Devin Jordan
36, President, Beyond the Game
Author: Kelsey Davis The Repository
Published: 6:30 AM EST June 11, 2021
What motivates or inspires you to better the community?
I love seeing the smiles on the young people’s faces every time I can help give them a new experience, teach them a new skill or just be able to speak positivity into their lives. Knowing I am making investment into the most valuable asset in our community (the kids) keeps me giving back.
What is the best career advice you’ve ever been given?
It’s not what you know, it’s who you know. I have learned that the power of networking is very critical to a successful career path. One of the main reasons I have been able to grow Beyond The Game is simply through many connections to people who have been willing to help gain resources to help serve the community.
Nominated by: Mary Beddell
Nominator says: “... As the public relations director for Plain Local Schools, I have been able to work with Devin hand in hand to see his commitment to the community. Devin is always looking for ways that he can reach out to our most vulnerable students to make them feel included, whether it is purchasing bottled water to pass out to students on a hot day, working with a local ice cream shop to cover the cost to get every student a cone or finding ways to bring our students one-of-a-kind experiences through his connections with local athletes and leaders, Devin always is using his networking in the community for good. Devin shows students that if you work hard and are a leader, good things can come to you. Devin does this work through his nonprofit Beyond The Game, an organization he started with the philosophy to help kids understand that sports are a platform for achieving a higher education and reaching their potential as adults.”
Professional Achievements:
• Created the “Mental Manual” that will help people, specifically student athletes deal with mental health by positive self-reflection every day. Beyond The Game will be donating these manuals to kids in Northeast Ohio. Funds were raised by an online fundraiser by Cleveland Browns tight end Harrison Bryant. This story was featured on WKYC Channel 3 News.
• More than 13 years of coaching experience
• Sought-after public speaker
• Collaborated with Plain Local Schools to expand the “Guys With Ties” program to more schools in Stark County
• Started “Girls With Pearls” program, which promotes healthy relationships and values to give young girls the skills to prepare for womanhood. Fairless Elementary was the first school to have this program. The program is now at two schools in Stark County, and the number is likely to double in the 2021-22 school year.
Personal Achievements:
• Founded nonprofit Beyond The Game with the goal of enriching the lives of young people and giving back to the community, 2014
• Stark County Football Hall of Fame, 2016
• Hosts annual Friday Night Lights with the Buckeyes free summer football camp
Community Involvement:
• Donated more than 10,000 water bottles for kids’ lunches while schools were shut down, 2020
• Donated more than 800 masks to kids in Stark County, 2020
• Supplied 400 Nike jackets and apparel to kids in need, 2020
• Sent out “care packages” to families in need, including $2,500 in direct relief, 2020
• Donated 250 lunches to first responders, 2020
• Donated 500 ice cream sundaes to kids in Stark County to help deal with the pandemic, 2020
• Hosted a free virtual sports camp that reached more than 2,000 kids in Ohio that featured student athletes from Ohio State University, University of Akron, Malone University, Cleveland Browns and other professional athletes to help keep kids active, 2020
• 2020, Created a powerful video called “Beyond The Color” that featured players and coaches from every school in the Federal League that highlighted the importance of playing as a team, no matter what color you are. This was a response to the social justice issues of 2020. The video was seen by more than 200,000 people on social media and shown at home games of Federal League sporting events.
• Donated more than $1,500 in back-to-school supplies to schools in Stark County, 2020
Education:
• Bachelors degree in Human Ecology, Ohio State University
Read The Article Here: Beyond the Game's Devin Jordan a Twenty Under 40! honoree (cantonrep.com)
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