Jashua's Story

Jashua was born to a single mom in Brooklyn and never met his dad.  They lived in and out of shelters for many years.  At eight his mom died. An Aunt rescued him and sent him to Oregon to another Aunt.  While in Oregon his Aunts and Uncles took turns at raising him.  At ten Jash was diagnosed hearing impaired, (legally deaf) so school was a struggle.
At 12 he started playing football.  When he was 14 he got a permanent home with his twenty-one-year-old brother. That was 9th grade for Jash and he played football at Tigard High School. It was tough with out parents but his brother and Aunt kept him out of trouble.  
Jashua's Senior year was great.  He got an award as the academic turn around student of the year. He was  2nd team All State Running Back.  At the Les Schwab All Star game he was named offensive Player of the Game. He graduated this past June.  Western Oregon offered him a football scholarship, but 3 days ago he was told that he was one and a half credits short for NCAA clearing house and lost his scholarship. That disappointment turned around the next day when the coach from Riverside Jr. College offered him a position on their football team.  So tomorrow he leaves for California.  Financially he can cover tuition,  books, and housing. But he does not have enough money to feed himself for the next 10 months.  Next year he will be a Ca. resident and his FAFSA will cover most of the s food.  This year he needs our help.  For all of us who love football this our opportunity to give back and help a kid who manages to get up every time he gets knocked down on and off the field.