan Arredondo – H. Grady Spruce HS (Major Business Management)

2. FAMU – Louis Rainey – Marvin E. Robinson, School of Business and Management- DISD (Major Computer Science)

3. Southern University – Dasia Howard – Desoto HS (Major Biology)

Bottom Row

4.  Paul Quinn College – Eric Bolden Jr. – Lancaster HS (Major Sports Management)

5. PVAMU – Patrick Henry Worthy III – David W. Carter HS (Major – Business Management)

6.  PVAMU – Taryn Watkins – Parish Episcopal – (Major – TBD)

Our foundation initially planned on awarding five $5000 scholarships. However, we had an overwhelming response from applicants attending Southern University and Prairie View A&M University. Over 84% of applicants were from those two schools. As a result, we decided to add an additional scholarship to each university.

We look forward to supporting these scholars on their educational journey! We wish them continued success and can’t wait to see the significant impact they will have in their communities!

Derrick James Family Foundation

The Family way

The Derrick James Family Foundation was founded in 2023 to give back to the South Dallas/Oak Cliff community that gave so much to him from childhood. He has a special place in his heart for the Oak Cliff Boys & Girls Club where he attended from  the age of four. The community haven for young people afforded Derrick an opportunity to develop his boxing skills. As a result of his training at the Boys & Girls Club, Derrick was able to showcase his skills throughout the state of Texas, the entire nation and eventually the world!

Derrick went on to become a professional boxer and he is currently one of the premier boxing trainers in the world. None of his success would have been possible without the coaching, support and resources provided by the Oak Cliff Boys & Girls Club.

He recognizes his platform can make an impact in the lives of youth in the same community where he grew up. Therefore, Derrick committed to giving back to support youth attending the Oak Cliff Boys & Girls Club and helping meet needs in the surrounding communities.

Donations

We are overwhelmed with the generosity to reach our final goal
$1,200 Raised so far $5,000 Our Goal

Please Select

AMOUNT TO DONATE

All donations are tax deductable.
$
Personal Info

Terms

Donation Total: $100