The Jeter's Leaders Social Change Project is a week-long event that brings together all the youth in the program from New York and the Kalamazoo area for an insightful service journey to the selected area. The Leaders aim to make an impact on an area outside of their hometown. The Leaders are given the opportunity to tour the host city, visit area colleges and attend various information sessions.
2024 recap
Young Leaders from Derek Jeter’s Turn 2 Foundation Spark Positive Change in D.C.
Turn 2’s Jeter’s Leaders joined forces with Comfort Cases? for service project benefitting youth in foster care as part of 2024 Jeter’s Leaders Social Change Project presented by Goldman Sachs
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Aug. 2, 2024 – High school students from the Jeter’s Leaders program – the signature program of Derek Jeter’s Turn 2 Foundation – traveled to Washington, D.C. to effect meaningful change during the 2024 Jeter’s Leaders Social Change Project presented by Goldman Sachs.
The four-day initiative – which brings the Jeter’s Leaders to cities across the country where they work together to make a positive impact on the communities they visit – culminated with a community service project in partnership with Comfort Cases. During the “packing party,” the Jeter’s Leaders, alongside Turn 2 Foundation President Sharlee Jeter, Comfort Cases Founder and author Rob Scheer and Goldman Sachs Community TeamWorks, filled 450 backpacks with new pajamas, blankets, socks, stuffed animals, books, hygiene kits and hand-designed affirmation cards for vulnerable youth living in foster care.
"Turn 2’s Social Change Project provides invaluable learning experiences for our youth. By participating in service and engaging in thoughtful discussions, our students cultivate essential leadership skills and a deeper understanding of the impact they can make in the world,” said Derek Jeter. “Inspiring and empowering the next generation is at the heart of our mission, and we’re so proud of the Jeter’s Leaders’ commitment, hard work and determination during this event and beyond."
During the service project, Sharlee Jeter shared remarks with the Jeter’s Leaders, followed by Rob Scheer, who spoke about his experiences as a child in foster care, the youth he adopted, and his ongoing mission to bring comfort to children in the system as discussed in his memoir A Forever Family: Fostering Change One Child at a Time, published by Jeter Publishing.
"Providing youth with enriching opportunities to give back and explore their passions is critical for building a stronger, more compassionate society,” said Sharlee Jeter, president of The Turn 2 Foundation. “When we invest in our young people, we not only help them achieve their dreams, but also encourage them to develop a sense of purpose, lead with empathy and become active contributors to their communities. We are grateful to the fantastic panelists at The Atlantic for sharing insightful career advice with our students, Comfort Cases for coordinating such an impactful service project, and Goldman Sachs for once again partnering with us to present this year’s event and continuing to support Turn 2’s mission.”
This year’s Social Change Project kicked off on Monday, July 29, with team building activities at The Fairmont Washington. As part of the initiative, the Jeter’s Leaders attended a career day at American magazine and publisher The Atlantic, where they received a behind-the-scenes look at the major publication and gained career advice from CEO Nick Thompson among several other executives across the corporate, commercial business, product and technology, and editorial teams.
“Who would ever imagine that after growing up and then ‘aging out’ of foster care and being homeless my senior year in high school, that years later Derek Jeter would reach out to me and ask to publish my life story?” asks Rob Scheer, founder of Comfort Cases. “And now, how wonderful to have hosted his Jeter’s Leaders at our national center to support other youth in foster care. A belief Sharlee and I share is that when you invest in our youth, you are also investing in making the world a better place for everyone. Thank you, Derek, and to Sharlee and all the Jeter’s Leaders for joining us as part of your social change project. We KNOW this is just the start of your path to changing the world for the better.”
While in D.C., the Jeter’s Leaders also had the opportunity to visit The National Museum of African American History and Culture to learn about the contributions of African Americans throughout history, tour American University and Georgetown University’s campuses, and explore the nation’s capital.
Turn 2’s signature initiative, Jeter’s Leaders is an intensive four-year program for high school students who serve as ambassadors for Derek Jeter in their communities. Established by Jeter in 1996, the Foundation motivates youth to rise above negative influences, lead healthy lifestyles and serve as agents of positive social change. For the past 17 consecutive years, 100% of Jeter’s Leaders have gone on to attend college after high school.
PAST JETER'S LEADERS SOCIAL CHANGE PROJECT EVENTS
2022
2021 - New York
2021 - Kalamazoo
2018
2017
