Jacksonville Jaguars

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This unique, nationally recognized program uses seats at Jaguars home games as incentives to encourage children and youth to set and achieve ambitious but realistic goals. Goal setting involves academic achievement, behavioral improvement, and performing public service. Interested nonprofit agencies from within five Northeast Florida counties (i.e., Duval, Baker, Clay, Nassau, and St. Johns only) are eligible to apply. The flexibility of the program allows agencies to determine how best to use seats as motivational goals. Youth must be between the ages of 9 and 17 to earn their seat to a game, and do not have to be A-B honor roll students to participate. All applications are reviewed by a diverse volunteer committee.

A 1997 independent study, funded by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, reported that participating youth and agencies experienced significant benefits as a result of their involvement. Specifically, the goal-setting process of Honor Rows (versus allocating game tickets as a "free giveaway") improved a youth's self-image, self-discipline and self-determination.

Youth in the study indicated that the experience taught them important lessons, including:

• Reinforcing their ability to believe in themselves by desiring to do better in school, to work hard, and to improve their personal behavior.
• Demonstrating the importance of personal accomplishment, which was then rewarded by a ticket to a game, and understanding that hard work will be rewarded later in life.
• Fostering altruism and helping them make a direct link between their public service and the "greater good."

Agencies reported that their participation in the Honors Rows program improved the capacity of their staff to operate effective programs, enhanced their ability to track client progress, increased the level of adult oversight/interaction with the youth in their care, and helped leverage various financial and in-kind resources (i.e., grants, individual gifts, recognition through awards/prizes, media coverage, etc.).

The Honor Rows program is sponsored by Reebok, with additional support from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The United Way of Northeast Florida mobilizes game-day volunteers to ensure the overall safety and enjoyment of Honor Rows participants. The Jaguars Foundation received the 1996 and 2003 Governor's Community Investment Award for this program and, through the Sports Philanthropy Project, serves as a demonstration site for other professional sports leagues and franchises.

The Jacksonville Jaguars celebrate the franchise's 15th season in 2009. Under Wayne Weaver's direction the team ranks ninth in the NFL and sixth among AFC teams during its history, with a record of 118-106 in the regular season. The Jaguars quickly became the most successful expansion franchise in NFL history after joining the league in 1995, advancing to the playoffs four times in the first five seasons with two division titles and two appearances in the AFC Championship game during that time.

Entering 2009 the Jaguars are coming off a busy offseason which saw the promotion of Gene Smith to General Manager, and a series of roster moves made with the intent of competing every season for a division crown and playoff berth.

“We have made some tough decisions and some significant moves this year,” Weaver explained, “and every one of them was made in the interest of competing at the highest level. We have re-emphasized character and accountability on our team, and that theme will continue through the process of building this roster. We want to always represent Jacksonville well, both on the field and in our community.”

Last season the Jaguars finished 5-11 despite injuries that resulted in just four players starting all 16 games, and a total of 15 players were on injured reserve at the end of the year. Early-season wins against Indianapolis, Houston and Denver over a four-week span were positive signs, as was a late-season victory against Green Bay.

Weaver and his partners surprised the football world by winning an NFL expansion franchise for the city of Jacksonville on November 30, 1993. In 1994 Weaver presided over the building of one of the NFL's showpiece stadiums, and in the 1995 inaugural season the expansion team took the field. In 1996 Weaver saw his young team win seven consecutive late-season games, including two playoff victories in Buffalo and Denver, and advance to within one win of the Super Bowl. That year's playoff victory over the Broncos is regarded as one of pro football's greatest upsets. The 1997 Jaguars won 11 games, more than any third-year NFL team had ever won, and in 1998 the Jaguars claimed their first AFC Central division title as the franchise hosted its first-ever home playoff game. In 1999 the Jaguars finished with the NFL's best record, a 14-2 regular season mark, as the team hosted the AFC Championship game in Jacksonville in its fourth straight playoff appearance.

The Jaguars returned to the playoffs under Jack Del Rio in 2005 and 2007, the team's fifth and sixth playoff berths. The 2005 squad posted a 12-4 record before losing in New England in January. In 2007 the Jaguars went 11-5 and advanced to the second round of the playoffs, claiming the team's first postseason win in seven years. The Jaguars' Wild Card victory over the Steelers marked the first time in league history that a visiting team won in Pittsburgh twice in one season. The promising campaign ended, however, the following week in a Divisional Playoff loss to the undefeated Patriots.

In hosting Super Bowl XXXIX in Jacksonville on February 6, 2005, Weaver put an exclamation point on the first decade of NFL football in Jacksonville. The smallest city to host the league's crown jewel, Jacksonville saw its leaders and citizens rally together to create a successful and memorable Super Bowl experience.

A highly successful entrepreneur throughout his business career, Weaver brought with him to Jacksonville great energy, enthusiasm and keen business acumen. He wanted a model football franchise and a team that would contend for the playoffs in a short time. Weaver serves as the Jaguars' chairman and chief executive officer, overseeing the day-to-day operations of the team while allowing his staff the autonomy to do its jobs. That's the Weaver way, and it has long proven to be a winning way.

But if football is his passion, Weaver also takes pride and joy in his other businesses. He is chairman and the Weaver family is majority owner of Shoe Carnival, Inc., one of the nation's fastest-growing shoe retailers that is based in Evansville, Ind. He also serves as chairman and CEO of Liz Claiborne Shoes, a wholesale distributor to upscale department stores across the country that is headquartered in Jacksonville. Previously Weaver was co-owner, president and CEO of Nine West Group, Inc., the leading designer and marketer of women's footwear. Throughout his business career, Weaver has maintained a commitment to philanthropic endeavors. Since the awarding of the Jaguars franchise, Wayne and Delores Weaver have focused their charitable efforts through the Weaver Family Foundation and the Jaguars Foundation. Weaver is a member of three NFL committees, serving as chairman of the Business Ventures Committee while also serving on the Finance and Investment Committees. He is past chairman of the Fashion Footwear Association of New York, and also served on the boards of Stein Mart, the Jacksonville Zoo, the Cummer Museum of Art and Gardens, and the Alliance for World Class Education. Weaver was born on January 14, 1935 in Columbus, Ga. A high-school graduate, he rose through the ranks of Brown Group, Inc., a major St. Louis-based shoe company. After serving as senior vice president, he departed in 1978 to become president and CEO of Nine West. Wayne and Delores live in Jacksonville. They have been married for 54 years and have a daughter Leigh, a son Bradley, and two grandchildren, Morgan and Nash.

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