TAMPA, Fla. — By the time Rhonda D’Haiti got to her 16-year-old son D.J. Myers’ side on July 25, 2017, he’d been strapped to a stretcher, airlifted to the hospital and was moments away from undergoing a 10-hour surgery. Unable to move from the neck down, he looked up at her and said, “If I can’t play football, I’m going to die.”

Fast-forward one year, and Myers, who is now 17, is in a wheelchair and unable to feel anything below his belly button. Football is out of the question, and he has yet to return to his regular classes at South Lake High School in Groveland, Florida. But he’s in good spirits and thriving, thanks in part to some encouragement from Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver DeSean Jackson, whom Myers met in person for the first time Saturday.

Source: Gayle Jackson: 2017 Single Mom’s Planet – Sports Mom of the Year

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

LOS ANGELES, Calif. (May 17, 2017) –The star-studded 4^th Annual Single Mom’s Awards took place at The Peninsula Beverly Hills on May 11. Presented by Single Moms Planet, a Los Angeles-based non-profit organization created to assist struggling single mothers, the Single Moms Awards honors notable individuals who inspire, provide an example or give support to single mothers through their work, philanthropy or volunteerism.

Actress Garcelle Beauvais was honored as Entertainer of the Year; Kelly Vlahakis-Hanks, Earth Friendly Products CEO, was honored as Business Innovator of the Year; Baby Ecos was honored as the Family Brand of the Year; Gayle Jackson, Co-Founder, and CEO of The DeSean Jackson Foundation, was honored as Sports Mom of the Year; Joanna McFarland, Carolyn Yashari-Becher and Janelle McGlothlin, founders of Hop Skip Drive, were honored as Corporation of the Year; Christy Salcido, Senior Vice President of Ketchum Inc., was honored as Visionary of the Year; Jan Perry, General Manager of the Los Angeles Economic & Workforce Development, was honored as Leader of the Year; and Karla Keene, CEO of Clarity RX, was honored as Entrepreneur of the Year.

Single Moms Planet was founded by event producer and television host, Neferteri Plessy to bring much-needed programs to under-resourced single mother households.

The event, held at The Peninsula Beverly Hills, was hosted by NBC 4 Los Angeles reporter Beverly White and author/TV personality Rosie Rivera, sister to late banda singer Jennie Rivera. Among the guests were NFL stars DeSean Jackson, Rodger Saffold, Jamon Brown and Todd Gurley, as well as actors Daphne Wayans, Carrie Stevens, Christy Buss, Alyssa Reeves and many others.

[Rodger Saffold, LA Rams; DeSean Jackson wide receiver for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers; Jamon Brown, LA Rams; Todd Gurley, LA Rams as seen here showing their support of Single Moms Planet.]

This year’s presenters included Los Angeles Rams running back Todd Gurley; Actor, Tom Williamson (“The Fosters”); TV Producer, Kerri Zane; Entrepreneur, Anastasia Soare, founder of Anastasia of Beverly Hills; CEO of The Balanced Mom, Asia Saffold; and noted fashion bloggers Heidi Nazarudin and Rachel Pitzel.

DeSean Jackson, wide receiver for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers showed up to support his mother as she was being honored as the Single Moms Planet, “Sports Mom of the Year.”

[DeSean Jackson wide receiver for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and his sister, A’Dreea,  attend the Single Mom’s Awards in support of their mother Gayle Jackson as she received Single Moms Planet “Sports Mom of the Year” Award.]

“I am very honored to be here to receive this award and to be a part of such strong community of people,” Beauvais said. “I am very thankful to Single Moms Planet and to my incredible family which is the most important thing in my life!”

[Joanna McFarland, Carolyn Yashari-Becher and Janelle McGlothlin, founders of Hop Skip Drive are presented with the “Corporation of the Year” award by the CEO of The Balanced Mom and wife of NFL Player Rodger Saffold of the LA Rams.]

[Anastasia Soare, founder of Anastasia of Beverly Hills, presents actress Garcelle Beauvais with the Single Moms Planet, “Entertainer of the Year” award.]

GAYLE JACKSON – CO-FOUNDER & PRESIDENT, THE DESEAN JACKSON FOUNDATION

2017 SINGLE MOM’S PLANET SPORTS MOM OF THE YEAR

4th Annual Single Mom’s Awards

HONORING GAYLE JACKSON

“Single Moms Planet Sports Mom of the Year Award”

We are proud to announce that we are honoring Gayle Jackson with the 2017 Sports Mom of the Year Award. Gayle is the Co-Founder and President of the DeSean Jackson Foundation, founded in 2009 to raise Pancreatic Cancer awareness, after her husband, Bill, died from Pancreatic Cancer while her son, DeSean Jackson, was a rookie with the Philadelphia Eagles. The mission of the foundation is: To advance the common good by caring, cultivating, collaborating and advocating–One Team, One Purpose.

To date, DJF is one of many business ventures developed by DeSean and Gayle Jackson; but, the only non-profit entity in their diverse portfolio of interests and holdings. Gayle takes a considerable amount time and effort to keep DJF a separate, distinct brand with no encumbrances from DeSean’s personal or professional interests. DJF is a public charity that has been incorporated in each NFL city where DeSean plays with the intent and purpose to improve the quality of life for those in need, acceptance, sensitivity and tolerance through their unique brand and DeSean’s status in the NFL; and, the Jackson family is truly hands on. This requires a complex strategy of re-branding from the NFL franchise markets of the Philadelphia Eagles, Washington Redskins, Tampa Bay Buccaneers; and, as always their home base in Los Angeles, CA. Gayle also oversees all of DeSean’s professional and personal endeavors, brand and image as his mother, manager and business partner.

In 2013, the Jacksons were successful in bringing the documentary The Bill Jackson Project: The Making of a Father’s Dream to fruition. It was the result of 18 years of Byron Jackson documenting every aspect of the making of his NFL All Pro brother, wide receiver, DeSean Jackson, from Pop Warner to the NFL Pro Bowl; and, the rocky journey of a family to stay together through it all, despite their differences and in the face of mounting pressure; and Bill Jackson’s battle with Pancreatic Cancer.  The documentary was distributed by several major cable outlets, Wal-Mart, Amazon, Target and was selected for viewing at the prestigious San Francisco Black Film Festival XL, June 13th – 16th, 2013.

In 2015, BET debuted the unscripted, reality show, DeSean Jackson: Home Team, which one again profiled the Jackson family living the atypical everyday lives of a NFL family who’s matriarch is a single, phenomenal woman who leads a team of female associates who manage the personal and professional affairs of a high-profile professional athlete.  Gayle received numerous accolades for her honest depiction of the obstacles, pitfalls, uncertainty and truth about the reality of being an NFL family; and, especially being a mother of a NFL player—her strength, resolve and brutal honesty.  The reality show was filmed during NFL off-season and aired for one cycle on BET.

DeSean, A’Dreea, Byron, Gayle Jackson

Credit: BET, DeSean JacKson: Home Team

On June 16, 2017, the long-awaited Tupac Shakur biopic, All Eyez on Me, (another Jackson business venture) will be released. DeSean, is an investor, movie producer and has a cameo role.  Gayle states this is part of God’s plan for transitioning her son for life after football with her blessing and support. Evidence of the values and virtue instilled in DeSean by his mother.

Gayle is a graduate of Duquesne University, Pittsburgh, PA, former probation officer for Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, and was formerly employed at Warner Bros and Capitol Records, Los Angeles, CA in the legal, marketing & artist development (domestic & international) departments; Ron Sweeney, Esq. who managed Kylmaxx, Alexander O’Neal, Cherrell, The Time, BabyFace and others; and, Patrick Raines & Associates who managed Al Jarreau and other artists.

Gayle has been profiled numerous times during DeSean’s tenure in the NFL in regards to her work as a former board member, of the Professional Players’ Mothers Association (PFPMA); NFL Mom’s Read Across American Program, the Pancreatic Cancer “Purple Out” and as her son’s liaison with the NFL, NFLPA, Philadelphia Eagles and Washington Redskins. She was also profiled in Ebony magazine in its special Mothers’ Day edition that highlighted prominent NFL players and their mothers; and, was one of the recipients of the 2015 Beauty In/Beauty Out (BIBO), Los Angeles, phenomenal women awards.

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Gladys Bettis, 2015 Recipient

Vincentian Academy Honors Gladys Bettis, Others For Courage, Selfless Service
December 9, 2015 4:55 PM By Rick Dayton, CBS Pittsburgh
[Re-Post by the DeSean Jackson Foundation, 12/10/2015]

PITTSBURGH (KDKA) — For the past four years, Vincentian Academy has been honoring men and women from Pittsburgh for their selfless service, and this year is no different. This year’s honorees are working to make Pittsburgh a better place.
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One of the honorees is, Gladys Bettis, an NFL Mom, who mentors and nurtures new NFL Moms when their sons are drafted into the league. Mrs. Bettis was honored, at a banquet in Pittsburgh, as the 2015 recipient of the Vincentian Academy “Woman of Courage” award for her courageous battle against breast cancer; and, the work she does in the community supporting other women through their various stages of breast cancer.
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“I didn’t feel that I was worthy of this,” said Gladys Bettis. But the mother of Hall of Fame running back, Jerome Bettis, is the Woman of Courage Award winner. She says she wasn’t sure how courageous she was until winning her battle with breast cancer. “I heard Jerome say, “My mom is so strong.” I knew I was a little strong. I didn’t realize I had the strength that I do. I do have it and I’m just so blessed to be here,” said Gladys Bettis.

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DeSean Jackson, CEO, of the DeSean Jackson Foundation; and, his mother, Gayle Jackson, extend their sincere congratulations to Mrs. Gladys Bettis, the recipient of this prestigious award.