Why We Established Cool Gear for the School Year by Jason Taylor

(originally published 8.10.2021)

I didn’t grow up with much.

My Mom busted her tail, working at least two jobs per day to make sure we were fed and had a place to live, but I’d be lying if I said I didn’t know what it was like to stand in line waiting for government assistance.

And as a tall, skinny kid who was growing faster than my peers, I certainly experienced my share of embarrassment because my clothes didn’t fit right. Too small. Too generic. Too much like somebody else’s old clothes because, well…they were.

Years later, while playing defensive end for the Miami Dolphins, we had a saying in the locker room:

“Look good, feel good. Feel good, play good.”

Now, while that was a fun way to get us hyped up for a big game, it also speaks volumes to the power of self-belief and empowerment. Of course, as I reflect on some of my childhood experiences, I realize that this mantra also extends far beyond the gridiron.

For these reasons, I established the “Cool Gear for the School Year” initiative through my Foundation back in 2005. Our mission with this program is to help build each child’s self-esteem and eliminate the unnecessary distraction in school that comes with not feeling good about the clothing you are wearing.  I want kids to be able to focus on their studies and not their attire while they sit in a classroom.

Each year, we take 60 deserving young people to the Old Navy store in Davie and provide them with $300 to purchase their new “Cool Gear” as the school year begins.

This Labor Day will mark our 21st Cool Gear and to date, we have provided more than $370,000 in new clothes to nearly 1,250 young people…and we can’t wait to do more!

As we approach our fundraising goal for this year’s effort, I hope that you will consider supporting Cool Gear for the School Year. One hundred percent of any donation you make will go directly to the purchase of new clothing, outfitting a student, and putting plenty of smiles on some very special faces.