Brandon Moore went back to school. Way back. To McKinley Elementary in Newark, N.J., last week. It's part of the work that he and his wife, Regina, are doing through the Moore Family Foundation.
"It was something I was excited to do," Brandon said this week. "I've been doing some mentoring there and I'm trying to do something for that city. It's a great joy to give some of the kids who might not be fortunate enough some school supplies, backpacks and things like that to begin the school year."
The foundation, which teamed up with Thompson Hine LLP and the N.J. Corporate Counsel Association, is sponsoring McKinley's entire fourth-grade class. And Moore threw out a challenge to Grades 4-8 during his visit for students to read as many books as they can from now through December.
"It's good to provide a challenge and reward students when it comes to their education," the veteran guard said. "Sometimes it's the extra motivation they need to perform well." The prize: The winning student will get a certificate, a trip to the Jets practice facility and tickets to the regular-season finale vs. the Bills. And the winning class will get a pizza party attended by Brandon and a few of his Jets classmates— make that teammates.
Club 'Em with Keller
Dustin Keller has a community event coming up next week at Chelsea Piers. He's calling it Dustin Keller's Believe & Achieve Charity Golf Gala. The third-year tight end is inviting folks to join him and some of his Jets teammates to "golf with the pros" and help raise money to provide athletic opportunities to deserving children. The evening is sponsored by the Dustin Keller Foundation and the Chelsea Piers Scholarship Fund.
The event is Tuesday, Sept. 14, at The Golf Club at Chelsea Piers, Pier 59, located at 18th Street and the West Side Highway in lower Manhattan. It begins at 5 p.m. with a VIP reception, with silent auctions, open hitting, golf clinics and an awards ceremony following from 6-9 p.m.
To purchase tickets or for more information, call 212-336-6500, ext. 6566, or go to www.chelseapiers.com/charitygolfgala.
Big Night for J-Co
A week later, Jerricho Cotchery and his wife, Mercedes, will host The Cotchery Foundation's third annual charity and fundraising event, called "Monday Night in Manhattan." The event will be held Monday, Sept. 20, at Hudson Terrace, an exclusive rooftop venue in midtown and will feature J-Co, teammates and celebrity guests helping to give back to a great cause.
"This is our primary fundraiser and helps us provide the monetary support for all Cotchery Foundation programs and initiatives," Cotchery said. "We hope our guests will enjoy a fun-filled evening while realizing the greater impact their support will have on the lives of these youth."
The Cotchery Foundation was established in 2007 with its core mission of inspiring children to conceive and achieve goals through programs and services designed to enhance their futures.
The night will run from 6:30 through 9:30 p.m. For more information on the foundation or on Monday Night in Manhattan, visit www.cotcheryfoundation.com.
