The Leadership
The Jaycee Foundation is managed by civic leaders of the community who make up our board of directors: Starting from Left side of Photo: Richard Lawson, Wilbert Lewis, Joseph Martinelli (deceased), Robert Poe, Joseph Harris, Betsy Godbey, Paul Baiers (not shown in photo)
It all started when…
In 1985, the Crescent Cities Jaycees Foundation established the Jaycees Oxon Hill Community Center. Located on 14 acres of property leased from the Maryland- National Capital Park and Planning Commission, the center is home to many civic and non-profit groups, as well as providing low cost meeting and banquet space for receptions, conferences and private parties.
In September of 1986, the Foundation began their "Food and Friendship" program for the elderly In which hundreds of seniors per month from local senior centers are provided a hot lunch, educational programs, recreation, and entertainment. Since then, over 25,000 meals have been served free of charge to the elderly, courtesy of the Jaycees Food and Friendship Program.
In 1989, the Foundation purchased and renovated a child day care center in Camp Springs at a cost of over $500,000. This model facility, which is licensed to serve up to 114 children and infants per day, offers safe and affordable child care.
From 1989 to present, the Foundation's Grants and Community Programs have contributed more than five million dollars to hundreds of non-profit community organization in the Prince George's County area.
Spanning the spectrum of community needs from handicapped children to Special Olympics to senior citizens, the grants in one way or another touch the lives of thousands of Individuals. Many of these groups have relied almost completely on funding from the Foundation to support their community activities.
In 1991, the Foundation helped develop and funded the Crescent Cities Adult Medical Day Care Center. Built in partnership with the Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, the Prince George's County Department of Aging and Senior Network, Inc., this model facility is staffed by medical professionals and provides daytime care for 87 functionally impaired elderly persons per week. At that time, it was the first adult medical day care facility In Southern Prince George's County.
In 1993, the Jaycees Foundation formed Crescent Cities Charities, Inc., a 501(C)3 non profit organization. The mission of Crescent Cities Charities is to address the health, welfare, and social concerns of the citizens of Prince George's County. To this end, Crescent Cities Charities purchased the former Leland Memorial Hospital In Riverdale for $1.3 million with money supplied by the Jaycees Foundation.