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Jessica Griffith, Executive Director - Jessica is a Jacksonville native who has played soccer since the age of four. Jessica fell in love with the goalkeeper position and earned a scholarship to St. Andrews University in Laurinburg, North Carolina. Jessica led the team to its first ever regular season conference championship in school history. Senior year, Jessica was nominated First Team All-Conference and was named an NAIA Scholar Athlete. Upon graduating, it was Jessica's goal to give back to the community that she is proud to have been born and raised in. Jessica committed to her first term with AmeriCorps, a national service organization, working in the development department at Habitat for Humanity Jacksonville, an affordable home builder that works primarily in the 32209 zip code of Jacksonville. Wanting to work closer with children and families, Jessica committed to her second term with AmeriCorps at City Year, an education nonprofit that supports students, teachers, and administrators in schools located in urban Jacksonville. Jessica served as a full-time mentor to students in the classroom at Susie E. Tolbert Elementary, also located in 32209. During her time with students, Jessica noticed a void of organized, athletic opportunities for boys and girls. Putting her nonprofit and coaching experience to use, Jessica started Sporting Jax during the summer of 2017 and continues to provide no-cost soccer programs for boys and girls living in Jacksonville's urban core. Through Sporting Jax, Jessica seeks to level the playing field for children in Jacksonville because all children deserve an equal opportunity to play, learn, and grow through sport. To learn more about our organization, please don't hesitate to contact Jessica at (904)383-6876 or Jessica.griffith@sportingjax.com.