Greetings Community & Ministry Minded Friends:

Recently JIFF, Inc. purchased the Abe Scharf YMCA building at 254 S. Lauderdale.   This facility is located on the border of the "Hot Zone" for the City's redevelopment efforts downtown, and is between the Fed Ex Forum and the new medical district being constructed off of Union.   This Y building was constructed in the 1950's as the first YMCA in Memphis specifically for African Americans.   The JIFF board was able to secure the facility at below market cost, and greatly below replacement value.   However, the building itself is in great need of renovations and additions in order to accommodate long-term growth and future impact.  

In summer of 2005 the Board of Directors for JIFF secured the services of the Renaissance Architectural Group and launched a $3.5 Million dollar capital campaign in order to address the facility renovation needs. The construction price is $2.6 Million (GMP), plus we will need to fully furnish and secure the facility, thus our overall building campaign need is $3.5 Million. To date JIFF has raised $2.4 Million. It is our great desire to complete this project debt free. We are also in need of commercial kitchen equipment for our new Culinary Arts Training Kitchen (see below).

JIFF is a bold program addressing one of the most difficult issues faced by the City, juvenile crime.   With over 22,000 cases being processed by Juvenile Court each year, and a national recidivism rate (repeat offenses) of 82% for previously incarcerated youth, the intervention efforts of the JIFF Program are an integral component for successful crime reduction and healthy neighborhood development in Memphis.

We believe the JIFF Program is strategically addressing one of the greatest areas of need in our community and that our new facility goals will greatly enhance these efforts.

  • By redirecting delinquent behavior young people are truly given the tools, support, and accountability necessary to become productive and conscientious citizens.
  • By purposefully engaging both the Parents and Siblings of young offenders JIFF has the opportunity to influence positive change within the home, and to help break the pattern of criminal activity among the upcoming generation.
  • By renovating and expanding the old YMCA facility, JIFF will become an anchor of stability, resource, and influence in the 38126 zip code area.   With all of the city pools having closed down, JIFF will be one of the few non-profit locations in town where urban youth can recreate & learn to swim.
  • Additionally, by expanding the facility to include a culinary training kitchen, many young people and young adults will be offered a genuine alternative to criminal behavior through skill-based training in the culinary arts.
  • In very practical terms, JIFF also reduces the cost of government by offering a more effective and less costly program than traditional alternatives.  

There are three key project areas available for financial participation:

  1. Renovation of the enclosed pool facility
    In addition to swimming instructions for the urban youth with whom we are privileged to work, we at JIFF envision summer camps for JIFF participant siblings utilizing the pool, youth group lock-ins, access for our community partners, open pool days for the community, and the like.
  2. Culinary Vocational Center
    We are designing a kitchen and dining area to be used for vocational training.   Despite our best tutorial efforts, many of the youth with whom we work will not graduate from high school and their marketable skills are lacking.   With the addition of a training kitchen there are many jobs our young people can pursue in the food service industry.   Although JIFF Participants will be given priority, we envision opening the culinary training as a resource to all of our community partners.  
  3. Athletic Center
    We are renovating and expanding our athletic center to include a functional and attractive gymnasium, a large climbing wall, and a full fitness center. These are indispensable tools for working with urban youth. Through these various recreational means we are able to encourage: physical health, the benefits of a discipline and routine schedule, respect, responsibility, leadership, team building, and the like.   These resources also give our Case Mentors the opportunity to develop influential relationships with young people in desperate need of sound counsel and direction.

We would be honored if your family or agency would give serious consideration to funding one, or a portion of one, of these three projects. We are open to some naming scenarios if of interest. Your financial partnership will enable us to make great strides as we seek to help revive downtown Memphis, influence our immediate neighborhood, and continue working to: Break the Destructive Cycle of Juvenile Crime in Memphis.      

Thank you for your consideration of this request; we look forward to hearing from you soon.   Please phone me at (901) 522-8502 if you have any questions, or you may reach our Board Chairman, Barry Cox at (901) 373-9000.

Sincerely,
Rick Carr
Executive Director