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Giants Now: Kayvon Thibodeaux discusses The Jream Foundation

KAYVON-JREAM-GN

Kayvon Thibodeaux talks about The Jream Foundation

Giants outside linebacker Kayvon Thibodeaux has done some tremendous work in the community through The Jream Foundation.

Thibodeaux founded the JREAM (Journey to Readiness in Enrichment and Academic Mentorship) Foundation during his final season at the University of Oregon. His mission is to empower youth in under-resourced areas with confidence and wisdom by providing educational, mentorship and career exploration opportunities.

The NFL recently featured Thibodeaux's work with The Jream Foundation on social media.

"The Jream Foundation, the idea behind it was to give underserved youth the same privileges that I did and did not have, whether it be uniforms for schools, whether it be our football program, just different activations that we do to build a sense of community and to build a sense of help and hope within children who need it," Thibodeaux said in the video the NFL posted. "For me, it's just important knowing that I'm impacting these kids' lives for the better.

"When you talk about the war on racial equality, when you talk about the war on oppression, I think it starts with the individual. It starts with equipping ourselves with the education, being aware of the resources, and being open to new ideas, new people and new things that come to us. It takes nothing for me to give a little bit of time, a little bit of effort, to the people I care about most. If everybody continues to have that mindset, I think we'll be in a better place."

The non-profit's inaugural gala at MetLife Stadium on October 10 served as a celebration for what it has accomplished since and inspiration for Thibodeaux to continue his foundation's impactful work. Along with raising $120,000, the event featured support from several of the outside linebacker's Giants teammates along with a financial literacy panel that highlighted the need for those types of discussions and resources in underprivileged communities.

During the season, Thibodeaux also visited the Boys & Girls Club of Harlem, spending time with 50 kids to share his journey and answer questions. On hand were financial literacy experts to serve as mentors and teach the youth about how to earn and manage money at a young age.

All of this helped lead to Thibodeaux being named the Week 9 NFLPA Community MVP.

Thibodeaux has invested a great amount of time and resources in his team city as well as his native area of South Los Angeles. He sits on the board of directors for Core Prep Academy Football, which, in partnership with the JREAM Foundation, provides a specialized academic and athletic experience for hundreds of middle-school students in California.

Thibodeaux also started a mini-mentor student community service program, offered financial literacy classes and life skills workshops across the country, volunteered at the Community Foodbank of New Jersey, helped pack more than a thousand lunches for people in need in Los Angeles, and hosted a youth football and cheer summer camp as well as several conditioning camps to promote healthy living. In the coming months, he will host a mentoring weekend camp and a food giveaway event for the holidays.

View the best photos of Giants outside linebacker Kayvon Thibodeaux.

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