Page 3 - 2018-2019-JRF-Scholars-Handbook

Letter from the President

Congratulations to each member of the Class of 2022!
On behalf of the Jackie Robinson Foundation board of directors, staff, and Scholar Advisory
Committee (SAC) members, I am delighted to welcome you to the Jackie Robinson
Foundation family!
Each year, the Foundation and our dedicated team of volunteers undertake the difficult task of
selecting the next class of Jackie Robinson Foundation Scholars from thousands of applicants
across the country.
You have been selected because of your high achievement, demonstrated leadership, and desire
to serve others, which reflect the core values of the Jackie Robinson Foundation (JRF) and
Jackie Robinson himself.
Over seventy years ago, Jackie Robinson became the first African American to play on a
Major League Baseball team, integrating America’s greatest pastime and stirring profound social
change. He went on to exemplify what it means to be a first-class citizen as a professional
athlete, veteran, businessman, activist, and advisor to U.S. presidents and other political,
business and community leaders. In 1973, Rachel Robinson, herself a pioneer, founded JRF to
perpetuate her husband’s legacy by encouraging highly motivated, young leaders like you, in
pursuit of excellence through higher education.
Today, you take your place among some 1,500 JRF alumni who are making their mark as
exceptional professionals and thought leaders, dedicated to serving their communities.
As you are now “ambassadors” of the Robinson legacy, over the next four years, we will
urge you to actively embrace JRF’s core values of courage, integrity, discipline, humility,
and compassion.
We will expect you also to take advantage of all that JRF has to offer. Our 42 Strategies for
Success Curriculum is administered through the New Scholar Orientation, JRF’s Mentoring
and Leadership Conference (MLC) each March, the JRF Family online platform, and a myriad of
skill-building and informative communiques and events throughout the year. We work hard to
provide you with resources, beyond financial assistance, to enhance and supplement your on-
campus experiences.
Please know that all of us at JRF are invested in your success. It is our only agenda.
We look forward to witnessing your growth and development throughout your college
experience and as JRF alumni.
Again, congratulations!
With warm regards,

Della Britton Baeza
President and CEO

Jackie Robinson Foundation 2018-2019 Scholars’ Handbook I Page 1