Yes, poverty most oftentimes refers to a lack of money; however, most of the poverty experienced in underserved communities is the poverty of opportunity. That’s where we come in. When we give resources and provide opportunity, we foster a spirit of hope that will change hearts and mentalities … and will ultimately impact future generations.
Sports reinforce that hard work and teamwork are the keys to success. While many young people dream of being a professional athlete, the reality is that only about 1% of athletes enter professional sports as an athlete. There’s so much more to sports than just playing the game. Being involved teaches discipline, hard work, good sportsmanship, resilience, and teamwork – and it provides the opportunity for great mentorship.
Mentorship gives us wisdom from people who’ve been there before and can guide us forward. Children living in poverty are statistically more likely to have stressful, abusive family situations and therefore, a lack of leadership. We have powerful mentors in our network that will speak into their lives and give them the security and resources they need for their own personal development. This includes internships, apprenticeships, education, and faith partners. Our mentors are true leaders who are helping change the conversation from hopelessness and despair to new opportunities and an optimistic future.
Economic Opportunity provides formerly unknown opportunities that open the right doors and put people with the right skills in the right jobs. When we breathe new life into these vulnerable communities, we are providing opportunities for entrepreneurship, new jobs, workforce training, and connections with various communities. As a result, family units are impacted from the top down – cultivating a message of hope and opportunity.
We’re investing in more than just our youth – our efforts are an investment in entire communities. Serving these young people teaches and inspires them to serve their neighbors. We’re helping them develop skills to become true leaders and impact generations to come.
Scott Turner is the heart of CEOC. The remarkable work he accomplished as Executive Director of the White House Opportunity and Revitalization Council (WHORC) further developed his affection for people living in under-resourced communities. As Founder and President, Scott is the primary vision caster and is responsible for identifying new projects. He also plays a significant role in developing partnerships.
Prior to his work in the White House, Scott served two terms in the Texas House of Representatives. He currently serves as CEO of Scott Turner Consulting Group, Senior Advisor to the National Football League (NFL), and Chief Inspiration Officer at Systemware. Additionally, Scott is a pastor and nationally recognized motivational speaker.
As CEOC Chairman, Linda is responsible for overseeing development, leading communications, and establishing and cultivating long-standing partnerships for the organization. She has a passion to help others and is a strong advocate for those in underserved communities.
Her experience as Chairman for Global Advertising and Partnerships at NBCUniversal is a valuable asset to CEOC, especially in regard to spearheading massive projects and investments. Linda also has a natural knack for nurturing relationships, as her partner portfolio experience demonstrates. Her skills are vital to CEOC as it kicks off an aggressive growth plan to revitalize vulnerable communities.
In his dual role as Vice Chair and Treasurer, Tony Ewing works closely with the board to ensure that all members are working toward the CEOC mission as set forth by the President and Chairman. He is especially involved in operations, planning and budgeting. Tony’s primary responsibility is to minimize CEOC’s operational costs in an effort to maximize our impact in under-resourced communities.
Tony serves daily duties as President at Advanced Fixtures, Inc., a custom store fixture manufacturing company he built from scratch almost 40 years ago. Not only does he bring decades of experience to the board with a deep understanding of business and a unique ability to overcome challenges – Tony is also one of the most caring, generous people we are blessed to do life with.
Alfonso Costa Jr.’s servant heart, community service history, and extensive work in public policy have positioned him as the perfect candidate for as CEOC Secretary. He brings great value to our organization on all levels – especially in regard to messaging, legal compliance, and partnerships.
Alfonso currently serves as EVP at The Falcone Group, where he is responsible for leading the company’s affordable & workforce housing division and public-private partnership (P3) development. His former role at the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) as Deputy Chief of Staff has given him the vital perspective and experience needed to serve our target communities.
Jim Donofrio serves as CEOC’s Director of Strategic Partnerships, where he is responsible for developing partnership strategy and identifying creative connections for the organization.
In his role at NBCUniversal, Jim is the Vice President of Sponsorship Sales and Strategy for NBC Sports. Here, he is responsible for leading strategy and driving revenue. Jim has exceeded annual sales budgets by producing creative solutions, which speaks to the strength of the relationships and trust he has with his top clients. His sales, marketing, and professional partnership experience is invaluable to CEOC as it looks to form long-standing, productive relationships that connect local businesses and residents within the community.
As CEOC’s Operations Board Member, David Mansdoerfer serves at the heart of the organization where he is responsible for developing sustainable strategies and supporting budgets. His greatest challenge is managing our current plans in tandem with ever-changing strategies as new opportunities to serve under-resourced communities are identified.
David currently serves as the Special Assistant to the President at The University of North Texas Health Science Center as well as Adjunct Professor of Health Policy & Politics at Pepperdine University’s School of Public Policy. His expertise and continued education in the public affairs space has equipped him to serve our charity well, as the communities we impact are greatly affected by government funding and programs.
david.mansdoerfer@communityeoc.org