The mission of The Jayson Tatum Foundation (the “Foundation”) is to positively impact and inspire children, teens and their families through education, athletics and support, and to encourage them to strive to fulfill their dreams and aspirations. Click here to view the Foundation’s Fact Sheet.
The Foundation wants to equip children and teens with tools that will empower them to be the positive change they need to see in their communities.
The Foundation will work to help children and teens to believe in themselves to promote living a healthy, productive lifestyle for the benefit of their families, neighborhoods and community. The Foundation will strive to provide resources, education and opportunities for mentorship to instill in our youth the importance of rebuilding our communities and their civic responsibility in doing so. Our goal is for our youth to positively impact their peers, neighborhoods, communities and generation in a multitude of ways. Together, anything is possible!
Our children and teens are our future, and equipping them to be successful in their personal lives and relationally, as well as in their educational, career and life's calling endeavors, is paramount in establishing, rebuilding and sustaining vibrant and positive families, neighborhoods and communities.
Jayson’s love for his hometown has been a major part of his life as both a volunteer with various organizations and now, through his Foundation. Beginning in 2017, Jayson and the Foundation have partnered with local organizations in a Hurricane Relief Effort (2017), the “New Backpack & School Supplies Collections” (2018 & 2019), and the “Daddy & Deuce Toy & Coat Drives” (2018-2019). Jayson has also hosted free, one-day basketball and leadership programs (2018-2019) in St. Louis and has participated in numerous other charity events in both St. Louis and Boston. Through the Jayson Tatum Foundation, we will endeavor to assist children, youth, and their families through educational and sports programs, mentoring, and outreach events and campaigns. Jayson is a Christian and gives all the glory to God for his skills, talent, and the platform he has been blessed to have through playing basketball. His favorite scripture is Philippians 4:13, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”
Jayson Tatum’s love for basketball and his hometown, St. Louis, began at a very early age. Jayson began playing basketball at age 4 on the YMCA league in St. Louis. His natural skills and talent for the game of basketball were evident as he began playing on local AAU teams and his elementary school team, Central Christian School (Clayton, MO). Always practicing and playing with youth (and adults) much older than himself, Jayson worked endless hours to improve his skill set. Jayson was offered his first college scholarship the summer before his freshman year in high school. Jayson attended high school at Chaminade College Preparatory School in St. Louis and was honored with numerous awards, including among others, Gatorade Missouri Player of the year for 3 years and Gatorade National Athlete of the Year his senior year. Jayson states that his greatest achievement in high school was winning the Missouri State Championship his senior year with his fellow Red Devil teammates.
While attending high school at Chaminade, Jayson had the honor and privilege to represent the United States of America as a member of three (3) FIBA (The International Basketball Federation) championship teams bringing home gold medals each time: the 2013 U16 FIBA America’s Championship (Uruguay), the 2014 FIBA U17 World Championship for Men (Dubai) and the 2015 FIBA U19 World Championship for Men (Crete). During the summer before his senior year, Jayson made the decision to accept a basketball scholarship to Duke University in Raleigh/Durham, NC.
The highlight of his one year at Duke came when the Blue Devils won the conference championship in a grueling four game tournament. In June of 2017, Jayson was drafted third overall in the 2017 NBA Draft by the Boston Celtics. In his inaugural year in the NBA, Jayson started every game and was pivotal in the Celtics post-season playoff run in a series that went to 7 games with the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Jayson’s love for his hometown has been a major part of his life as both a volunteer with various organizations and now, through his Foundation. Beginning in 2017, Jayson and the Foundation have partnered with local organizations in a Hurricane Relief Effort (2017), the “New Backpack & School Supplies Collections” (2018 & 2019), and the “Daddy & Deuce Toy & Coat Drives” (2018-2019). Jayson has also hosted free, one-day basketball and leadership programs (2018-2019) in St. Louis and has participated in numerous other charity events in both St. Louis and Boston. See our blog for more highlights. Through the Jayson Tatum Foundation, we will endeavor to assist children, youth and their families through educational and sports programs, mentoring, and outreach events and campaigns. Jayson is a Christian and gives all the glory to God for his skills, talent and the platform he has been blessed to have through playing basketball. His favorite scripture is Philippians 4:13, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”