Steven Jackson is a pillar of two communities and this holiday season he’s spent time giving back to both.
On Monday, Steven returned home to Las Vegas to join R&B Star Ne-Yo as the singer’s Compound Foundation made the holidays a little brighter for 500 kids and young adults at the John C. Kish Boys & Girls Club of Henderson.
The event was part of the Compound Foundation’s Giving Tour, which will make stops in five other cities across the country. Steven was thrilled for the opportunity to lend a helping hand in his hometown of Las Vegas and used his only off day of the week to fly into town for the event.
“I believe in giving back to the community that you come from,” he said. “I believe in giving kids a reason to dream and aspire. We’re from the same neighborhoods that they’re from.”
Steven and Ne-Yo, who is also from Las Vegas signed autographs, posed for pictures and gave out toys, clothing, electronics and bicycles to underprivileged youth and foster care children.
While he was happy to bring joy and gifts to the students, SJ39 was also focused on promoting educational values and spoke to the young people about making their education a priority.
“Me being an athlete and [Ne-Yo] being an entertainer, most kids desire to be that, but then they put education second,” he said. “I want them to see that dreams do come true, that I was able to be a great student and a great athlete while doing both at the same time.”
Steven has been spreading that message, along with loads of holiday cheer in St. Louis as well. Last month he joined the Little Bit Foundation to bring the holiday spirit to St. Louis’ Walbridge Elementary School, where SJ39 helped the Little Bit staff hand out winter hats and gloves to all 200+ students at Walbridge Elementary, on the city’s north side.