Goals For Life Foundation

Goals For Life, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit foundation, is an educational youth development program that, in coordination with local school districts, teaches potentially at-risk youth the skills and strategies that are necessary for success in life. Goals For Life has a team of former professional football players who have been carefully trained to deliver a detailed curriculum in public schools.

Goals For Life sends the former athletes into schools to facilitate goal setting workshops with students who demonstrate maladaptive behaviors, as well as any students wishing to learn success principles. Drawing on their personal experiences, the athletes speak of the enthusiasm, drive and determination that were primary factors in achieving their goals. GFL athlete mentors teach students that what applies to the world of sports, also applies to education and to life. The students discover that qualities such as integrity, preparation, high self-esteem, perseverance and the confidence to succeed are a winning combination in all fields and endeavors.

For over 30 years, GFL has utilized the talents of former professional athletes to deliver a goal-oriented curriculum structured to motivate students and ensure that they understand, embrace and practice success principles.

Goals For Life was founded by Reggie Berry, former NFL player with the San Diego Chargers and a graduate of California State University Long Beach. After finishing his football career, Reggie became involved in a program focused on teaching goal setting to migrant students; however he wanted a program that would be open to all students. Reggie's goal was to create an organization that could involve retired NFL alumni into public schools to mentor at-risk youth for a school year. In 1989 he founded the nonprofit Goals For Life Foundation, Inc.

Reggie believes that the formula for winning in sports also applies to the world of education, business and life. The mentors teach the kids that a goal is something you want for your future; then they help the students develop their goals and show them how they can win in life. The players teach the students that everything is a game, so find out what the rules are, stay in bounds and play to win. GFL has been helping youth for over 30 years. More than 100 former NFL players have helped change the lives of over 50,000 students.

GFL set up its current board structure in 2010 and is now governed by an outstanding group of educators, business entrepreneurs, former athletes, doctors, lawyers and community leaders.

Testimonials

*"Not only are the students developing skills for life, they are in an environment of compassion and concern. [The athlete mentor] is doing more than just teaching students goal setting techniques. He is, through caring relationships, assisting the students to internalize that they have worth and value: one of the most important truths in life." -D. DelValle, Waite Middle School, Norwalk.

*"We identified students who still attend school but who either are or want to be affiliated with criminal gangs, drugs and alcohol, and gross defiance of authority. We invited Goals for Life to help us reach about 30 of our more difficult cases. The students trust and listen to Reggie. Immediately after Reggie began working with us, the entire campus calmed down as these few students began to find a niche for themselves." -P. Pringle, Principal, Hargitt School, Norwalk.

*"In light of the commitment of [the athlete mentor], the quality of the curriculum, and the inspiration of the involved students, we have drastically reduced office referrals, students understand and are able to set and work for goals, and we have many students not considered 'at-risk' that are interested in participating in the program. Our community is deeply in need of positive male role models and the Goals for Life program provides the opportunity for our students to develop positive relationships with caring, intelligent, committed, and focused adults." -A. Scott, Principal, One Hundred Twenty Second Street School, Los Angeles.

*"I wholeheartedly recommend Goals for Life as a valuable asset in any school setting, and especially in settings where students have not been exposed to planning to succeed." -D. Brandy, Principal, Hillcrest Drive School, Los Angeles.

*"Hello, I'm a former student of Reggie Berry's. His words "Do what has to be done, when it has to be done, do it is as well as it could be done, and do it that way all the time" has stuck with me my whole life. He taught me how to be a man. Just wanted to say thank you sir, you taught me how to be a man." -A.I. - Former GFL Student.

*"It's been almost 20 years since I was admitted to this program by the principal as I was continuously getting into trouble and consistently making poor decisions as a young teen. Ricky Ellis was our class mentor and every week he would reach out to us and give us the guidance we needed to try to make better decisions...