Otis Smith Kids Foundation

Last updated April 30, 2019

The Otis F. Smith Foundation (and later, the Otis Smith Kids Foundation) was a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that partnered with targeted Jacksonville, Florida elementary schools to provide programs and services to disadvantaged children in the areas of education, personal development and recreation.^[1] It was one of the first "celebrity" charitable foundations in the First Coast region that supported initiatives to help at-risk youth and was active for almost two decades.

Jacksonville, Florida Largest city in Florida

Jacksonville is the most populous city in Florida, the most populous city in the southeastern United States and the largest city by area in the contiguous United States. It is the seat of Duval County, with which the city government consolidated in 1968. Consolidation gave Jacksonville its great size and placed most of its metropolitan population within the city limits. As of 2017 Jacksonville's population was estimated to be 892,062. The Jacksonville metropolitan area has a population of 1,523,615 and is the fourth largest in Florida.

First Coast Region in Florida, United States

Florida's First Coast, or simply the First Coast, is a region of the U.S. state of Florida, located on the Atlantic coast of North Florida. The First Coast refers to the same general area as the "directional" region of Northeast Florida. It roughly comprises the five counties surrounding Jacksonville: Duval, Baker, Clay, Nassau, and St. Johns, largely corresponding to the Jacksonville metropolitan area, and may include other nearby areas such as Putnam and Flagler counties in Florida and Camden County, Georgia. The name originated in a marketing campaign in the 1980s, and has since emerged as one of Florida's best known vernacular regions.

The beginning

Otis Smith was born and raised in Jacksonville, Florida and played sports at the local Boy's Club while growing up. Since his college days at Jacksonville University, he was involved with Volunteers for Youth, Big Brothers Big Sisters, Boys and Girls Clubs of America and conducted informal basketball clinics during summers. When Smith returned to Florida in 1989 to play professional basketball for the Orlando Magic, he founded the Otis F. Smith Foundation which began hosting summer basketball clinics for kids.

Otis Smith (basketball) American basketball player

Otis Fitzgerald Smith is a retired American professional basketball player. He played college basketball for Jacksonville.

Jacksonville University (JU) is a private university in Jacksonville, Florida. The school was founded in 1934 as a two-year college and was known as Jacksonville Junior College until September 5, 1956, when it shifted focus to building four-year university degree programs and later graduated its first four-year degree candidates as Jacksonville University in June 1959. It is a member of the Independent Colleges and Universities of Florida and is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS) and the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB). JU's student body currently represents more than 40 U.S. states and approximately 45 countries around the world. As a Division I university, it is home to 19 sports teams, known as the JU Dolphins, as well as intramural sports and clubs. Among the top majors declared by JU students are aviation management, biology, nursing, business and marine science.

Big Brothers Big Sisters of America is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization whose goal is to help all children reach their potential through professionally supported, one-to-one relationships with volunteer mentors.

Mission

The mission of the Otis Smith Kids Foundation (OSKF) was to improve the quality of life and outlook for the future for Northeast Florida children between the ages of 6 and 12 by providing quality programs and services in the areas of education, recreation, personal growth and development.^[2]

Programs

The foundation's activities were expanded into neighborhoods and elementary schools considered economically and academically challenged. Their programs included free summer day camps, after-school tutoring and enrichment programs during the school year such as holiday parties and field trips to sporting events, cultural institutions & local attractions. Health screenings were one of the last services provided. Throughout the 1990s the organization expanded and programs flourished.

The charity, with an annual budget of about $400,000 and four full-time employees, never received government funds. A good measure of a charity's effectiveness is the percentage of donations actually spent of programs. A well run organization should keep that percentage above 75%. In a review of local foundations connected to professional athletes, the Otis Smith Kids Foundation rated highly, with 78.6% for 2005.^[3]

Fundraising

The annual Jaspers Celebrity Golf Classic in the spring, and in later years, the Florida Sports Awards show, were responsible for generating about 70 percent of the foundation's funding during the first ten years of operation.

Golf Classic

The golf function was the first cash cow for the foundation and was a good money-maker throughout the 1990s. That success encouraged other groups to emulate the activity, and the increased competition from literally dozens of charity golf tournaments resulted in lower participation and fewer sponsorships, to the point where in 2005, the tournament was just breaking even. In 2005, at least 15 sports star charities operated in the Jacksonville area and most, if not all of them, held a charity golf tournament.^[3]

Awards show

Since its first appearance on live television in 1996 as the event that benefited the Otis F. Smith Foundation charity, the Florida Sports Awards had grown to the point of being recognized as a local version of the ESPYs. Over the years, the profitability of the Florida Sports Awards show was reduced as production costs increased. Andy Jacobs, president of First Coast Sports Awards, Inc. and driving force behind the event retired from the Florida Sports Awards in September 2002.

New name

Competition for charity dollars since the terrorist attacks of 9/11 became more intense. Corporations reduced their support because business conditions became more difficult. In November 2002, the Otis F. Smith Foundation was renamed the Otis Smith Kids Foundation in an attempt to emphasize that kids were the focus. Two of the most visible projects in recent years involved life-sized statues.

Otis Smith at Sea Cow Auction OtisSmithSeaCow.png — Otis Smith at Sea Cow Auction

Sea Cows for Kids

Just like Cincinnati's Big Pig Gig and Chicago's Cows on Parade, these fiberglass manatees were part of a 2004-2005 fund-raising effort for the foundation. A total of 43 colorfully decorated, lifelike fiberglass manatees took up residence throughout the city, beginning in September 2004—in time for Super Bowl XXXIX—and remained until the end of February 2005. They were cleaned up and prepared for the Great Sea Cow Roundup and Auction, held April 2 at the Jacksonville Fairgrounds.^[4] After the Roundup & Auction concluded, the winning bidders loaded them up and moved their new artwork to back yards and business locations.

Big Cats for Kids

Big Cats prior to auction BIGCATS.PNG — Big Cats prior to auction

Using the same formula as the successful Sea Cows for Kids program, Big Cats for Kids was kicked off in 2006. A total of 53 entities paid $5000 each to sponsor the Cat of their choice. The theme-decorated Big Cats were displayed in locations all over Jacksonville for almost a year before being sold. More than 400 people attended Jammies & Jeans: The Cats Pajamas Party on July 10, 2007 where 41 of the 53 big cats were auctioned off to their FURever homes (the other 12 cats were adopted by their SPOTsors prior to the auction). Vincent Van Jaguar sold at the auction for $12,000, but the average price was $2,900. The project was a FURnomenal success, raising more than $220,000.^[5]

The foundation's demise

After 18 years, and with the reliable financial support activities gone, the Otis Smith Kids Foundation closed its doors at the end of 2007. Smith announced its demise in a news release on August 29, 2007. ^[6]

With successful programs and services being provided by folks like Mal Washington, Tony Boselli, Mike Peterson and others," Smith said in the release, "we're confident that the deserving children of Jacksonville are in great hands, and we are honored to have had the opportunity to make an impact on this community over the years.^[7]

Board members cited the current economic environment, in addition to increased competition for corporate and private donations, as dominant factors in the decision-making process.

Scholarships

A final gift to Jacksonville's children are three scholarship programs.

FCCJ

The scholarship program at Florida Community College at Jacksonville was the recipient of an endowment from the OSKF.

UNF

The OSKF donated $56,000 to the University of North Florida to establish an endowed scholarship fund in support of the Florida First Generation Scholarship Program for students who are the first in their families to attend college.^[8] The state of Florida will match the gift with $2,300 annually, funding two scholarships each year. ^[9]

JU

The OSKF donated $50,000 to the Jacksonville University athletics department to establish and endow the Otis Smith Scholarship to a deserving local student-athlete.^[10] The donation was announced during halftime of a basketball game designated as "Otis Smith Night" on November 28, 2007. The honoree was unable to attend, but left a pre-recorded video. In a surprise to athletic officials, Smith stated that he was personally matching the $50,000 donation by the Otis Smith Kids Foundation, for a total gift of $100,000.^[11]

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References

External links

Otis Smith Foundation

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[1] Query Cat.com Answers your questions

[2] Volunteer Match.org: Organization detail-Otis Smith Kids Foundation

[hearts-3] 1 2 "Florida Times-Union: They sport charitable hearts, foundations". 2007. Retrieved 2007-07-07.

[4] St. Augustine Record: Feb 19, 2005-Smith foundation dedicated to children, community

[5] Big Cats for Kids website

[6] First Coast News.com: August 29, 2007-Otis Smith Foundation Shutting Down

[closing-7] "Florida Times-Union-Otis Smith foundation for children closing". 2007. Retrieved 2007-08-30.

[8] University of North Florida website: First Generation Scholarships

[9] Florida Times-Union: January 30, 2008-Braggin Rights

[10] NBA.com: Orlando Magic Community-Otis Smith Kids Foundation Endows A JU Athletic Scholarship

[11] JU Dolphins website: Nov 28, 2007-Otis Smith makes $50,000 donation to the men's basketball program